Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during Question Period, in Ottawa, on June 19.Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press
Class dismissed
Re “In hindsight” (Letters, Aug. 10): “The juvenile antics of Donald Trump’s Republicans have long put me in mind of a high-school classroom full of unruly adolescents.”
A letter-writer does a disservice to hormonally imbalanced teenagers. Their behaviour can be excused because of their tender years and lack of life experience.
Republican supporters of Donald Trump are adults and responsible for their actions. A corrections officer, not a teacher, may be required for the most extreme of them.
Hundreds of Jan. 6 insurrectionists are experiencing the consequences of their actions.
John Ferguson Retired high-school teacher, Ottawa
Dream on
Re “The Canadian dream is on life support” (Opinion, Aug. 10): This should be required reading for all voters.
I was already losing sleep at the thought that the Liberals might be re-elected. Now I am having nightmares.
This sums up perfectly what many of us have been saying around the dining table, that the Liberals are guilty of systemic government failure and refusing to see what is right in front of them: a disgruntled and angry populace who feel abandoned, neglected and unimportant.
We should have a federal government that is determined to bring back the lustre once felt by Canadians, who were proud to wear the maple leaf.
Judy Warren Ottawa
The “Canadian dream” needs a dose of reality, and the words “dream” and “promise” shouldn’t be in the same sentence.
Nobody promised a life “better than that of their parents” for all. Nobody promised that every child would eventually be able to own a home. Conditions that allowed such dreams 100 years ago are clearly not the conditions of today.
Sure, blame political failure. But in a democracy, it is caused by a failure of the population to intelligently monitor and evaluate what politicians do. The dearth of competence and vision from all stripes of our political elite, then, is our own failure.
We should be demanding timely clarity, justification, vision and long-term thinking in political decisions, and not just at election time. If we don’t demand it, we don’t get it.
It is we who let politicians do what they do; it is we who don’t think long-term.
Robert James Cochrane, Alta.
After reading this, it was not without some trepidation that I headed out into the postapocalyptic Canada that is described. I’m happy to report that the country remains the same strong and vibrant place that I recall.
I’m certain that we do face significant challenges with housing affordability and productivity, but are we really on “life support”? As for the homicide rate, last year it was consistent with the average over the past 30 years and well below the peak of 1992.
Thor Kuhlmann Vancouver
Between the lines
Re “Are Canadians willing to help the transition to a greener, cleaner world?” (Opinion, Aug. 10): What are Canadians as individuals willing to do? My premise is that most Canadians want someone other than themselves to sacrifice or pay for the green transition.
When affordability is listed as a main barrier to greener actions, I say, “Then don’t buy an expensive and overweight pickup truck or SUV.” There are many smaller and cheaper alternatives.
As well, new family homes are often hugely oversized from what our parents were used to. And what about all those winter getaways using jet fuel?
It’s clear to me that “affordability” means “don’t touch my developed-world lifestyle.”
Stephen Gill East Gwillimbury, Ont.
Check in
Re “Loblaw’s health care empire is growing. But can it earn the trust of Canadian patients?” (Report on Business, Aug. 10): As a general practitioner, I find Ontario’s MedsCheck an unhelpful waste of my time and tax dollars.
When I prescribe a medication, my electronic medical record will clearly highlight interactions. Agents I don’t prescribe as often, or for those with heavy pharmaceutical burden, I run through separate software. Before prescribing, I also review renal function, liver indices, age etc.
My excellent pharmacy colleagues reach out when a script is received if they note a conflict, question a dose or have a suggestion, and I amend accordingly.
The annual waste of paper I call MedsCheck can occur for anyone on three or more medications, even when patients have been taking said medications for months without issue.
As a side note, I review all prescribed meds at every patient visit. I’m certainly not billing $75 for the privilege.
Benjamin Reitzel MD, CCFP; North Bay, Ont.
Loblaw seems to be importing U.S. health care’s philosophy of maximum cost and profit.
A U.S. health care company told a colleague of mine in that country: “You’re not writing enough prescriptions.” U.S. health providers often treat and operate unnecessarily, use the most expensive drugs, tests and imaging and extend hospital stays – all equating to the highest medical treatment costs in the developed world, but with significantly inferior patient treatment outcomes over all.
Do we want to encourage this expensive and parasitic philosophy?
Gavin Hamilton MD; London, Ont.
Stay in touch
Re “To fix social media, force the platforms to open themselves up to each other” (Opinion, Aug. 10): While many have written about the evils of social media, credit to columnist Andrew Coyne for his insightful piece on the trail of wreckage left by it. Citing technology writer Cory Doctorow’s prescription of “adversarial interoperability,” he believes the remedy lies in a digital “public square.”
However, such a move could result in a new colossus of shrieking, Babel-like cacophonies without gatekeepers of any kind. As for the question of what is stopping us from fixing social media, I think the answer lies with the comment that “it leaves the unwary with the dangerous illusion that they are well-informed.”
That, I believe, is the heart of the matter.
Robert Coutts Winnipeg
Years ago, I chose to be an outlier and avoid social media. I feared it would become all-consuming, with no checks and balances on content.
Columnist Andrew Coyne wonderfully describes the current situation, in which posts are sent out with no research, editing nor even names attached, to be joined by thousands of others in a relentless stream of drivel.
Will forcing social-media platforms to open themselves to each other remedy matters? I would rather stick with the “social media” that has served the public well for more than 100 years: letters to the editor.
Mary Valentich Calgary
Letters to the Editor should be exclusive to The Globe and Mail. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Keep letters to 150 words or fewer. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. To submit a letter by e-mail, click here: letters@globeandmail.com