The Hippocratic Oath is one of the most widely known of Greek medical texts and is the earliest [5 – 3 century BC] expressions of medical ethics in the Western world. The Oath required new physicians to swear by a number of healing gods, to uphold specific ethical standards.
That swearing a modified form of the Oath remains a rite of passage for medical graduates in many countries today attests to the importance of the Oath in establishing principles of medical ethics. Several of the original Oath’s ethical standards, including medical confidentiality and non-maleficence, remain important today.
The Liberal’s recently completed selection of a new Leader to replace Christy Clark presented the Liberal party with the opportunity to explore the issues – and their consequences if not addresses – facing BC and to explore ideas and options for addressing the issues challenging BC’s future
Issues that include healthcare, homelessness, addiction, housing affordability, liveable wages and other social issues as well as government finances [vis-à-vis the services British Columbians demand] and the economic barriers to a prosperous future for BC and its citizens.
The Liberals did not simply duck the opportunity to explore the issues, obstacles, options and the best choices for balanced action – they dove for cover and huddled there with their heads down.
The words uttered by Andrew Wilkinson, the Oxford educated lawyer and MLA for wealthy Vancouver Quadra who was selected the new leader of the BC Liberal party, make it clear the focus of the Liberal party is on playing politics and winning elections, NOT on statesmanship, governance or the present and future prosperity of BC citizens.
With the Liberals focusing on playing politics and winning elections, and given the high probability the NDP and their Green sycophants will continue to fail to grasp the current economic reality of BC, we are headed to a future in which BC citizens fondly reminisce about ‘the good old days’ when Christy Clark’s was premier.
I had planned to attend the Abbotsford rally for Mike de Jong’s BC Liberal leadership race, but a commitment to 5 & 2’s Seniors cold wet weather shelter had me heading to MCC’s materials warehouse to open the shelter rather than the rally.
…….BC Liberals…….does it strike anyone else as dark, twisted humour that in pot smoking, left coast, hippie BC the ‘Liberal’ party is solidly right of center? That before the relatively recent incarnation of the BC Conservatives the Liberals were the right wing party?
Reading that line put the Mission Impossible theme song in my head, as well as images of the Secretary [or Liberal leadership candidates] disavowing knowledge for reasons of political convenience and correctness.
Personally I found the throne speech a rather inventive, borderline profound, piece of satire and an astute political commentary on the campaign, election results and the state of government and governance in BC.
