The Business of Morgentaler

It will be virtually impossible to take a look into the effects of the loss of the Morgentaler Clinic in Fredericton NB without wading into the Pro Choice / Pro Life debate, but I hope that I can stand as clear of this debate as possible and suggest a more solution focused approach to this situation.

Yes, I am Pro Choice, so that is out of the way. Do I carry pickets, or preach my believes at social gatherings - nope. I am Pro Choice, and one of the choices of my belief is that I chose not to try to influence or simply care of what others position on abortion is. As personal as the decisions are around abortion, my reasons, my justification (so to speak) are just as personal. Kinda wish both side of the debate had this philosophy.

OK - nuff on that.

With the recent closure of the only abortion clinic in Atlantic Canada we are now in a bit of a dilemma. Abortion is legal, and if deemed medically necessary by TWO physicians - abortion is available in the safety of state of the art medical institutes and paid for by our Medicare system. Previous to the closure, Abortions were available at Morgentaler's Private Clinic for $700 - $850 (depending how far along the pregnancy is)

Aside from the moral endless debates - this seemed a pretty good solution. Non approving taxpayers were not burdened with financing non-medical related abortions, and medically necessary (with approval checks by 2 doctors), were treated like any other necessary medical procedure and paid for from public coffers.

I suggest that a out of pocket cost of up to $850 was a pretty solid deterrent for being completely oblivious to the chance of unwanted pregnancies - a box of condoms, or other forms of birth control comparably are a much cheaper and less uncomfortable option. But, for those cases that a pregnancy is unexpected or unwanted, the cost was not beyond reach for young couples, but would certainly be a financial punishment for being irresponsible.

I will not address the availability of the 2 doctor approved medical availability of abortions as that has checks and balances and is unchanged before and after the closure of the Morgentaler Clinic.

So where are we now? The only option for private abortions is a trip to Montreal - which now upsets the balance of reasonable financial pain, to encourage responsible birth control. It now becomes so cost prohibitive that several unsavoury consequences may be in the works. Self administered abortions are not unheard of for desperate couples, desperation for finding the money to now afford a trip to Montreal that could run well beyond the financial means of young couples. Or (yes this is debatable) the fact that couples will have babies that they do not want, and are not mentally, financially or mature enough to raise. Yes, Adoption is an option.. that unfortunately looks much better on paper than actually applies in real life - but I will leave that for another article some day.

My interest in this situation is one of economics.. a service that is legal, and required, is artificially overpriced by the now cost of travel.. that is will have significant ripple effects on the health and well being of young couples. So what is the solution??

Clearly the clinic was not financially viable to remain in business (like any other business), so how can that be resolved? An interesting business challenge.. not a simple supply and demand as it is so influenced by others that do not agree with the service, it is not a luxury that can simply find a price that the business can exist profitably, as there are couples entire lives at stake.

In situations that a (health and wellness) product or service must exist at such a high cost to maintain the providing business, our socialist (small "s") government typically steps in to make it available to all levels of financial status. But, and I respect the Pro Lifers on this, they do not want their tax dollars spent on providing a services that they are so morally opposed to.

Yet to add to the challenge, to reduce cost to to patients, again, supply demand would require a higher volume of business, which, whatever side of the fence you stand on this debate - is not a positive option.

As far as I can determine, (and I look forward to being corrected) - a clinic with a reasonable priced service, must be subsidized by an outside investor. Which should not be the government, It would required a clear understanding of the required, reasonable profit margins to operate this clinic, determine the shortfall of revenue based on historical traffic - and find funding to augment the shortfall.

Maybe the Pro Choice group would be better served by organizing and fulfilling this financial shortfall to make safe abortions available, and spend less time screaming at Pro Lifers and attending rallies. As Pro Lifer's make lots of noise - Pro Choicer's can quietly go about their business of raising money, and making local couples indeed have a choice.

BEWARE...Windmills Can Kill You!

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...Yes, wind power causes illness. 

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Several years ago I was faced with my own mortality; of course I am happy that I came through my illness in reasonably good condition. Had I the misfortune of not surviving my procedure, I would not have been on earth to hear the most ridiculous news story ever. I would like to thank the Ontario Wind Resistance Group, for showing me that I had not seen everything yet.

I certainly cannot be classified as an environmentalist, but, I am a realist. And as a realist, I think it is indisputable that coal burning, oil burning, nuclear, power generation have risks, and a significant negative effect on the environment. And I can respect a community having reservations of being displaced as a result of a hydro-electric project. But for God’s sake… people demanding a stop to wind power generation.

What is concern of these misguided protesters? Apparently wind power causes illness. Yes, wind power causes illness. Ridiculous!

I expect hurdles to develop wind energy would be the financial viability, the fact that it costs more to generate a kilowatt of electricity versus a coal powered station or power companies with limited capital to construct wind farms. But I stand optimistic that this non-greenhouse gas, renewable, environmental zero impact source of electricity will overcome the hurdles and become a significant source to meet our energy needs.

I would never expect that one of the hurdles would be a group of placard carrying wing-nuts would demand (and may achieve) a moratorium on Wind Farm development, because they claim it causes illnesses. My questioning (Time to wade into Fracking) of the platform of Anti-Hydrofracking pales in comparison to this group of protesters.

A close second in regard to this disappointment in our Canadian citizens, is the disappointment in our Canadian Government – Heath Canada specifically. Health Canada has been sucked into allocating $1.8 million dollars to study if a windmill makes you sick. $1.8million might be nice to see to be allocated in supporting private sector invest in Wind Power.

So the way this whole situation is tracking.. we are beginning to find a good environmentally healthy source of electricity, a group of crazies come out of the woodwork claiming that wind power is bad for our health, a moratorium on future developments is very possible, Health Canada is going to spend a couple of million dollars, a report will be eventually (maybe) made public, the protesters will not accept the obvious outcome of the report, and future wind development will be faced with this resistance. 

Are the Dutch chronically ill?? Seems they have a bit of history with windmills.  

A potential death trap ! LOL

Occupy Soup Kitchen

Estimates for Occupy Wall Street alone vary wildly from hundreds up to 50,000. Moot actually as the specific numbers are unimportant, what is important is the global participation and duration of the protests. I feel safe in saying hundreds of thousands of protesters have made themselves present for some time holding signs and chanting. Also unimportant is the specific cause or lack of cause that was the catalyst for these gatherings.

What is interesting to note is the tremendous number of “man hours” that have been allocated to protesting and supporting a cause that at the highest level is discontent on the inequality of treatment to fellow humans on our earth.

Also, I trust I am safe to suggest that the demographics of these protesters is equally as diverse as the cause of the chants and placard slogans. From the homeless to labourers and trades people to doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs all took their place to improve the human condition.

Unlike my typical tendencies to do the math to make my point, a quick calculation of the number of worldwide protesters multiplied by the number of house spent in the mobs would result in a VERY large total of “man hours” dedicated to the cause.. Maybe in the millions?

What if these millions of man hours were allocated to actually improving the human condition??. Now THAT would be an earth changing protest. That huge (even for a short period of time) access to manpower would make change, and could possibly touch hundreds of thousands of the 99%ers, rather than standing idly by complaining about the 1%ers.

The possible incredible social impact of applying millions of man hours are way too numerous to even begin to compile a list of in a simple blog post. I encourage you to take a moment to consider how even a tiny sample of 500 protesters, for a single day applying their time to reach out to the less fortunate in your community; providing maintenance in homeless shelters, raising money for general charities, volunteering for youth groups, offering help to less fortunate.  Has a much better ring to it than taking these man hours to build makeshift tents and standing in circles debating what their actual cause is.

Listening to lawyers, accountants and physicians taking their place in front of news reporters microphones detailing their personal reasons and interpretation of the “occupy” protests.. leaves me to wonder, what if these valued professionals took that time instead to offer a day of pro bono work for the 99%’s who they claim are being down trodden.

The question, would these thousands of protestors, get as much attention to their cause(s) if they were diversified out into the communities, and not standing in impressive mobs and making awe inspiring photographs of their numbers in national newspapers? I feel a massive outcry of protesters  who actually putting their money where their mouth is would gather much more public support, than throngs of people standing around a burning barrel. And more important.. who cares if they get more “impact” in the press. Is the cause of the protest “impact” or is it to improve our world.

Time to wade into FRACKING (Kinda)



Birds don't like fracking??? WTF!!

 Too easy to pick a side and carry a sign on this one.. lotsa crap floating around like that.. so not going to go into a PRO or ANTI tirade on this topic..

Interesting aside on this, which I suppose only re-enforces the content below.. but not a lot of PRO ranting out there is there.. No CUPE Paid bus transport to Pro-Fracking Rallies, Not a lot of Pro-Fracking signs littering the lawns of the supporters.
Maybe a good time to take a peek at tge definition of Silent Majority; 
Ok, back to the point at hand... In trying to understand the sides of this debate... I more often end up trying to be recruited by the Anti side.. and seems the core of there beef is that "the government is not addressing our concerns.. they have not answered any of our experts questions, they are in cahoots with big business, there silence is obvious a result of them hiding something."

THIS.. is the base of this blog... why is the Government not addressing the questions and concerns of the Anti-Fracking mob...

My thoughts:
A governments role is not to "justify" every policy, decision, or action... the power to manage the province is provided by the voters.. and if they publicly negotiated every tough decision, that would make them completely ineffective. Typically the quiet majority do not picket in the streets in support of a government policy.. so if the government wavered to every protesting group (Be it abortion, EI benefits, Fiscal Restraint, Fracking, etc) - then the point of having a government would be moot.. and the province would end up being directed by the vocal minority on every policy..

If one happens to support of a movement, I am sure it is frustrating that the government does not defend their position on it.. BUT  if you shared support with the government on a policy and they flipped the policy because of a group of people carrying signs - you would be irate.. (the old can't have your fraking and eat it too story)
The government fighting back with their own propaganda would erode their strength, effectiveness, and confidence of the population The fact that they (as a representative of the public - and voted to be so) have decided to go forward with this.. it is all they need to say.. as representatives of us, they have done the investigation, studies, cost/benefit analysis and so on.. what else do they need to say.

I can only imagine a large, successful business, employing thousands.. deciding it course of business, based on a small group of their employees down in the shipping department.. I doubt that they would remain in business very long.

So.. I am pretty indifferent on the Pro/Anti thing... but I am enjoying watching yet another minority movement in a state of absolute awe, because the Government has not dropped everything to respond to their placards, yard signs, and dropped leaflets from airplanes (Ok, maybe they are not doing that yet)