I love politics and I think it is a force for good. But sometimes I despair about the way politics is practiced and portrayed. When politics is all about getting and keeping power it is becomes manipulative, intimidating and even corrupt. That is politics at its lowest. When politics is about exploring new ideas, sharing wisdom to protect and empower citizens, it is at its best.
This past two weeks politics in Alberta has been at its worst, at its best and is changing faster than most of us could imagine. I am talking about the events around the courage of Dr. Raj Sherman to take a stand and expose some political truth about health care in Alberta. There is now evidence of politically motivated reactions and tactics by anonymous forces who are intent on discrediting and even destroying Dr. Sherman.
Efforts to discredit Raj by questioning his mental and emotional state are an example of politics at its worst. Dark forces are now challenging his professional capacity to practice medicine with anonymous innuendos. Sherman is fighting back by talking openly about these perverse efforts against him. That is the only way to defeat these dark forces.
Intimidation, threats and bullying is on-going from some segments of the PC government as they try to control messages and command loyalty. I know I faced this myself when I publicly announced I was no longer going to stay as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta. Clients were told they would have more success in dealing with government if I was no longer involved in representing them. Long time party supporters have been suddenly and unceremoniously removed from positions on boards because they were suddenly not “acceptable” to serve. Why? Because those individuals were simply publicly speaking truth to power. Community based not-for profit agencies that rely on government funding to provide services to vulnerable citizens have been told to toe the line or there will be “consequences”- personally and organizationally. This is no way for those in authority to behave.
When this kind of coercion happens paranoia runs deep and creeps into your heart. Intimidation should not becomes “normal” in our political culture. It must be stopped. That can only happen by public exposure by those who are its victims. Silence is compliance. Speaking out against this kind of intimidation and coercion is exactly what Dr. Raj Sherman is doing now. More reason to applaud him and value his courage.
When we feel threatened by powerful forces we can even start to question the integrity of our friends. That is what has happened in the recent highly publicized conversation between Fred Horne and Dr. P. J. White, who are both friends of Raj Sherman. Many of us are friends of Raj Sherman and admire him for what he is doing. We are also aware of the enormous stress Raj is facing as he stands up against some very powerful and entrenched political forces.
With such intense feelings and threatening circumstances it is very easy to misinterpret good intentions…even of your friends. Drawing a negative conclusion is easy and often justified as a survival strategy - but it also could be a wrong conclusion. I think the wrong conclusions have been drawn around the actions and intent Fred Horne and P.J. White in sharing an authentic mutual concern for the well-being of Raj Sherman.
Some context is important in trying to better understand what is happening here. Fred is the new Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Wellness. Fred ran the new health act public consultation process this summer. P.J. White is a psychiatrist and the newly elected President of the Alberta Medical Association. In a cynical world it is easy to misinterpret the actions and intentions of Fred and P.J. as powerful people who may be part of a conspiracy to discredit Raj Sherman politically and professionally.
The other, more realistic interpretation in my opinion and based on the personal characters of Fred and P.J., is they are simply sharing a genuine concern for the well-being of a mutual friend in a difficult time In the vulnerable reality of Raj Sherman these days, one can hardly blame him for being paranoid about such a conversation taking place, even amongst good friends. To see the erosion of the benefit of the doubt about the intent of friends, shows just how sad and dysfunctional our political culture has become these days.
I have a long standing friendship with Fred Horne. I have a growing friendship with Raj Sherman and a deep respect for his character and courage. I have recently met Dr. P.J. White, under other circumstances, but we share some personal values about politics. I also admire P.J. for his personal and professional courage for standing up against the irrational political decision of Dr. Duckett and the AHS to close Alberta Hospital in Oliver. He stopped the closure.
When the conversation Fred and P.J. had about the well-being of Raj Sherman became public and a focus in the media I called both Fred and P.J. to get some first-hand content and context on what was really going on here. I am certain from my personal knowledge of both gentlemen and our recent chats that the intent of the conversation between Fred Horne and P.J. White was motivated by a shared respect for Raj Sherman and a genuine concern for his overall well-being.
But the record can and should be set straight. I hope this blog post is a step in that direction.If there is a politically motivated conspiracy to discredit Raj Sherman based on innuendo about his mental state and capacity, Fred Horne and P.J. White are not part of it. They, along with many others, and me included have reached out to personally and publicly support Raj. We are all dismayed at how low some will stoop to sustain or gain political power at the expense of others.
Raj Sherman has supporters – lots of them. He has powerful enemies too – I expect many of them. The big difference is the supporters are open and public while the enemies are anonymous and secretive. So who should the public trust? Which narrative of Raj Sherman will "win" in the court of public opinion? When seeking changes in political attitudes and culture, it is the court of public opinion that matters most. What people come to believe becomes political reality. In politics perception is reality…and that is not just a cliché.
Monday November 29th will see a Point of Privilege presented in the Alberta Legislature asking if Fred Horne is part of a political conspiracy to discredit Dr. Raj Sherman. I trust it will be debated in the spirit of supporting the political integrity, transparency, honesty and the accountability of our elected representatives. I hope it is motivated by a desire to enhance our democracy and to regain some increased respect for the institution of the Alberta Legislature. If this is not the case, it will only perpetuate the worst of our declining political culture.
I hope for better angels to prevail on all of our provincial politicians today. I am no Pollyanna but I do believe the better angels will triumph. That will only happen if the wisdom and good judgment of our elected representative overcomes the excessive partisanship that dominates our political culture these days.
Albertans are not fools and we do not think our elected representatives should be either. If there is a politically motivated whisper campaign to discredit and destroy Raj Sherman, it must stop NOW! I hope the NDP Point of Privilege Motion being heard today is the start of a new direction in our political culture. If it is merely another tactic in political gamesmanship, I will despair even deeper about the democratic deficit in this province.
So, ladies and gentlemen of the Alberta Legislature, it is time to listen to your better angels….here and now…on this issue and the many other health care concerns of Albertans. It is time to return to your task of serving the best interests of Albertans…not just personal or partisan power agendas. Rest assured we will be watching and judging you.
UPDATE NOV 29 12:35 PM - I HAVE JUST BEEN ADVISED BY SOMEONE IN THE MAIN STEAM MEDIA THAT THE NDP HAVE WITHDRAWN THEIR POINT OR PRIVILEGE THAT WAS TO GO TODAY ON IF THERE WAS AN ANTI-SHERMAN CONSPIRACY TO DISCREDIT HIM.
If they were truly motivated by concern for Raj, why didn't they talk to him directly instead of to the association (with convenient leaks to the media)? They could even have talked to his spouse or his personal physician (if they know who that is). Or have I misunderstood who they actually discussed it with and how it went public?
ReplyDeleteIf Stelmach, Lieper and Horne really cared they would have contacted Dr. Sherman directly. Throwing him out of caucus is not the action of a group caring for another member of the group who is under stress. None of the facts stated by Dr. Sherman have been contradicted by independent sources. Stelmach, Lieper and the rest of the PC pack are out to get Dr. Sherman and anyone else who stands in their way. Everyone who is fair minded can see that, unless being in opposition to the AB PC government is considered by some a disease or an illness, that the Stelmach crowd are a particularly vicious and vindictive group who try to destroy their enemies. These tactics were used in the Soviet Union and still in China. Fair-minded Albertans cannot let Stelmach and Liepert succeed in their perverted goals.
ReplyDeleteMLAs and at least one cabinet minister were claiming Raj Sherman had mental illness issues at AUMA last week.
ReplyDeleteI think the most chilling aspect of this whole issue is that mental health can still be used as a means of discrediting a human being in Alberta and/or denying their competence to participate in political discussion.(ie: Even if Dr. Sherman is feeling the effects of extreme stress, that does not mean that what he says about the health care sytem is not valid. And that does not, necessarily, detract necessarily from his credibility or even his ability to do his job.)
ReplyDeleteNor should concerns, competence and perspectives of others going through similar issues be dismissed out of hand. And they are in Alberta. Every day.
We must change that.
Thx for the comment Jane It will be interesting if the political events unfolding in all of this will enhance the awareness of mental health issues and reduce the stigma or increase it!
ReplyDeleteI think you give far too much credit for integrity to Fred Horne.
ReplyDeleteAlso maybe far too much credit to Albertans as "not fools", as the evidence does not seem to support that.
Tema - my understanding is Raj made the possibility of a conspiracy public and the conversation between Horne and White too.
ReplyDeletePaul - can you tell us why you hold those opinions? Speaking of evidence - can you provide some to support your positions? It would add to the conversation.
ReplyDeleteRoss said...
ReplyDeleteI was going to make a similiar statement as Jane. Mental illness should never be used as a means to discredit another human being.
I also had the opportunity to meet Fred Horne at activities and programs which involve mental illness. It seems to me he has been very supportive of people who have mental illness and supportive of programs to support those with mental illness.
Hopefully the issues with health care in the Province hear and respect all sides and those who want to improve it.
The PCs would never stoop so low as kneecap a political opponent by trying to get him in trouble with his professional governing body, would they? You bet they would. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Albertans may finally be realizing it's not such a great idea to give one party absolute power for 40 consecutive years. The PCs are no longer progressive nor conservative. Over the years, they have corrupted into a state of gross incompetence, and they deserve the same fate that the federal PCs suffered in the 1993 election. The Wildrose Alliance (a relatively recent merger of two conservative parties) is applying solid pressure from the right. What we need is the merger of two progressive parties (the official opposition and the Alberta Party, adopting the name of the latter) to apply equal pressure from the left, so as to squeeze out the PCs (I’ll resist the urge to add “like a festering zit”).
ReplyDeleteANON "Ross" - is there a reason you do not use your name in this comment? It would be more helpful if you did.
ReplyDeleteI have to thank DR. Raj and those who are seeking to discredit him. Finally I have reached the point where I am interested in becoming more politically active. I have begun researching the other parties and must say my eyes are now open more than ever. No longer will I vote PC blindly, and I have to say that any candidate from any party has a lot of work to do before they will gain my vote. The PC party has become a major dissappointment.
ReplyDeleteFirst we had had Klein closing hospitals and training centers. Then we had Stelmach centralize our health care services. I am not sure about others but where do we go to have a say or suggest input. The Ivory tower is too high and those below refer us to the Ivory tower. Stalin centralized didn't he? In Edmonton we lost Sheila Weatherill and a progressive capital health region. What do Liepert and Stelmach do? They move everything down to Calgary the Health region that managed to get everything wrong. Tell me this wasn't political. Then they trash Raj for telling us what we already knew. They fire Mr. Duckett and that results in the resignation of three other board members. How did this help the situation? Mr. Stelmach’s mantra, the way I read it, do what is good politically not what is good for the people. This goes back to the days of the Nick Taylor Red Water by-election. Mr. Stelmach showed his colors then. We should have taken heed. Now there is a supposed campaign to discredit Mr. Sherman. The People of Alberta need to realize those discrediting Mr. Sherman have no credibility. From the day Mr. Klein began blowing up hospitals Albertans should have been disgusted and outraged. We must stop this damage to our society, damage to our province, damage to our economy, damage to our way of life, and damage to our national and international character and reputation. I strongly believe that Albertans are being used and abused by an arrogant, reactive, no vision, I will get elected no matter what, provincial conservative party. We are seeing evidence of this on the national scene also.
ReplyDeleteDr. Raj you cannot discuss alternatives or problems with people who could care less or believe my way or the highway. Only in the last year or so can one discuss alternate views to those of Conservatives without being shunned by the other Albertans in the room. Ideology is probably the worst way to decide on who you will vote for. The reason I say this is it makes one lazy why listen to the platform or discussion when voting. The Conservative ideology will suffice who is the conservative and where do I make the mark. As we are now learning the message and platform have been very damaging, dangerous, self serving and frankly a lie.
Anon at 11:37 - I believe there was lots of direct contact with Dr. Sherman. Premier Stelmach and the Whip met with him for over 2 hours I understand. There was an extended caucus meeting with him too.
ReplyDeleteI imagine what was expected of Raj after such meetings was to stop speaking out in public. He did not stop speaking out and they expelled him from Caucus shortly afterwards.
Ken, Anon Ross is Ross Risvold
ReplyDeleteAgain ANON at 11:52 - can you say why you feel the need to be anonymous when making those statements. I can see why you may not want to identify the politicians involved and there may be good reason to stay anonymous yourself...it would be more credible as a source in the conversation.
ReplyDeleteKen, I stay anonymous simply because I don't want anyone to be "concerned" about my position within the provincial government. I do beleieve that this type of public airing of one's "dirty laundry" whether it be Ed's office's central dictatorship control or Raj's mental issues, is absolutely disgusting. Where is the honour in honourable members any more?
ReplyDeleteA conspiracy implies a coordinated, planned attack. This has more the character of a simple mobbing - a piling on. The pack mentality of a mobbing within the PCs is aided and abetted by people like Horne and White canvassing "help" for Raj behind his back. It's the minions and myrmidons who take the hint provided by the leaders who are most directly at fault; but serious-minded gossip-mongers like Horne and White have to share the blame.
ReplyDeleteI don't expect much from my government. A fair tax for a fair service and competency in respective fields requiring it. I don't understand how the conservative party could deviate so far from this common sense model.
ReplyDeleteIn all of the media interviews I've seen, and with my own (very) brief meeting with Mr. Sherman, I never got the sense that he was mentally ill. Or, at least, he was any more mentally ill than the other suits in the halls of our government.
But make no mistake, our government is gripped by a madness that spreads worse than any disease. I can't fathom how far back it goes. As an awakening member of this province, I was actually sickened by the corruption in the province, going back to first-hand accounts three years ago. It's gotten to the point where the corruption just isn't in government either.
Paul, a few posts ago, said that Albertans were fools. I wouldn't say that. I'd say many know exactly who they're getting in bed with when they vote PC. Just look at the PC leadership vote back in 2006. Party membership skyrocketed as individuals scrambled to get their voice into the halls of power, even if it meant taking the expedient path outside the democratic process.
The culture of repression and corruption stretches out to oil and gas companies, and even NGO's that were formed to safeguard the public interest. Anyone who followed the old EUB hearings a few years ago knows just how bad it's gotten.
To put it bluntly, this is madness. I'm not objecting to a policy or a decision. I'm objecting to the whole system that's been established in the place of government. Discrediting fellow politicians, influencing public-interest decisions, rolling in bed with the oil and gas lobby, throwing cash at the electorate, tearing apart Alberta's health system... none of this makes any sense!
Will it stop? Doubtful. The first knee-jerk reaction by the Alberta electorate was to throw their support behind an even more conservative party. The Wild Rose Alliance submits an attractive image of a pro-democracy grassroots party, but how much of it is just political posturing? Circus tricks often get thrown to the wayside as soon as a party has established a strong enough power base in government.
What do we need to "fix" this situation? That depends on what the electorate actually wants fixed, and what they're content to leave broken.
If Albertans would like to have a transparent, honourable government, then the whole lot needs to be thrown out and put to a vote - with tighter rules governing funding. We should know who's backed by what corporations, and where the money is going. Ideas for proportional representation should also be explored, too.
If Albertans would like their health-care system fixed, we need to stop dicking around with half-baked ideas like superboards or buying more beds.
Nothing short of a paradigm shift will save us from the calamity that's come, and there's only one group to blame - ourselves. We should have pushed for greater education ten years ago, so that our current generations would have the basic knowledge of human health and biology - and would be better equipped to take care of themselves before falling back on the care of the public health system.
Instead, the electorate has been content to just ride the wave, and in typical fashion, when the wheels come off the wagon, it's time to start pointing fingers. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I just wish somebody would've minded that statement back when the PC's were elected for their umpteenth term to uncontested power.
I am reminded that if there is a conspiracy to discredit Raj Sherman it is not like from the rank and file membership. That said it is the place and purpose of the PC Party members to let it be known within the Party that such behaviour is unacceptable. Silence is compliance.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure we have heard their voices yet on this issue of how descent is dealt with in our current government. It will be interesting to see if we do hear from them and if they will feel the need to be anonymous in their comments.
I met with an MLA Saturday night at a social event. He brought up Dr. Sherman and stated that he sits beside him in the leg. He went on to say that the man sitting beside him the past two to three weeks has not been the same man as has been there the past two years. He said Dr. Sherman has trembled through his entire body and has often struggled to put coherent words together. He said "they are all deeply concerned for Raj".
ReplyDeleteI have known this MLA professionally and politically for years. So are his comments concern of part of a smear campaign?
The campaign to discredit discussion is certainly entertaining, but doesn't solve our health care crisis. Setting politics aside folks, consider this idea: DEAL WITH THE PHYSICIAN ABUSE IN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. So far the gov't has chosen to address patient abuse and inefficiencies. What they have left out is the abuse created by the physicians themselves. Think about it! A physician is simply a civil servant handed a blank cheque and can fill in the amount that he/she wants. Why are all of the phyisicians choosing to live in the major cities and refusing to go to the rural areas? Lifestyle, can't miss the Oilers and Flames games. The government is going to spend millions opening beds in the cities when rural Alberta has hundreds of closed operating theatres and hospital wings sitting mothballed. The doctors won't go to rural Alberta where the facilities and staffing are.
ReplyDeleteDoctors abuses? I am on the same long term blood pressure medications (10 years) and in spite of having to wait 3 weeks for an appointment here in High Prairie, my G.P. refused to give me the one year prescription that he is legally allowed to do (most folks don't know this is even possible!); "Come and see me in three months (I need to fees)". "Sorry, I can't renew that prescription over the phone (even though I'm allowed to do so, you have to make an appointment so I can get the fee)". "Come in and we will review your test results (even though everything is normal, but I need the fee)". I have personally been referred to many types of unnecessary tests (nerve tests when my wife the nurse knew it was just tennis elbow)just so the specialist could get a referral. Each and every one of us can list the many many abuses we have seen yet the finger is never been publicly pointed at the sacred cow doctors and their union, the AMA. I have seen a physician who purposely sent clients to emergency instead of his clinic so he could collect higher rates.
The solution? I have personally designed and implemented a model in Wabasca whereby the physicians were municipal employees on salary. Never the assembly line 5 minutes per patient as we see everywhere. We provided top notch service with 15 minutes per client, with more time if necessary. Doctors were on call a maximum every fourth week so that they could have a life. They got plenty of professional and vacation time and best of all, we owned and ran the clinic so they had no risk and couldn't fight over the client base. When I advertised this model, I didn't have to go and rob a third world country like South Africa. I had 21 CANADIAN doctors apply to work in Wabasca, a remote community 3 hours from Edmonton! I have seen it many times where a rural community is short doctors and the few there discourage prospective doctors because of the flawed fee for service model. This folks, is the solution (I think).
The sad part is that the province already has this model but RPAP (Rural Physician Action Plan) does not notify communities that it exists! Personally, I would go one step further and use the military model whereby student doctors are on a minimum salary, no student loans in exchange for a 10 year contract, of which 5 years may be in a rural area. We could set the quotas we need for G.P.s and specialists and they would have to stay and work out their contracts here in Alberta in the areas where they are needed, not relocate to the U.S. for the big bucks.
Any thoughts?
Hello Randy. I am not surprised that Raj Sherman is a hanged man in the past 2-3 weeks. Look what has has been through. He is bound to be emotional and frustrated. Who wouldn't be under these high pressure circumstances? That does not mean he is mentally ill.
ReplyDeleteAs for if your MLA friend is part of a smear campaign, how can we tell one way or the other. It is a matter of motive and action aimed at a intentional consequence. Authentic deep concern is laudable, feigned deep concern is not. I have no idea about how to judge any of this with your friend. Nor can I assess the mental or emotional state of someone. I can just consider their circumstances and be empathetic.
That is part of the tragedy here. Critical thought is seen as criticism and defences get put up very quickly.
That brings me to another point. The idea of caucus solidarity has morphed into a place where we don't know what options of opinions or ideas are held or being explored by government MLAs. They just come out of caucus with an answer that we citizens are supposed to presume was reached through an informed exploration or debate. Could be but thoughtful citizens are no longer trusting that traditional way of their government in making public policy decisions.
I hope Sherman's efforts will embolden other MLAs to speak out on ideas or options for legislation or regulation publicly before any behind closed doors caucus meeting...regardless of party stripe. It would reassure citizens that there is a range and depth to the caucus discussion.
I don't hold anyone in politics in less regard because they can't persuade their colleagues of the wisdom of their ways. I honour them for having taken a principled positions and proposing it...particularly if they do it publicly When do you think that will happen in our Alberta democracy?
Ken, That leads to a discussion on who our elected representatives actually represent once elected and why they aren't free to speak openly. But that is another subject for other blogs you and I have written before.
ReplyDeleteI was mad at Stelmach for suspending Sherman. He should have been KICKED OUT end of story.
ReplyDeleteAnon at 8:18 - thx for your strong opinion but can you give us more like some reasoning for it? Also can you share why you are anonymous? What are you afraid of?
ReplyDelete