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The INDEPENDENT, January 15, 2009
The
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by
The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410.
Publisher Clark McGaugh, clark@the-independent.net
Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net
Mentor Noni Andersen
Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based dyes
Opinion
City preparedness kudos
Once the City of Vernonia figured out which Nehalem
River gauge to use (USGS 14299800, which is at Clear
Creek on Timber Rd., NOT at Foss on the coast) they
did an admirable job of flood preparedness in the days
before the two most recent storms that included flood
ing potential. It shows they did listen to the community
in the wake (sorry about the pun) of the December
2007 flooding.
In the days before the storm was to hit this area on
January 1st, and again before the storm of January 8,
the city opened an Emergency Command Center at
city hall. Interim Chief of Police Mike Kay, Fire Assistant
Chiefs Ben Davis and Dean Smith, acting as joint com-
manders, put together teams for both events that in-
cluded EMS, Fire, Police, Medical (Providence and NW
Medical Team), WOEC, shelters, gasoline, even large
heavy vehicles that would be able to move through
flood waters, and Zodiac boats and crews for fast wa-
ter rescues. They made sure services would be avail-
able on both sides of Rock Creek. They held meetings
twice a day to update the teams and to close any need
gaps identified.
They also used the county’s new Community Alert
Network (CAN) phone system to get information to the
public about potential flooding before the Jan. 1 event.
That system calls all land-line phones in a designated
area with a pre-recorded message. It can also call cell
phones, but you must sign up for that. If you haven’t
done so yet, you should. You can call 503-397-7255
ext. 2224, or go online to www.columbia911.com and
look for the link on the first page. This system reached
67 percent of the people when used. If you get a call
from CAN in the future, tell your neighbors and friends,
so others find out.
Another lesson the city learned from 2007 was about
helping seniors and disabled persons. Anyone in those
categories can sign up at the Senior Center with Karen
Miller (503-429-9112). Then, CERT members will con-
tact each person in the event of a flood and will stay in
daily contact to be sure those people’s needs are being
met.
Fortunately for this area, we were lucky and didn’t
get flooding this time and the preparations weren’t
needed here. Kudos to the city and all emergency per-
sonnel for being ready.
Out of My Mind…
by Noni Andersen
Although we hear, repeatedly, that our health
care system is broken, that statement is false.
The U.S. doesn’t have a health care system. We
have fragments of private profit-making pro-
grams, fragments of private non-profit programs,
fragments of government-run programs, and just
about everything in between. Hospitals may not
turn people away from their emergency rooms
and, since they get nothing for services to those
who can’t pay, the cost is passed on to whatev-
er programs exist.
The foundation for all of these fragments is in-
surance companies, which make really big
bucks – profits – for providing no health care at
all. They are just brothers of the accounting firms
that certified the accuracy of Enron and Wall
Street claims of adequate assets.
Every industrialized country in the world, ex-
cept the U.S., has government-run (single payer)
health care. Those with profit motives have prop-
agandized “Socialism!!” with every effort to de-
velop such a system here, making many people
fear what is a generally sensible health care ap-
proach for everyone.
Most of us don’t know the history of national
health care, so some of you might like a brief
background for this “scary idea.”
The first national health care act was adopted
in 1883 in Germany, under the leadership of
Kaiser Wilhelm. By 1885 the program provided
medical protection for 26 percent of the lower-
paid segments of the labor force, or 10 percent
of the population. Other workers were added in
1901, 1911 and 1914. Unemployed were cov-
ered in 1918, more workers in 1927 and all de-
pendents in 1930. 1941 legislation allowed work-
ers whose incomes had risen above the income
ceiling for compulsory membership to continue
their insurance on a voluntary basis. Coverage
was also extended to all retired Germans.
Coverage was gradually extended, regardless
of the type of government or who held leadership
positions, by including more occupational groups
and by steadily raising the income ceiling. Those
earning less than the ceiling are required to par-
ticipate in the program.
Today, nearly everyone residing in Germany
is guaranteed access to high-quality comprehen-
sive health care. Health insurance, as defined by
statute, provides an organizational framework
for the delivery of public health care and shapes
the roles of payers, insurance or sickness funds,
and providers, physicians, and hospitals.
Governmental authority applies to benefits,
eligibility, compulsory membership, covered
risks (physical, emotional, mental, curative, and
preventive), income maintenance during tempo-
rary illness, employer-employee contributions,
and other central issues. Other than the funding
of some benefits and the planning and financing
of hospitals, administering and providing health
care is by non-state entities, including national
and regional associations of health care
providers, hospital associations, nonprofit funds,
private insurance companies, and voluntary or-
ganizations.
The program works. How scary is that?