Hebert is right

Chantal Hebert is a socialist. It's that simple. But, like Ian Urquart, she is often right about tactical issues. (Not policy stuff. She is usually out to lunch on those.)

In today's column she talks about the Conservative Party's failure to do more with the recent Supreme Court ruling. I think there is a good deal of truth to what she is saying. To borrow an often used line, it seems, on healthcare, the CPC caucus is unwilling to take YES for answer.

First, it was the party's support for the health accord and Harper's repeated reminder that he supported the accord. (Almost as though he was trying to take credit for it.) Second, it was the caucus hiding behind party unity to push for the status quo on healthcare in a party where 80-90% like the idea of private participation. Finally, it is the OLO's decision to be more left wing than the Liberals and the population at large on the Supreme Court ruling.

Somehow the CPC line on this issue has become "well, look you Liberals screwed up health care so now fix it." In fact, it wasn't the Liberals that screwed up healthcare it was the government. It is the general idea of monopolist healthcare that screwed up Canada's medicare system.

The sooner we start making our case for private involvement in healthcare, the sooner we will win this fight.