Curmudgeon's Corner
Knee jerks, procrastination and forward thinking
by John McMaster, MBA
Jan 15, 2005, 06:08

In late November, 2004 a situation arose in Shelby County, Tennessee where an ambulance took 14 minutes to arrive in the unincorporated area of Memphis. The fact that it was to the home of former Memphis Mayor Wyeth Chandler drew the immediate attention of Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton who announced the following day he had a new ambulance response plan.

Later in the week its was determined that there are no easy answers and procrastination set in with a few who have proposed throwing money at the problem without really thinking the situation through. 

This procrastination and do nothing phase that plagues government bodies is a common response. Form study groups, subcommittees and study the problem to death or until it is no longer in the media and people’s memories fade. This same political body wasted no time in voting themselves and senior staff members sizeable raises while discussing service cutbacks to the community and raising taxes.

It could be just me, but does the fact a former politician had the need provided the quick political response to a perceived problem that has always existed? Did not the local residents of the very same area have the same concerns and experience the same delays, but lacked the political juice to effect any interest? Is the common citizen or transient visitor entitled to the same concerns when it comes to public safety and access to medical care?

What we need in every community is leadership that is forward thinking and willing to take everyone’s well being in to consideration while spending our hard earned tax dollars.

Maybe its time to give up local control and create an EMS Authority that is made up of those who have no vested interests and serve the community. 

Until then the situation continues, no resolve until the next headline puts pressure on and the knees will jerk yet again.



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