Diagnosis before Treatment

When we consult our doctor with a problem we reasonably expect that the doctor will listen to our problem, make a diagnosis and recommend some treatment - in that order.
Politicians are less rational. My prime minister has decided to turn over our healthcare system. He has a clear set of proposals but has offered not one word of a diagnosis. Like all party politicians he knows all the answers before even asking what the question is. This one is however a bit unlucky. His chief adviser went to a meeting of private investors and extolled the major profits to be made from the changes. Now we know what the prime minister's diagnosis is - his pals are not making enough from our healthcare system. How creaming off more for them helps me get better care or value for money is not clear.

Party Politics are Dangerous.

We have reflected before on the evils of party politics. Till now it seemed that such activities could do little harm. Politicians amble about changing this and that but the people who actually get things done keep on getting things done. To an extent that is still true but to my concern I woke up yesterday morning to discover that my countrymen have elected to government a political party who are intent on destroying my country! Now it may not come to that but there is a real risk.  The people who get things done may yet restrain the unthinking party ideologues and life will go on. But perhaps not. Party politicians are people who have failed to find a role in getting things done and who yet can pose dangers to the rest of us. We need to re-engineer the system to correct this dangerous situation.