My Love of Feisty Seniors

Straight-shooters, all of 'em.
Because they've seen and heard it all before.

Kudos to Vernon's Pat Black, who writes a local seniors' feature entitled Personal Best that covers everything from health to pensions to political issues.

"...I guess I am tired of double talk, flim flam and media events about nothing and the assumption that the public is dumb enough to think things are grand just because politicians tell us they are."  Pat Black

Ms. Black's latest column piqued my interest, because she's got the guts to say it as it is.

She saw through the political strategizing that routinely occurs in pre-election years; in this case that Vernon Jubilee Hospital's two shelled-in floors might actually become functional. 

"Finally more beds," says Pat, following Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid's press conference here.

Her optimism quickly doused, she concludes that the top two floors should hold 60 beds; yet the Minister's announcement was for 14, "with the rest shuffled around from the old wings to make up the 60 beds designated."

"I guess I am tired of double talk, flim flam and media events about nothing and the assumption that the public is dumb enough to think things are grand just because politicians tell us they are."

"In truth ... the total number of beds will be 162 for the whole hospital from a now funded 148, a number grossly inaccurate as the number of patients ranges from a low of 170 to 180 with a not uncommon number of 193 patients."

And we know who will pay, don't we, Ms. Black?

"This supposedly good news is especially irritating as the province expects $7.6 million of the total to come from the community through our Regional Hospital District and the VJH Foundation."

"That is us, folks, either through donations or taxes..."

She concludes:  "I would have felt better if the announcement apologized for the limited number of beds provided..."

"I love Pat Black," admits Kia.

Yup...we have no say, but we always pay.
 
Thanks, Ms. Black!