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Published: August 08, 2008 05:45 pm
Readers' Forum: Aug. 9, 2008
Privatization flaws exposed
For those of you who believe that privatizing our governmental services is a wise move, I would like to quote some thoughts from recent articles in the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Anderson Herald Bulletin.
Leaders of three citizen groups — United Senior Action of Indiana, Indiana Alliance of Retired Persons, and the Indiana Home Care Task Force — presented their concerns at a news conference this spring. They all agreed that the situation is dire for senior citizens, people with disabilities, and other low-income clients who have had trouble getting their calls answered when applying for food stamps, Medicaid, and other benefits, under the new privatized system.
Nancy Griffin, a former state director for AARP, said that at one household she visited in Kokomo recently, a wheelchair-bound mother of two young children complained that she had lost her food stamps last month. “They literally had no food in their house because they had lost their food stamps.” Griffin said. She and other investigators said they found the welfare changes had been poorly managed by the Family and Social Services Administration and its private partners, led by IBM Corp. and Affiliated Computer Services Inc.
Heidi Mench, who manages a domestic violence shelter for Alternatives Inc., in Anderson, said she had two clients — a teenager still in high school and a 30- year-old, both with two young children each — who have lost food stamps and other benefits under the new (privatized) welfare system.
John Cardwell of the Indiana Home Care Task Force says area advocates are being inundated with stories of lost paperwork, denied benefits, and months without food stamps and Medicaid.
FSSA Director Mitch Roob says the state needed to overhaul its welfare system. However, Rep. Tern Austin said that, “This is not the new and improved FSSA that we were promised. It’s a complete lack of responsiveness and concern for some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
On March 24, FSSA rolled out an additional 27 counties into the new system. I am not sure which counties are under the new system so far, nor when other counties will be added. But as the fall-out takes place, area residents under the original pilot program are speaking out about life under the new privatized system with one singular cry — the system is broken. Our youngest daughter, who works with disadvantaged families, would agree.
Governmental agencies are always in need of improving, and they do need citizens who are willing to scrutinize their work, but private companies are in the business to make a profit. In our society today, making a profit is not always for our people’s benefit. Television ads for the re-election of Gov. Mitch Daniels stress the fact that his administration has balanced the budget with a surplus. This is true, but please note that he has done so on the backs of the poor. Our most vulnerable citizens are the ones who pay. Companies who are in business to make a profit do not always have the best interests of its customers in mind, but our government should.
— John and Jane White
Rockville
Selliken showed city in best light
I read with interest Crystal Garcia’s Tribune-Star story of the group of students and chaperones from our sister city, Tajimi, Japan. Their genuine interest in our community and gracious demeanor were absolutely refreshing.
One of the main events that took place was a special dinner in their honor by Dr. Joe Selliken, who owns Pino’s Il Sonetto restaurant. He invited the adult Japanese members of the party, as well as their host families and other guests, to an elaborate seven-course meal. He began the family-style dinner offering a toast to his guests, appropriately with high quality Saki, a Japanese wine made from polished rice.
Before the meal was served, Joe explained how each dish’s ingredients had a significant connection with Asia. His presentation was thoughtful and well received by his Japanese guests.
While the Japanese meals were served free of charge, only a minimal fee was asked of the host families to help defray a small portion of the expense.
It was truly a magical evening, one that I shall never forget. Joe Selliken stepped forward without being asked and showed our city in its best light.
— C. Robert Follett
Terre Haute
Heartfelt thanks flood response
To all public safety response agencies, personnel, and volunteers:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation to all agencies and individuals who participated in the June flood response.
As we all know, Vigo County and the surrounding area in Indiana and Illinois recently suffered a major disaster as a result of record rainfall. From the very early morning hours of June 7, before a state of emergency had been declared, the public safety agencies in Vigo County responded to an extraordinary number of rescues, evacuations and other emergency situations with speed, compassion, and professionalism.
Additionally, many agencies from around the state responded to the emergency with specialty teams and equipment to assist the people of Vigo County.
Without these combined resources and the many, many hours put in by the responding personnel, the results could well have been catastrophic. Through this process, my staff and I have learned a lot about the intricacies of organization, interoperability, and command during a large-scale disaster.
On both a professional and a personal level, I really appreciate the efforts of the entire public safety community, as well as the countless individuals, who pulled together for the people of Vigo County. As a result of this disaster and the response that followed, I am reminded again why I chose to make Vigo County my home.
— Dorene G. Hojnicki, director
Vigo County Emergency Management Agency
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