Protestantism

» redback - Time in the Past

I sorta agree. Yet the Royal We being used here despite my aversion to generalising, confuses.

I am not of the view 'we' should ignore the past for some of the reasons you articulate and far more. I come from a more pragmatic place. I believe in not taking shortcuts until the main road is known...and tis a principle that values history. Back in the 1980s, when I was involved in developing a social welfare policy for the 1990s, history back beyond the 1950s was relevant.

Incremental advances over time accept reality. But I'm still impatient with the pace and nature of changes to health care. Etrenched unwanted behaviours require more drastic measures that may be unpalatable. Bow to complaint vs meet the greater good.

Let me say pure history for history's sake was a lecture room/lifetime-ago stage of my life. And the context here is about health care??

I have no problem with your interest in and focus on, history. I just assume though any "combat" needed within the suite101 pages excludes me. Kinda like when posters here felt the need to protect me from fundamentalism and liberalism alike. And requiring me to defend a position I wasn't taking. I take the bait...I can't help trying to explain ad nauseum...a part of my baggage. I thought you express a similar problem on occasions with Pink?

I forgot to mention we also don't get excited about our Constitution nor its amendments. Does that really mean Australians care less...or are historically perceived by the USA to care less about our 'moral compass'? My worldview includes the USA, Europe and Asia etc but some would have me (falsely?) believe the USA's worldview is limited to what lies within its breached borders. OR does it mean your society CAN learn things from us?

The Hippocratic Oath's famous (and paraphrased) 'first do no harm' requires external support. Doctors can't operate in a vacuum when it comes to rights AND responsibilities. And churches may wish to stop prayers to all the gods and goddesses...and doctors want to charge fees now despite the classic version's call.

Lessons? The lesson I've learned from my variable health care is it's too important to leave to others.

You ask: "What lessons can we learn..." For balance, is anything conceded? How do we measure if a society learns anything. Who/what is society's weakest link?

-- posted by redback