Saturday 12 November 2011

Labour health promises the same old election rhetoric

Labour health spokesman Grant Robertson’s statement that he would not “pre-judge” whether their proposed “independent” inquiry into fluoridation may lead to mandatory fluoridation is distinctly undermined by his own declared personal support for fluoridation, according to Democrats for Social Credit Health spokesman David Tranter.

“The long-standing fluoridation controversy has never been noted for the independence of politically-driven inquiries ever since the U.S. government in the 1930s first starting blocking the careers of any scientists who opposed the policy“, Mr. Tranter said.

“My suspicions about Labour’s ideas are further heightened by their stated intention to ‘write a national policy’ on fluoridation. If they don’t intend making it mandatory why even consider a national policy?” he asked.

“Given the record of Labour health ministers such as Annette King insisting on their personal views such as adding folate to bread becoming policy, DSC will be watching closely to see how Mr. Robertson follows up his stated views on fluoridation.”

On Labour’s promise to put, “An end to what it says is National's ‘under-funding’ of health”, the Democrats call for an end to such meaningless rhetoric when what is needed is better targeted use of present funding levels by winding back the vast proliferation of health bureaucracy under the so-called reforms initiated under National’s corporatisation of health management in the early 90s” Mr. Tranter said.

“If a sufficiently bold government was prepared to accompany that with providing necessary loans for building new DHB facilities from the Reserve Bank at minimal interest instead of the hugely wasteful commercial borrowing there would be no need to increase funding”, he concluded.

ENDS

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