Thread by @Norlaine

As David aptly points out, every time you see a bunch of people screaming about their "Freedoms", think about who profits. 1/14

https://twitter.com/DavidHamer_1951/status/1483061242612879363

In the case of firearms, it is the people who own companies that make and sell firearms. And they will do anything to prevent that revenue stream from being interrupted. They will do everything they can to increase it. 2/14

For these companies, it has zero to do with freedom. It has to do with profit. They pressure governments to not react when there are horrific & tragic firearms deaths. They encourage governments to loosen restrictions, willfully disregarding the potential for more carnage. 3/14

And they do it for profit. They have found they have a willing multitude who can be convinced that their freedoms and liberty are at risk if gun laws are changed to be more restrictive. 4/14

An important note: gun ownership is NOT a right in Canada. Do not be confused. There is no 2nd amendment here. Even the 2nd amendment in the US was written at a time when muskets took minutes to reload. It probably would not have been written by those people now. 5/14

And when people scream about their freedoms when asked to wear a mask, socially distance, and get vaccinated, who stands to profit? 6/14

It's a long game they are playing. It COVID patients overwhelm our health care system, it gives conservative provincial governments an excuse to open the door to for-profit care. 7/14

Since the inception of the Canada Health Act, for-profit entities, like insurers and corporate health care, have wanted to revoke it. The Canada Health Act severely reduced their revenue streams. They do not like that. 8/14

These for-profit entities who rule the health care arena in the US, have long looked over the border and felt deep frustration. All those Canadians, not having to pay into private insurance. All that money going directly to care, instead of into their profits. 9/14

It has vexed them immensely. And conservatives, who both want to please their friends in big business, and who harbour beliefs about who deserves and who does not (those who can pay, deserve health care, those who can't...) 10/14

They have been trying to erode the Canada Health Act for decades and now, suddenly, they have the gift of a pandemic to hasten things along. If enough people get sick, the current system will cease to function. 11/14

That gives them the lever to convince Canadians that they would be better off with "choice", w/ having the choice to pay for their own health care. They don't mention what happens if you cannot. They don't mention that the for-profit system is also overwhelmed and failing. 12/14

And, again, there is a multitude who latch onto the idea their freedoms are being taken away, who resist health measures, and who do the dirty work of spreading the virus and clogging up the healthcare system. 13/14

Meanwhile, those who stand to profit from the reintroduction of for-profit, user-pay health care are watching, rubbing their hands together with glee. Because it is not about freedom. It was never about freedom. It's about profit. Follow the money. 14/14