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I came across no-fault insurance issues facing Saskatchewan only superficially and I really got upset about Dr. Cassidy's recent research supporting no-fault insurance because this researcher partially based his findings on motivational psychology theories(1). Dr. Cassidy says that a system which allows people to sue forces them to focus on their injuries, instead of on getting better. And this is why injured people recover twice as fast from whiplash and related traffic injuries if they cannot sue for pain and suffering. I am not going to dwell on the integrity of the research methodology used by Dr. Cassidy to support his conclusion that no-fault is superior to the tort system(2).

What I am concerned here is the continuous manipulation of numbers by this government and their contracted researchers and business consultants to defraud the people of this province under the economic banner of saving money(3). Dr. Cassidy's research is another attempt by this government to constraint our individual rights, and play with their astute phoniness(4). Dr. Cassidy's conclusion that no-fault is better than the tort system is as far fetched as the thought that we can solve the challenges of a new economy either by learning how to write better resumes or by continuously improving the quality of our ancient products and services.

Only recently I have found out that Dr. Cassidy's research was supported by a research fund of $1.5 million granted by SGI, and therefore we can easily understand where Dr. Cassidy's loyalties reside: the almighty dollar, and with it SGI and this government.

Last week, I became aware of the organization The Coalition Against No Fault(5) and since then I visited their educative web site and read the article "Folly to accept SGI theory on cure for pain(6)." Yesterday, I talked on the phone with Lorie Terry, a member of the Coalition Against No Fault, and I was amazed by her exuberance in carrying on the fight against no-fault insurance in Saskatchewan. Lorie invited me to attend the public forum on no-fault to be held at the Saskatoon Public Library on May 13, and I am sorry I cannot be there. If you have time don't miss the opportunity to attend this forum and listen to outstanding good people. It is not only a matter of no-fault insurance, it is a matter of our freedom.

Endnotes

Quote by Donella Meadows "challenging a paradigm is not a part-time job. It is not sufficient to make your point once and then blame the world for not getting it. The world has a vested interest in, a commitment to, not getting it. The point has to be made patiently and repeatedly, day after day after day" ftp://sysdyn.mit.edu/ftp/sdep/Roadmaps/RM1/D-4143-1.pdf http://iisd1.iisd.ca/pcdf/meadows/default.htm

General reference: Articles by Mario deSantis published by North Central Internet News

1. Dr. Cassidy's study on no-fault insurance: supporting another shock absorber, by Mario deSantis, April 20, 2000

2. Letter From Dr. Freeman About SGI's No Fault Study http://www.angelfire.com/nf/coalitionagainstnf/LetterFromDr.Freeman.htm

3. Making money is not creating wealth Mr. Premier Romanow, by Mario deSantis, February 7, 2000

4. Honourable Janice MacKinnon and her rolling economy in Phonyland, by Mario deSantis, May 8, 2000

5. Coalition Against No Fault In Saskatchewan, Box 24007, 240 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4R 8R8, (306)546-4424 coalition@dlcwest.com http://www.angelfire.com/nf/coalitionagainstnf/

6. Folly to accept SGI theory on cure for pain, by Lorie Terry, letter to the Editor, The StarPhoenix, May 4, 2000, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

interesting material has come to light on this subject (May 25, 2000) see: http://www.icbc.com/oldrecover/Volume10/Number2/articles/bounds.htm