Check It Out: When will we be free from bureaucratic pressure?
By Joan Janzen
When a senior citizen was asked what is the best thing about being 104 years of age, she replied, “No peer pressure.”
Recently I listened to Dr. Suneel Dhand’s podcast, where he discussed how top US and public medical organizations may be succumbing to pressure. He illustrated with a recent news story that was widely reported across many media outlets. The headline stated: “New guidance: Use drugs, surgery early for obesity in kids.” The article went on to advise that children struggling with obesity should be evaluated and treated early and aggressively, including medication for kids as young as 12, and surgery for those as young as 13, according to new guidelines.
This information was released by the American Academy of Paediatrics. “I’ve known for some time this organization only cares about its corporate sponsors,” Dr. Dhand said. “It’s very clear who their corporate sponsors are and who their loyalty lies with ... big pharma, and even worse is their financial arrangements with big food industries. These are the very industries that are the reason for this disaster we’re talking about. Millions of dollars are pouring into the American Academy of Paediatrics, and it suits them well to be prescribing more medicines.”
He said as a doctor, he observed that 20 percent of children in the US are obese, and the reason for this is obvious. “Foods are now highly processed, loaded with horrible additional substances and sugar added in unbelievable amounts,” he said. “And to think their answer for this is more medication and surgery is an utter disgrace. Where is the public health campaign to really push for children to eat real food again?”
While this faulty advice gained media attention in the US with no criticism offered, Americans are also paying attention to what is happening in Canada. A headline in the New York Post said, “Psychologist Jordan Peterson could lose license if he refuses social media re-education.” The College of Psychologists of Ontario is threatening to take away his licence if he doesn’t attend re-education training.
Peterson has over 15 million followers on social media, is a widely sought-after public speaker, and isn’t supported or influenced by big corporations. He hasn’t worked with individual patients or clients since 2017, so although he doesn’t rely on his licence, he does want to keep it.
While being interviewed by his daughter, Peterson said he wants to make it all public. “It’s problematic that people can levy accusations that bring down the heavy hand of a bureaucratic organization and bear absolutely no personal responsibility for that,” he said.
“It’s beyond comprehension to me that I’m engaged in a battle in my country of Canada, where I have to defend my right to practice my profession as a licensed psychologist. I was a professor at Harvard and the University of Toronto; I trained clinical psychologists. The fact that I have to defend my right to conduct my own profession because I have re-tweeted a tweet from the official leader of Canada’s opposition party, which criticized Justin Trudeau, and am now made subject to heavy-handed punishment and investigation by a government regulatory board, is absolutely incomprehensible,” Peterson concluded.
American JP Sears said on his podcast, “I’m grateful this is happening to Jordan Peterson because millions of people are getting a beautiful example of how to actually be brave when it’s tough. He’s in the heat of the fire, and we’re getting to see how a true freedom warrior responds. Hopefully, it translates to me standing on my principles no matter what. It’s something we can all draw inspiration from.”
Three years ago, while touring the parliament buildings in Victoria, B.C., I took a random photo of the Canadian Bill of Rights hanging on the wall. This statement is found in the Bill: “I am Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.”
Three years ago, I never would have guessed how diligently Canadians would need to guard against powerful influences and pressures. Do Canadians need to reach 104 years of age before they’re finally free of bureaucratic pressure and threats? I hope not.