Physician Elections

I have seen no press coverage regarding the League of Physicians elections. Then again, I haven't really been looking.

Over the past two weeks, I've received myriad text messages:

"Dear Dr., for the election on July 6, don't forget your LOP card or ID, Tazkara, Ikhraj Kaid less than 1 year, or passport. These are the only ID paper [sic] accepted." - 30 June 2008

"Dear Dr., the Lebanese Order of Physicians is pleased to grant you for the coming 2 weeks a free Dr.s platinum Mastercard with free benefits." - 1 July 2008

"Dear Doctor, You are the voice of wisdom, of pride. You are Lebanon best [sic]. Lebanon will appreciate to hear your voice Sunday for our brothers the doctors candidates of 14th of March. Confirm your choice for the best Sunday 7th until 13:00. Make the difference. God bless you. The friends of 14th of March." - Signed Doctors14th 3 July 2008

I accidentally deleted the first half of this message, but here is the second half:
"Make the difference. Please vote, Lebanon needs you. We need you [sic] vote for the candidates of 14th of March. God bless you. The friends of 14th of March." - 6 July 2008

"Get a USD 5,000 loan from BLC Bank and repay only USD 135 a month." - 7 July 2008

On the day of the election, I received a personal call from one of the candidates.

He was surprised and angered to hear that I had no intention of voting. I do not believe that syndicates and professional associations should be governed by the usual Lebanese political refrains. This might anger many of you readers. One (more specifically, you) may argue that Lebanese politics is such that these minor elections make politically significant something that should remain parochial; therefore, by your logic, I should manifest my political beliefs in a professional situation.

Unfortunately, I do not believe in politicizing healthcare. Labor unions throughout the world are political, but in Lebanon their politics have little to do with bettering the conditions of their constituents (doctors, construction workers, hotel and services workers, plumbers, etc.), and more to do with making a political statement for a particular political faction.

Don't forget, Hezbollah invaded Beirut under the pretext of a labor strike to raise the minimum wage.