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Oh,
they had a press conference on Thursday at the Illinois State House
in Springfield, but only after they were called out by the union to
explain themselves.
These
groups, of course, are the same ones who made a huge stink about a
resident eating something inappropriate and refused to pull back the
claim after X-rays showed nothing but good food in the individual’s
digestive tract. Remember Gov. Ryan claiming he saw a resident
chewing on a pen? He refused, of course, to take back his words or
even recognize that he had mistaken an employee for a resident.
Where
are all the groups who say community living is best for all LDC
residents, including the residents who will never have more of a
community in their minds than the bed they live in and the familiar
faces of those who turn them over? Why then would not
everyone enthralled with the demise of Lincoln Developmental Center
not be all over this latest story as proof that the institution
needs to be closed? People are dying, and the same individuals who
called a press conference when they saw a janitor’s door left open
don’t have a word to say!
Maybe
it’s because this time the proof, as it were, would not serve the
DHHS or governor’s strategy.
In
the event there is blame to be met in these deaths, it has no place
on the shoulders of the employees of the institution. You see, these
deaths, according to AFSCME, may well be linked to decisions
regarding the moving of these severely infirm residents out of the
hospital environment offered by the Coty building and into the
dormitory-style setting of the Bowen Cottage. These decisions, of
course, are not the domain of the employees but rather of the
administration, and that, of course, would never do as an issue for
a press conference.
Under
the present circumstances it is best that everyone so dedicated to
helping residents live better, fuller lives by closing the center
just go hide in the closet for a while. Perhaps they too will forget
to close that door behind them, and if they do, I hope we follow
them in and demand answers.
[to top of second column in this
commentary]
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I
believe we are owed an explanation why these most fragile residents
were moved into the common population, unattended by the trained
personnel replete with proper equipment. The question has to be
asked if the move precipitated their tragic demise.
I
have received a dozen stories of patient movement throughout the
center. The unfamiliarity of the caregivers with their patients then
made great write-ups for the inspectors to post on their clipboards.
Were the irrational moves from Coty to Bowen in hopes of still more
and better negative reports against LDC employees? After all, union
steward Don Todd’s own memo expressed concerns regarding
equipment, training and space to care for these residents at Bowen.
Someone
from the state needs to explain in detail why the move of these
residents, within the same institution, was made at all.
I
also need someone to explain why, after the transfer, this floor of
the building was rewired for office and computer use. If the state
was pondering closure and still requests the center be cut back to
minimal size, why do we spend money on remodeling? Don’t tell me
this huge campus didn’t already have enough office space for a
meager 200 employees.
Something
isn’t right about all of this, and the union has been instilled by
the tragic events of the past few days to take the offensive posture
of demanding why residents’ health has been placed into jeopardy
by the Department of Health and Human Services.
I
believe the questions deserve a full answer. The silence right now
from DHHS and Ryan tells me more than a thousand bogus negative
reports ever did.
Oh
heck, let’s be honest. Even if we get any answers, they’ll make
about as much sense as the governor’s plan to trim the budget on
the backs of education, the aged and the infirm.
[Mike
Fak]
Reply to
Fak
(not for publication):
mikefak@msn.com
Response
to Fak’s commentary:
ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com
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There
are other things about our political process where I could say
"only in America." Only in America can we say that we have
the ability by our citizenship to carry the same political clout on
election day as the greatest financial contributor to a specific
party or candidate. Only in America can a person living on Social
Security or minimum wage have as much say on an election day as the
most powerful businessmen in America.
If
only in America we decided to vote. If only in America we didn’t
give up every time the process allows us the chance to start over
again. We could bring fresh faces and ideas to the jobs of helping
us run our government. We could decide on keeping the good ones and
throwing the others back into the dumpster of lost promises. We
could by our sheer numbers give messages that are never ignored by
those who seek or hold office.
Letters,
e-mails, petitions are all taken with a grain of salt by a
politician. A vote always commands more respect than a few words
when voter counts are long past completion and the next is far away.
It’s
close to the time for deciding who our next group of employees
should be, and "only in America" will more than half of us
not bother to do so.
In
the last several months I have heard enough grumblings and gripes
about our county being sliced and diced in the legislative remap to
finish filling the city landfill. The gripes are legitimate, and
mine stand proudly with all of yours, but I realize — and I hope
you do as well — that we have done this to ourselves.
When
a state has to cut back districts, where do you think they will
look? How about a small district of only 10,000 registered voters
that have on occasion graced the polls with an incredibly
unimpressive 16 percent voter turnout. Where would you expect to
place the remap carving knife? Certainly not in the breast of larger
counties, which although they have just as poor a voter turnout
percentage, by their numbers bring more voters to the curtains.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to cut off one of those skimpy wings
of voter apathy like Logan County?
[to top of second column in this
commentary]
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An
unpopular decision becomes more palatable when there are fewer to
complain. Logan County voters have shown repeatedly that if you’re
looking for a district that doesn’t carry many votes, we fit the
bill as a good place to send into representative confusion and
oblivion.
There
is a chance for us to come out of this morass upwind of the stink of
this new remap. We have been graced recently with four state
representatives visiting us and in fact championing our cause on the
LDC issue. We have been visited frequently by two state senators,
and they too have taken an early interest in our voter capacity.
Whether
any or all of these legislators will continue to show interest in
our county will be decided on March 19. A great voter turnout could
give us more power and thus interest from our state candidates than
more populated areas that don’t show up to vote. A poor percentage
base of an already small voter pool, and the campaign caravans won’t
continue heading to Logan County.
Politics
is really a simple business. You attempt to receive more votes than
others who would have that same job. The math tells any sane person
that concentrating on the issues and concerns of principal blocks of
potential voters helps one keep his or her job.
March
19 we will have the opportunity to show state officials that keeping
in touch and abreast of Logan County issues will bring them the
votes they need to continue or obtain their employment.
Although
only a primary, this election is the most important in the history
of this county. It in effect is our last, best chance. Only in
America.
[Mike
Fak]
Reply to
Fak
(not for publication):
mikefak@msn.com
Response
to Fak’s commentary:
ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com
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