Wednesday, March 14, 5:30 – 7 p.m., Eastsound Fire Station
— from Alison Shaw for Coalition for Orcas Health Care —
The Coalition for Orcas Health Care is pleased to announce its fifth Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, March 14, from 5:30-7:00 PM, at the Eastsound Fire Station. This will be a second opportunity for Orcas residents to meet many of the candidates running for Public Hospital District (PHD) Commissioner. At the last candidate meeting, three candidates could not attend. Also, Steve Hulley, one of the candidates for position #4, retracted his candidacy for personal reasons. (Though his name cannot be pulled from the ballot, he stated he would not accept the position.) We hope all active candidates will participate at the March 14 meeting and invite the public to bring their questions.
The PHD proposal on the ballot for the April 24 special election includes five at-large commissioner positions. Each candidate has filed for one of those positions. During the election, voters will decide whether to approve the PHD and will also vote for a candidate for each position. If the PHD is approved, the winners of the five positions will form the new PHD Board of Commissioners. The winner with the fewest votes will serve until the next general election, the next two winners will serve until the second following general election, and the two winners with the most votes will serve until the third following general election. Thus, a rotation will be established for future commissioner elections.
“We were very pleased with the response to the last Town Hall meeting where candidates answered many questions from the community,” said Dale Heisinger, Coalition member, “and we are gathering still more questions for this next meeting.” Coalition member BJ Arnold added, “for those who could not make the last meeting, a transcript has been posted on the Coalition’s website at https://www.coalitionfororcashealthcare.com/town-hall-meeting-2-23-2018 ; we encourage everyone to learn about each candidate’s perspectives on health care for our community.”
It’s abundantly clear that election of caring and competent candidates is essential to the success of a hospital district. Combined, they must bring a broad range of experience and skills to the table and be able to work collaboratively and diligently for the good of the community.
The Coalition hopes for a large attendance at the March 14 Town Hall meeting, and asks readers to spread the word to neighbors and friends.
For more information, and the published Q&A from previous Town Hall meetings, please check the Coalition’s website: https://www.coalitionfororcashealthcare.com. Follow the Coalition for Orcas Health Care on Face Book, @Orcascohc.
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Some a-political talking points based on reason for the upcoming confab:
Fair minded people would be excused for asserting that until its burden of proof is met, the PHD proposed represents a “presumption of abuse.” This presumption, like all presumptions, can be rebutted; to-date it hasn’t been.
Precision of language: We hear talk of “proof” but we see only declaratory statements describing as one resident islander has termed them “pie in the sky” aspirations.
Emotions run high but emotions are almost always devoid of rational ingredients thus they draw erroneous conclusions and it’s we taxpayers who are left to “mop up” via higher property taxes without an accompanying increase in property value.
No proof has been proffered that the PHD proposal will escape its Master, Obamacare (now Trumpcare), and miraculously defy the laws of that government mandated Universe. Perhaps it’s because there isn’t any proof. In fact, we have ample empirical observations nation-wide that a finding of impending failure would more likely than not be the outcome.
Prior to Rex Trump ascending his Throne (with his Court of Jesters in tow) (f/k/a The Office of the President of the United States), Obamacare reigned supreme in all the land. It wasn’t our congress’ finest hour when they legislated (without bi-partisan support) and President Obama signed into law the PPACA despite the then known fact that it contained what we term in my world “a manufacturing defect” right off the assembly line.
Thus, as soon as it was launched it began it infamous descent towards imminent implosion.
Upon Trump’s ascendancy, congress again failed in form and substance in either fixing, repealing, or replacing the defective product know now as Obamacare. So, we know what government does well—very little.
Fast forward to day. I and other taxpayers are being asked to pay for a program under the tutelage of Obama/Trumpcare.
Excuse me, but even without these most glaring above observations, when you ask someone to pay for your idea, you, not I, have the burden of proof. When coupled with the above described observations, there now rightfully exists a very real “presumption of abuse” until rebutted with proof, not statements of desire and hearsay.
Therefore, I would hope that until it can be demonstrated (a tall order indeed) that this PHD product, restrained by existing economic laws as well as laws regulating Obamaca/TrumpCare,
can somehow miraculously break free of the above hard-wall limitations on flexibility and cost controls, it is “Pie in the Sky,” i’m truly sorry to suggest.
Some may respond, but we must do something…it’s not going to be that big of a burden (for now) and what we have now is untenable to some…Really? That’s why we must incur all the obligations and costs a PHD will entail? That’s irrational thinking incarnate!
Until there’s an idea that interrupts and intervenes the above fiefdom of Obama/TrumpCare, establishing a PHD (subject to current federal and state law) on Orcas Island is tantamount to moving rapidly while stuck in quicksand—-without a tree branch in reach, or a rope tied to a tree, or a helping hand (all examples of “interruption”).
I hope the above talking points based on reason and rational thought, and not politics, desperation or emotion, are aired at the upcoming gathering.
Good luck. I for one would like nothing more than to see and participate in a truly viable alternative to what now exists.
Sorry for any typos, thick fingers small iphone screen.