Thursday digest

- A BC senior recently died in a hospital hallway despite the pleas of his daughter for attention.

This is the type of story which demonstrates why reform (read: the introduction of choice in health care provision) is inevitable.

On a side note, it's interesting to me that a lot of folks who are pro-socialized health care - a system which is obviously imperfect - are also now suggesting that one of the proper roles of government is to babysit toddlers and pre-schoolers. Now, wouldn't it make sense to improve one government program before running out and starting up a new one, or are we to be happy with two half-assed attempts at getting the nanny state right?

- Sticking with the theme of inconsistent logic, Israel is reporting that Iran has purchased North Korean missiles which can carry nuclear explosives to Europe. No doubt that those who fault the White House for not reacting to pre-9/11 intel would scream bloody murder if the Administration took any proactive measures on this, just like they did in the spring of 2003 when UN, French and German intel (among others, but hey, I'm nothing if not daft) pointed to an imminent threat from Iraq.

- Oil self-sufficiency: It's time for environmentalists to get out of the way.

- Right-wing commentator Mike Adams looks like he'd be both an arsehole and bully in the real world, but from time to time, his smart-aleck observations online are good for a laugh. See here and here.

- Returning to Canadian politics, the Tories are apparently going to hold the line on spending in next week's budget. The federal government alone takes almost $200 billion in each year (see here.) I remember less than 10 years ago when I was involved in partisan politics, the feds were taking in $120 billion per year. So, in less than 10 years, the size of the federal government has nearly doubled. It's not like the population of the country has doubled, either, so ask yourself this: are you getting anything near double the services for your tax dollars? (The family in the first article above sure didn't.)

- Finally, Toronto sports personality Pat Marsden has passed away from cancer at the age of 69. Money line from the story: "Marsden said he had been a smoker since the age of four."

I say to you: WTF??