Tuesday digest

- Since 1997, the Canadian federal government has increased transfer payments for health care at four times the rate of inflation and population growth combined. However, wait times have also increased. To take one example, in 1997, the average Canadian had to wait almost three months for treatment after first meeting with a family physician, but by 2006, that same individual was waiting almost 4 and a half months despite the increase in spending.

See here for a fuller discussion.

It's clear that the system as currently structured is unsustainable. When is the Canadian establishment going to allow for an honest debate on health care?

- After moralizing in front of a congregation of NDPers at prayer United Church-goers on the weekend, Stephane Dion's stalking horse Elizabeth May is in hot water for comparing Stephen Harper to Neville Chamberlain. What I'd like to know is, where are all the calls for the separation of church and state from the Canadian left? I guess it's OK to look to Jesus to save you from global warming, but not much else.

- Speaking of the environment, it seems that every day there is another expert who suggests that climate change is not necessarily man-made. Here's another one.

- It's just a matter of time until Benjamin Netanyahu is back in office in Israel ... and that's a good thing.

- Anne Applebaum says that even if he loses on Sunday, Sarko has helped move the goalposts in Europe.

- Today is May Day, the day where socialistically-inclined folks all over the world celebrate envy, resentment, suspicion of success, an ignorance of basic human nature, the inevitable descent into authoritarianism which accompanies their schemes, and basically, alternative reality - all foundations on which their worldview is built. I'd contribute to the festivities by offering this article which details the ongoing failure of the Left in Latin America.

When will they ever learn?

- Much ink has been spilled over the last couple of days regarding George Tenet's memoir. I bought it today and hope to have a review up in a week at the latest .