Saint Louise is an example of why regulators are needed
Dear Editor, Â
While Saint Louise Hospital is under fire by a federal oversight board I am reminded once again why we have a government for the people by the people to protect the people. But this government that protects us is not without cost. We hear it every day that government is too big, unyielding and strangling. I don’t believe it is too big as much as it has grown in response to big business and often times when big business has been found to be unable to control itself.
I am reminded by a peanut corporation in Alabama that knew there was salmonella in their product but did not report it because the positive test did not require reporting because it was a not a scheduled test. No regulation was broken but common sense wasn’t working either. People died.
After the Wall Street debacle the first call was for new regulations now in place. To enforce the regulations unfortunately you need new facilities, staff, equipment, etc., to provide oversight and investigate complaints. As much as we complain about the regulations, they are there to protect us all.
Go to www.recalls.gov/recent.html to see a list of recalls that don’t make it to Main Street. I am tired of hearing government is too big and too costly. If it is, it is because big business cannot self-regulate and when it does, there is documented abuse and even loss of lives.
We have a large national debt but I find it to be more of a political issue than an economic issue. It’s not because we are over regulated as many would blame. We have two wars that including the long term caring for vets and families could cost us up $11 trillion, which almost equals the national debt. We have had huge tax cuts that favor the wealthiest and the GOP wants to cut it even more.
We attack public pensions, close libraries and state parks, underfund schools. And while the media blasts rhetoric that government is too big, a huge group of charlatans who have manipulated public opinion to change policy for their own self-interests slithers and giggles all the way to a bank.
I hope Saint Louise corrects the problems and I am thankful for the regulator who found them.
Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill
