Here is another roundup of some of the most thought-provoking reader comments of the week. Comments are selected by our editors and subject to editing for grammar, spelling, clarity and length.
Click on each topic’s headline to see the article in question.
MediConnect: Test Run for Obamacare
Why would any doctor in his right mind participate in this program when they are capitated at low rates to care for a high-risk patient population with many medical problems that require more time and expertise to treat?
No wonder there’s a shortage of docs willing to take on these patients while many older docs retire to get out of the business before Obamacare takes effect.
Bright young people had better think twice before choosing medicine as a career with the direction this nation is headed. Why go to cut-throat medical school and come out with $300,000 to $500,000 in student debt when you can graduate high school and get a job as a firefighter, make practically as much as a medical doctor and retire at 50 years of age?
— Beelzebub
Privatizing an Ambulance Service
The fire agencies should not have an issue with this paramedic program. It is for interhospital transports only. The fire agencies do not perform this type of transport for patients. The only instance in which paramedics are called for an interfacility transports is for an extreme emergency, such as the “walk-in trauma” or other conditions that the initial hospital cannot care for.
It does make sense to have a private company available for the higher-level calls so the public safety agencies are available to respond to service calls from the community.
— El Guapo
Police Oversight in Anaheim
Its obvious that the DA and/or the Police Department are incapable of being objective in their investigations of such [police shooting] incidents. It is far past time to hand over the investigations of such shootings and other incidents of police misconduct to an outside agency or body that would not have a stake in the outcome either way except in reaching the truth.
The Kelly Thomas murder [in Fullerton] in particular would not have even been charged had there not been such public outcry.
The public outcry by those outraged by the killing of Manuel Diaz [in Anaheim] went unacknowledged in my opinion due to their collective status of being perceived as second class citizens.
The Kelly Thomas supporters were of Caucasian bent and have used their power of vote in the past and present. The Latino community historically stays away from polls en masse.
— Paul Lucas
Tragedies and Political Missteps
A misstep indeed.
It is understandable that Murray and Krom were hurt that the mayors of Anaheim and Irvine were insensitive when responding to these tragedies. These [mass killings] were unspeakable tragedies that go way beyond politics, and it was unfortunate that these mayors did not have the foresight to include their colleagues in what should have been a united front in response to the devastating events that touched us all.
— Ground Control
I cannot speak for other cities, but I can tell you the Anaheim candlelight vigil was not a political event. It was truly a grass-roots coming together of the community in a desperate effort to do something to try and deal with the unimaginable horror and grief we were all reeling from [the Newtown, Conn., school massacre].
I pray that those reading their own motives into the actions of the mayor or his staff will think twice and not go there, as it damages what was an otherwise pure expression of people sharing overwhelming emotions.
The shootings were Friday morning [Dec. 14, 2012], and by Monday night Anaheim was gathered with candles. All who were involved are to be appreciated and thanked, and I hope and pray that no bad feelings will invade and pollute what was a truly heartfelt gathering that had no political undertones.
— Cynthia Ward
Brandman’s Report
It does make one ponder why they are squabbling over $24,000. Why not go after the law firm the county has been paying for a year now to investigate Alisa Drakodaidis? They have paid her full $170,000 salary for this year period while she sits home doing nothing for the Orange County taxpayers.
The CEO’s office keeps telling the press that the report is coming any day now. This has been the answer for at least four months. What a joke it is that they are now concerned with $24,000.
— Cacityguy
It isn’t just about $24,000. It speaks of the lack of ethics and integrity of our government officials. It gives the county working stiffs like me a bad name.
Rank and file in this office are amazing and generally hard-working, caring people that continue to suffer because their elected official is corrupt. This office [of the county clerk-recorder] has had corruption for 30 years and sadly will continue to do so until an honest politician can be found. We want to believe there is one out there.
Oh and by the way, if I were to turn in a report like Mr. Brandman’s or miss a deadline, this same office administration would come down on me — and hard. Rank and file would never be allowed such leniency.
— Workingstiff
No Chance for a Prospective CEO
Whichever Board of Supervisors member leaked Ms. Wallar’s candidacty to the press threw her under the bus at that moment.
It has been known for years that board members who want to curry favor with a reporter or stir up public sentiment leak information to the press. No one on the Hall of Administration’s 5th floor [the location of supervisors’ offices] can be trusted to keep a confidence — unless their personal career is threatened, that is.
There is, of course, also a possibility the leak came from county Human Resources, since the director is a candidate for the job.
In any event, watch now for a move to appoint a political crony to the job at [former CEO Tom] Mauk’s old salary or below.
— News Hound