The Springfield Police Division despatched 11 officers to Washington, D.C. to guard Donald Trump throughout the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime alternative,” stated Police Chief Ken Scarlette, who obtained the invitation whereas attending a law-enforcement convention.
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SERVE THE CITY
My tax {dollars} pay for these public servants, and they need to be serving town of Springfield (“SPD officers going to D.C.,” Jan. 2). Mayor Misty Buscher noticed match to offer the police massive pay raises, so let’s present fiscal accountability and maintain them working within the metropolis.
It is the identical previous story, Republicans take workplace and spend as a lot cash as they probably can earlier than they get out. Donald Trump doesn’t want safety. He has the Capitol police, the Secret Service and his personal privately employed thugs to guard him. He did nothing to guard the police on Jan. 6. What incentive would he have to guard our law enforcement officials?
Denise Johnson
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH
Chief Ken Scarlette thinks we’ll be reimbursed. How’s that going for individuals who Trump owes cash to?
Lori McKiernan
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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BAD LOOK
Whether or not reimbursed or not, it nonetheless provides the looks of impropriety.
Chris WIngler
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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A WASTE
Absolute waste of assets! I might reply the identical method had Kamala Harris received and it was reported Springfield law enforcement officials have been being despatched to guard her.
Joe Coffey
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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POLAND CAN HELP
Let’s not overlook the final time Donald Trump was president, Poland needed to ship its military with COVID gear to assist us out as a result of Trump refused to ship us any assist. He was going to let everybody in Illinois die of COVID-19. Why would we assist him when he refused to assist us? Ship Poland to assist him.
Michelle Kiska-Gabriel
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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PAID VACATION
Is not this why we’ve got the Secret Service? Name it what it truly is, a paid trip for Trump supporters within the SPD.
John Watts
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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NOT A COMMODITY
The competitors between the hospitals in Springfield epitomizes the troubling prioritization of revenue over affected person care in our well being care system (“Springfield Clinic disrupts space well being care trade,” Dec. 19). As a substitute of collaborating to make sure complete and accessible look after the neighborhood, these establishments are locked in a battle for market dominance. And the concept HSHS St. John’s Hospital or Springfield Memorial Hospital are nonprofits is laughable – go take a look at the publicly out there wage data for the manager groups. Their rivalry fragments care and drives up prices as hospitals and clinics put money into advertising and administrative bloat moderately than bettering medical providers. Sufferers are left caught within the center, dealing with increased payments and restricted choices whereas struggling to navigate a system that ought to prioritize their well being, not company backside strains.
This can be a broader systemic downside inherent in for-profit well being care throughout the U.S. When the first aim of hospitals, insurers and pharmaceutical firms is to generate income, sufferers and docs alike endure. Physicians, who dedicate their lives to therapeutic, are constrained by bureaucratic hurdles, extreme workloads and profit-driven insurance policies that hinder their potential to offer optimum care. In the meantime, sufferers are burdened with exorbitant payments, denied protection and pointless stress – all signs of a system that values income over individuals. The one winners on this equation are the extremely paid executives of insurance coverage and well being care firms.
It is time to acknowledge that well being care is a human proper, not a commodity, and transfer towards a mannequin the place care is common, equitable and free from the corrosive affect of revenue motives.
Mark Hunskor
Through illinoistimes.com
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COMPETITION IS GOOD
Competitors is sweet, it makes all individuals higher. Dean Olsen continues to reveal how we want nice native journalism and the way he is without doubt one of the greatest. Good luck to Springfield Clinic with its new endeavors.
Evan Mahan
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
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DISRUPTION IS GOOD
If it means shorter wait occasions in each the emergency room and cath labs, allow them to disrupt.
Janet Gabbert
Through Facebook.com/illinoistimes
