Our city is not unused to people who join our institutions and proceed to make radical changes without input from anyone while their boards are willing to rubber stamp every decision.
But we feel that Dr. Thomas Malone has failed to include Summa Health’s reason for existing — the patients — in his decision making. He seems to forget, as have others before him, that without patients there is no need for the institution.
We are very fortunate in this area to have several very good hospitals, and Summa has enjoyed the status of the first hospital of choice for our residents due to its long history with us and its involvement in the community.
But Malone has eroded our confidence in Summa hospitals. He made a decision, at the last minute, to change emergency room doctors associated with the hospital. We have read nowhere that this decision was based on sound financial reasons.
We are not sure how our society got to the point where we have allowed and even condoned people in power making unilateral decisions about our health care. There was little or no involvement from those who are supposed to run our institutions and assist in making decisions based on factors other than the will of the CEO.
Because of Malone’s actions and the lack of concern shown for our community, our family has made a decision of its own.
We are now carrying cards that say, “Take me to General,” and have informed our family and health care providers of this change. We sincerely hope that others in the community will do the same.
Karl and Jan Richards
Akron
Nation shocked into submission
Republicans are intent on manipulating the shock of Donald Trump’s victory to roll back FDR’s New Deal and Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. They intend to ram through unvetted Cabinet nominees who will undermine the legal mandate of the very departments they are entrusted to lead.
They will also legitimize huge conflicts of interest and intimidate opponents, including the press and professional civil servants in a rapid fashion.
This is a classic case of what Naomi Klein called “The Shock Doctrine” in her 2007 book of the same title. The Shock Doctrine works as follows: “In times of political, economic, or social crisis (including wars, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, economic panics, coups and other dramatic political upheavals) oligarchic forces push through otherwise unpopular ‘free market’ and neoliberal reforms — including deregulation, privatization, tax cuts for the elites, and massive cuts to the social safety net, in the hope that the resistance won’t have the time to organize.”
I would say that the Trump victory is the exact type of crisis that the oligarchy needs to push the Shock Doctrine through in these uncertain times. If they succeed, a century of reforms could be rolled back, and we will be facing a new Gilded Age.
Dave Durnan
Mogadore
Workers need some respect
Most of us of a certain age saw and felt the strong benefits our parents received working for great American companies. They worked hard for their company and in turn their companies provided a substantial security net.
My father, a World War II Navy veteran, worked for Terex. When he retired, he received a full pension which he lived on comfortably until the day he died. My dad was always so proud of his company and the benefits it brought to his family that included six children.
So many angry voices we have heard on the news are entangled in fear as great benefits for middle class America dwindle each year. Also dwindling is the respect we hold for anyone who works hard each day — no matter what they are doing. With our mass media, men and women seem to be judged on how big the paycheck, how big the house, how, as Donald Trump has expressed through Twitter, big the ratings on his weekly TV show.
Respect matters and can be seen and felt when it is in action. Not Trump or any other elected official can change how we show respect. That job is for we the people as workers, managers and business owners.
Deborah Bednar
Fairlawn
Stop whining, Democrats
As a 93-year-old independent, I think it is time that the poor-loser Democrats stop acting like kindergarten children. Quit whining, pouting, and grow up. You are acting like party is more important than the good of the United States.
Curt Hecker
Green
No tweets?
I hear that Macy’s is closing up stores (as is Sears), and jobs are being cut. Where are all the self-congratulatory Trump tweets taking credit for that?
Ernest Michaels
Cuyahoga Falls