Thread by @Norlaine

I keep thinking about this, turning it over in my mind. Why? Why did the UCP fail to act to stop the spread of COVID before the 4th wave? Why did they open everything up for Stampede? It makes no sense, from any reasonable point of view. 1/25
#AbLeg #abpoli #abhealth #COVID19AB

These MLAs are supposed to be our representatives. They are supposed to be part of our communities. Why then, were they not doing everything in their power to keep people safe, regardless of how it might irritate some? 2/25

We have all kinds of laws that some people don't like. You aren't supposed to drink and drive. You are supposed to obey speed limits. You are not supposed to carry guns around in public spaces. You are not permitted to beat people up. 3/25

All these laws irritate some people. Yet, we have them. Why? Because they help keep the public safe. They are for the public good. That is part of the role of government. To keep the public safe and support the public good. 4/25

But here we are, in the midst of a global pandemic, and not only has our provincial government failed to do their utmost to keep people safe, we have MLAs who act as though they don't even believe COVID is a real thing. 5/25

There are UCP MLAs who are out for Kenney's head because he has done a few things to at least appear to be trying to keep people safe. Probably more of those than the ones who are angry because he has not done enough. 6/25

This does not make sense. Not at all. We have ICUs overflowing and not enough trained staff to operate the makeshift new ICU beds. We have surgeries cancelled. We have a triage protocol just a few patients away from being activated. 7/25

As it is, our health care professionals are already making the very difficult decisions about who can access care and who will be "kept as comfortable as possible". Patient care is declining. Staff are stressed, exhausted, at the breaking point. 8/25

There will begin to be deaths because of COVID, in people who do not have COVID but who have been punted out of the system because there is no room, and no staff to care for them because of all the COVID patients. 9/25

There may already have been some. Children's surgeries and treatments are being cancelled. Little children with cancer, with degenerative diseases, with congenital problems, are having treatments delayed/cancelled. 10/25

What happens now if a baby is born with a heart defect that requires immediate surgery? What happens now if someone is badly burned in a fire or explosion? What happens now if someone is in a terrible car accident? 11/25

Do the ambulances that come to attend accidents, heart attacks, strokes, etc just circle the block, knowing that there is nowhere to take these people to get the care they need? Because our hospitals are FULL of people with COVID. 12/25

Unvaccinated people, people who chose to not get vaccinated because of stuff they saw on the internet. People who went to "get COVID" parties in some bizarre misinformed bid to get natural immunity. 13/25

And these people, who are in defiance of science, modern medicine, social imperatives, the public good... they are finding allies in the UCP. 14/25

MLAs who seem to feel that people have the right to risk, not only their own lives, but the lives of other people with legitimate health emergencies. People who did all the right things then something bad happened and now they will die because 15/25

Some people believe crackpot conspiracy theories over the world's epidemiology experts.

And I want to know why. WHY? Why is Alberta's governing party siding with the misinformed? Is it not the government's job to inform? To protect the public good? 16/25

I am not saying that you have to have degrees or be an expert in something to be an elected representative. But you should at least acknowledge that in times like these you need to follow the advice of people who are. 17/25

So, why? Why does our provincial government appear to want us all dead? I could almost get it if it was those diametrically opposed in ideology who were getting sick. That would still be wrong, but it would make some kind of sense. But no. 18/25

It's actually mostly the right-wing UCP supporters who are refusing vaccinations, refusing to follow public health measures, and dying at an an alarming rate. They are letting their own supporters die. Just pause and think about that for a moment. 19/25

We all know that the UCP is hot to bring in US-style private for-profit health care. I have no doubt there are some tasty kickbacks to those bold politicians who make that happen. Millions, billions to be made if Albertans have to buy insurance and then pay out of pocket 20/25

When their insurer denies their claims. Truckloads of money. But they are allowing their voter base to be reduced. So, let's just assume for the moment that they are all sociopaths who don't care anything about anyone, have no real feelings. 21/25

Still, pragmatically, they have the self-interest to keep the people who blindly vote for them alive, right? It makes no sense. Seriously.
So, what then? Are the UCP a death cult, convinced that Albertans are inherently evil & it would be serving God to let them all die? 22/25

Are they really, really deeply stupid? Do they actually believe that Bill Gates is implanting chips in people along with the vaccine? Or that people are being enslaved by vaccines? Or whatever other crap theory is being put forward? 23/25

Why? Why is this happening? Sometimes the government has to do what is unpopular because it is in the public good. The public good is what they are supposed to be focused on. The UCP seems to have abdicated any responsibility for the public good. 24/25

So, why? Someone, please explain. This is not normal. This dereliction of duty by a government, I think, is without precedent in Canada (mistreatment of First Nations notwithstanding). So, tell me, WHY? 25/25