Health Care In Crises

Transcript:

In the picturesque landscapes of New Brunswick, a silent crisis brews, one that shatters lives and fractures the very soul of its communities. The healthcare system, a lifeline promised to all, has become a symbol of despair and neglect for too many of its residents. Day after day, we hear harrowing tales of endless waits, not just in hours but in months and years, for essential medical procedures. Elderly citizens, the backbone of our province, languish in never-ending queues, their pains dismissed, their ailments untreated.

Where is the dignity in a mother’s tears, shed in the dim corridors of understaffed hospitals as she pleads for her child’s care? What justice is there in the fate of hardworking individuals whose cries for help are lost in a bureaucratic abyss, echoing unanswered in the hollow halls of government? The youth, our future, face their own daunting challenges, with mental health support so scarce it might as well be a mirage in the sprawling, rural stretches of our province.

The stories are not just disappointing; they are devastating. They speak of a profound betrayal of trust, where even the most dedicated healthcare workers are stretched thin, battling burnout as they are forced to navigate a system teetering on the brink of collapse. These professionals, trained to heal, are ensnared by the shackles of an underfunded and overburdened system, their skills stifled by the scarcity of resources and the specter of administrative overload.

It is a cruel irony that in a province blessed with such natural beauty and tight-knit communities, the healthcare system remains a beacon of failure. The stark contrast between the promise of equitable healthcare and the grim reality of its delivery paints a troubling picture of a province in healthcare disarray.

We must rise, not tomorrow but today, to demand reforms that are not just patches but foundational overhauls. Let the voices of the suffering be heard and heeded. Our people deserve a healthcare system that heals, not one that deepens wounds and spreads despair. For every citizen of New Brunswick, young and old, it is time to reclaim the sanctity of our health to ensure that no cry for help goes unanswered and no pain is ignored. Together, we must rebuild, not just for the sake of our health but for the very heart and soul of New Brunswick.

In the next video I am going to be talking a bit about some of the reasons to why our healthcare is in such shambles. There is no need, we are paying more taxes now then ever yet pretty well right across the board provincially and federally we are not getting what we used to get for the same dollar back in the 70’s.

 


Shadows and Echoes: Unraveling the Complex Tapestry of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict"

 

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which escalated significantly in 2022, has deep and complex roots involving historical, political, ethnic, and strategic factors. Here are some key reasons:

  1. Historical Context: Ukraine has a long history intertwined with Russia. Part of Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire and, later, the Soviet Union. The historical ties and differing perspectives on this shared history contribute to tensions.

  2. Ethnic and Linguistic Divisions: Ukraine is ethnically and linguistically diverse, with significant Russian-speaking populations in the east and south. This diversity has been a source of internal conflict and external influence.

  3. Political Shifts in Ukraine: The 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, which saw the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, marked a significant turning point. It led to Crimea’s annexation by Russia and the pro-Russian separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine, escalating tensions.

  4. NATO Expansion: Russia has long been wary of NATO’s eastward expansion. Ukraine’s growing closeness with the West and potential NATO membership has been a significant concern for Russia, which sees it as a threat to its security and sphere of influence.

  5. Geopolitical Strategy: Ukraine’s strategic location as a buffer between Russia and Europe, its access to the Black Sea, and its role in energy transit routes (especially for natural gas) are significant factors in the conflict.

  6. Economic Interests: Russia has economic interests in Ukraine, including natural resources, industrial infrastructure, and agricultural output.

  7. Internal Ukrainian Politics: Political instability, corruption, and economic challenges within Ukraine have also played a role, affecting its relations with Russia and its path towards European integration.

  8. Russian Foreign Policy: Russia’s foreign policy objectives, under President Vladimir Putin, aim to reassert its influence in the post-Soviet space and resist Western influence, with Ukraine being a key focus area.

  9. Information Warfare: Propaganda and disinformation campaigns have been used by both sides to influence public opinion and justify actions, adding complexity to the conflict.

  10. International Law and Norms: The conflict raises questions about international law, including the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It’s important to note that this is a highly complex and evolving situation, with each point containing layers of nuance and varying perspectives. The viewpoints and motivations of both Russia and Ukraine, as well as the involvement of other international actors, add to the complexity of the conflict

——————————————

Sources:

    “The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine” by Serhii Plokhy
    “Borderland: A Journey Through the History of Ukraine” by Anna Reid
    “Black Wind, White Snow: The Rise of Russia’s New Nationalism” by Charles Clover
    “All the Kremlin’s Men: Inside the Court of Vladimir Putin” by Mikhail Zygarder Putin.
    “The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin” by Steven Lee Myers 

The Right Will Rise: Existential Threat To Democracy

 

 

By J André Faust (July 09, 2023)

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The trend that developed over the last ten years is this
shift from progressive conservatives to Ultra-right conservationists. There is
irony here because some Ultra-right conservatives tend to favour authoritarian
personality types. Adolf Hitler came into power through a democratic process,
and in the end, we have seen how that turned out yet denounce any dictatorship
and authoritarian governments

The Stephen Harper era expelled the media from the press
gallery and would only accept written questions allowing him to screen the
questions. Harper prorogued parliament twice, the first time to avoid a vote of
non-confidence and the second time when he came under fire for his handling of
the mission in Afghanistan, particularly in regards to the detainment and
alleged torture of Afghan detainees by Afghan authorities after being
transferred from Canadian custody. These criticisms came to a head in 2009,
resulting in significant political controversy.

To our neighbour, the United States, during the former
President Donald Trump era, how successfully he exploited the emotions of the
extreme and ultra-extreme to maintain power.

The million-dollar question is why, over the years, not only
Canada and the United States have shown a drastic shift to the extreme
ultra-right, but it seems to be a global phenomenon.

Current research and peer-reviewed papers suggest that
several potential factors could contribute to a perceived shift toward the
extreme right in certain societies. However, it is essential to note that
social, political, and cultural contexts vary significantly between countries.
The following list identifies some of the probable reasons for this shift.

  1. Economic
    Insecurity
    : This is a driving factor behind many political shifts.
    People who feel their economic security is threatened may be drawn towards
    more extreme political ideologies, especially those promising to protect
    jobs, wealth, or national economies
    .
  2. Cultural
    Backlash
    : Some people feel threatened by progressive social changes
    and may therefore be drawn to right-wing ideologies that promise to uphold
    traditional values and societal structures. For example, the acceleration
    of gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and multiculturalism can make some
    individuals feel uncomfortable and nostalgic for a past perceived as more
    stable.

  3. Populism:
    Populist leaders often emphasize the distinction between the
    “ordinary people” and a “corrupt elite.” Populism can
    lead to the rise of far-right ideologies, particularly if these leaders
    use nationalist rhetoric or claim that certain groups (such as immigrants
    or religious minorities) are threats to the country.

  4. Polarization
    and Echo Chambers
    : Online algorithms can create echo chambers, where
    people only interact with similar viewpoints, reinforcing and potentially
    radicalizing their views. While this can apply to both left-wing and
    right-wing ideologies, it could contribute to a perceived shift towards
    the extreme right.

  5. Media
    Influence
    : Media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion.
    Some news outlets with right-leaning tendencies can influence their
    viewers or readers towards more extreme views.
  6. Reaction
    to Globalization
    : There’s a perception among some people that
    globalization threatens national identity and sovereignty. In response,
    they may gravitate towards far-right ideologies that emphasize nationalism
    and protectionism.

  7. Insecurity
    and Fear
    : In periods of social unrest, public health crises, or
    terrorist threats, people might turn to ideologies that promise stability,
    security, and strong leadership, which can be features of far-right
    rhetoric.

  8. Failure
    of the Political Center
    : If centrist political parties are perceived
    as ineffective or out of touch with people’s concerns, voters may turn to
    the political extremes, including the far-right.

This list is not exhaustive; it only addresses the common
factors. Remember, the human psychological mechanism is complex.

The ultra-right are not necessarily bad people; they can be
friends, neighbours, working comrades etc it is just how they perceive their
world.

 

Sources:

  1. Economic Insecurity
    • “The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It” by Robert B.
      Reich
    • “Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight
      Global Poverty” by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo
  2. Cultural Backlash
    • “White Backlash: Immigration, Race, and American
      Politics” by Marisa Abrajano and Zoltan L. Hajnal
    • “The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics”
      by Mark Lilla
  3. Populism
    • “The Populist’s Guide to 2020: A New Right and New Left are
      Rising” by Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti
    • “The Populist Explosion: How the Great Recession Transformed
      American and European Politics” by John B. Judis
  4. Polarization and Echo Chambers
    • “Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and
      Radicalization in American Politics” by Yochai Benkler, Robert
      Faris, and Hal Roberts
    • “The Filter Bubble: What the Internet is Hiding from
      You” by Eli Pariser
  5. Media Influence
    • “Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass
      Media” by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
    • “The Attention Merchants: The Epic Scramble to Get Inside Our
      Heads” by Tim Wu
  6. Reaction to Globalization
    • “Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of
      Globalization” by Branko Milanovic
    • “The Retreat of Western Liberalism” by Edward Luce
  7. Insecurity and Fear
    • “The Politics of Fear: What Right-Wing Populist Discourses
      Mean” by Ruth Wodak
    • “How Fear Works: Culture of Fear in the Twenty-First
      Century” by Frank Furedi
  8. Failure of the Political Center
    • “The Extreme Centre: A Warning” by Tariq Ali
    • “The Vanishing Center of American Democracy” by James
      Davison Hunter and Carl Desportes Bowman

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The
ultra-right are not necessarily bad people; they can be friends,
neighbours, working comrades etc it is just how they perceive their
world.

Harnessing AI for Profit: Capitalism's Double Edged Sword

By J. André Faust

 

With each day that passes, the influence of artificial intelligence increases exponentially. The latest, if you have not been living under a rock, is chatGTP 4. ChatGTP 4 is a large language model capable of self-learning based on a large training data set. You must remember that you are communicating with a machine because its responses are human-like.


What is Artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence is about machines that can think and learn as humans do. AI relies on a set of instructions that tell a computer what to do. 

These instructions allow the computer to analyze data, make decisions, and solve problems. The more data AI has access to, the better it can learn and improve its performance.


Machine learning allows computers to be trained to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. Essentially you are teaching pattern recognition and making predictions based on examples it has seen before.

 

 If you wanted to teach a computer to recognize pictures of cats, you would show it many images of cats and tell it, “These are cats,” The computer would analyze the images and learn to identify standard features that make them look like cats. When you show the computer a new picture of a cat, it can tell you it is a cat.

 

While Artificial Intelligence can advance personkind beyond one’s imagination, Artificial intelligence has the potential to be used for evil purposes against personkind. Unfortunately, on the balance of probabilities, AI will be used against the world’s civilians.

 

 

How capitalism will exploit artificial intelligence for its advancement at the expense of the working class is essential to understand some of the critical elements of the capitalistic system.

 

 

 Karl Marx defines the bourgeoisie as the capitalist or ruling class in a capitalist society. They are the owners of the means of production. In Marx’s days, that would be the factories, businesses, and Land. In today’s terms, the bourgeoisie is the capitalist class that owns all the critical technologies used in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors.

 

 Profit motivated – generate as much wealth with the least amount of expense.


 Competition – Competition among themselves to produce a better product through innovation and efficiency.


 Market Economy – needs consumers, yet prices will be manipulated through supply and demand.


 Minimal government intervention – Capitalism generally favours limited government intervention in economic affairs.


The main objective of capitalism is profit over people. The widespread use of AI could lead to job displacement and increased wealth inequality. If AI systems replace human jobs, the people who own and control these systems (often already wealthy) will become even more prosperous, while those whose jobs are replaced may struggle to find new employment.


Some argue that AI would create new jobs replacing displaced jobs. The argument, in part, is correct; the problem is that big businesses will only be hiring the cream of the crop, and the selection of who gets hired will be decided by artificial intelligence. Currently, some companies are using AI to select prospective employees, thus ignoring others who did not use keywords in their resumes or application. 


Those who own the technology will create wealth inequality, which can also create a problem for themselves. If a significant population is either not earning anything or earning little. In that case, they will be unable to purchase their goods or services, but the profiteers don’t see that far ahead nor the long-term consequences of their greed. They are nearsighted and self-serving.


These big businesses will compete against each other to have smarter AI through innovation which will eventually affect privacy. All those loyalty cards, credit cards or anything that keeps track of your behaviour becomes data to be analyzed with the end game to manipulate your decision-making in the marketplace.


The world’s governments are reluctant to enact legislation on the use of AI. Believing that big business will behave morally and ethically is a pipe dream.


To conclude, as more businesses use artificial intelligence and quantum computing to be more profitable, and since these powerful financial elites will own this technology, we will be in the same position as we were at the beginning of the industrial revolution. Marx correctly mentioned the class division between the Bourgiousis and the proletariat, which will be the end game for our society as we know it.


The Great Deception: The Dark Side of American Power Structure

 

 

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By J. André Faust

The American Power structure’s altruistic behaviours are two-fold: to increase world domination and to protect its vested interests abroad. Nevertheless, the American Government always justifies their action in the name of Democracy. Except for the Korean War, the following list is drawn from my life experience; however, I searched for dates I had forgotten. There may be others that I have forgotten about

1.     Korean War (1950-1953): While it was a direct conflict involving the U.S., it is also considered a proxy war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union/China.

2.     Vietnam War (1955-1975): The U.S. supported South Vietnam against the North, which the Soviet Union and China backed.

3.     Laotian Civil War (1953-1975): During the Vietnam War, a similar conflict occurred in Laos, with the U.S. supporting the Royal Lao Government against the communist Pathet Lao, backed by the Soviet Union and North Vietnam.

4.     Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996): The U.S. supported several Guatemalan governments during the War against leftist rebels.

5.     Bay of Pigs Invasion, Cuba (1961): The U.S. supported Cuban exiles in a failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro’s Government.

6.     Dominican Civil War (1965): The U.S. intervened on the side of the Dominican Government.

7.     Angolan Civil War (1975-2002): The U.S., along with South Africa, supported the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) against the Soviet/Cuban-backed People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).

8.     Afghanistan War (1978-1992): The U.S., through Operation Cyclone, supplied the Afghan Mujahideen with weapons and funds to fight the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

9.     Salvadoran Civil War (1979-1992): The U.S. supported the Salvadoran Government against the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a leftist guerrilla group.

10. Nicaraguan Civil War (1981-1990): The U.S. supported the Contras in their fight against the Sandinista government.

11. Yemeni Civil War (2015-present as of 2021): The U.S. has supported the Saudi-led intervention against the Houthi rebels.

John Perkins’ in his book “Confession of an Economic Hitman,” seems to corroborate past and current events.in which the American power structure was involved.

Perkings Highlight the professionals who manipulate developing countries’ economies to benefit corporations and government bodies in the developed world, primarily the United States.

1.     Debt as a Tool for Control: Perkins argues that developing countries are deliberately burdened with large debts through exaggerated infrastructure projects funded by foreign loans. The inability of these countries to repay the loans gives leverage to the developed countries and international financial institutions, allowing them to dictate economic and political policies.

2.     Role of International Corporations and Financial Institutions: Perkins describes how multinational corporations, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other financial entities work together to maintain a system that enriches a small global elite at the expense of the masses. These entities allegedly exploit resources and labour in developing countries, often leading to poverty and economic instability in these regions.

3.     Corruption and Coercion: Perkins maintains that if indebted countries resist these policies or any other directives, they are met with threats, corruption, and even orchestrated regime changes. He suggests that EHMs like himself were tasked with corrupting influential figures in these countries. If they failed, “jackals” (CIA-sanctioned operatives) would step in to overthrow or assassinate resistant leaders.

4.     Sustainability and Inequality: The current global system, according to Perkins, is unsustainable and leads to vast economic inequality. He argues for reforming economic practices to create a more equitable and sustainable world system.

The afore mention is just a summary of the American Imperisum techniques to hold the world at bay. 

 

More recently, The assignation of Qasem Soleimani by an American drone attack; this order came from Former President Donald Trump. The reason behind the execution was Soleimani’s Role in the Middle East. Furthermore, the Threat to U.S. National Security was only an accusation, yet no evidence except the American Propaganda machine was provided to support these accusations.

 

 This attack on Soleimani is similar to the bombing of Bagdad, which led to the ultimate execution of Saddam Hussain. The United Nations told George W. Bush there were no weapons of mass destruction, yet Bush Proceeded to exterminate Saddam for his Oil.

Let us go back to 1945. When the Americans dropped the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, over 200,000 people were killed instantly. That does not include the number of civilians who died from complications resulting from radiation poisoning. By today’s standards, that would be seen as an atrocity against the Japanese people.

 

 Before concluding, here is a little ditty: Just recently, North Korean Kim Jong rattled Old man Joe Biden’s chains, suggesting they had intercontinental nuclear missiles aimed at American soil. Bidon seeing no humour in his claim, warned north korea that he would eradicate the whole North Korean population. (no sense of ha ha there).

 

 It has been said that “Only a fool will go into battle knowing they are going to lose.” Kim Jong is not a fool.