GREEDY, GREEDY DOCTORS

Do Ontario Doctors really think that their lobby group, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), is going to take all the heat and bad press? Do they think that like the Teachers' lobby that they are immune from public backlash? Have they swallowed their own propaganda that they walk on water and are infallible? They are human beings just like the rest of us and they put their pants on one leg at a time just like the rest of us. Do they have a tough, responsible job? Of course they do. In my opinion however the medical profession is being ruined, just like the teaching profession, because of too much money, not because as they would have us believe, too little. There was a time when both professions were overworked and underpaid. There was a time when both professions did not receive the respect they deserved. Those times are literally decades in the past, thank goodness. Our governments recognized the importance to the community of good doctors and teachers and then proceeded to undermine them by throwing money at them. Money truly is the root of all evil. Better hospitals and schools are one thing. A decent standard of living appropriate to all the factors involved in a profession, including time spent in training is appropriate. We have gone so far beyond that it is now disgusting. We as a society can not and never should have allowed either profession to steal the farm as they have.

Today's Waterloo Region Record gives the details of the raises Ontario doctors have received over the last eight years. The title of the story is "OMA takes Liberals to court". This is from a profession who still wish to be thought of as morally and ethically superior. Readers please read this story and then tell me if you feel sorry for our doctors. If they want to debate the numbers fine. If they want to claim their "net" income isn't as large as we think, fine. What enrages me is their bullshit that the government is "devaluing" doctors. That the government isn't "listening" to doctors. Then we get into the really disgusting crap from the OMA. Patient care will suffer if doctors aren't paid as much. That's just plain blackmail. Even better is that doctors will go elsewhere if they don't keep receiving raises that widen even further their income from the very citizens who are paying them in the first place. Sure doctors, feel free to go to China. Try out South America. Hey even Europe are in such desperate financial straits why not try them out? Here's a thought for Ontario doctors. Rein in your own association. The OMA are making you look like money grubbing, greedy little children. The respect and honour you already have is yours to lose.