Once again I am taking issue with Mr. Gary Horton and today’s column (June 3) “Where Does the Commons End?” For the majority of his article, I agree with him about his observations about the “prudence and generosity” that exists in Santa Clarita.
However, I question Mr. Horton’s knowledge of both history and current events.
Mr. Horton begins by listing many things our city has done to maintain and improve the quality of life — for the public — in Santa Clarita. He is right (or left?) when he describes these as “commons.” The overwhelming majority of valley is welcome to use any or all of these facilities or services.
However, when Mr. Horton says “we started our own community hospital,” that isn’t exactly right. The Newhall Land and Farming Co. donated the land and the Newhall family gave the first $1.6 million of the $8.5 million the project required. There was a public fundraising drive, but it was businesses who donated and raised the funds for a partnership with Lutheran Hospitals. Those took the form of special events and fundraisers, but they were done by businesses — very few individuals. Our city was a distant hope among some dreamers in the Santa Clarita Valley and the county chipped in nothing, so “community” was “corporate” more than anything.
After listing more “commons,” he includes the price of insulin as something that is wrong with the “commons.” I have serious issues with Big Pharma, Big Insurance and, specifically, the inexplicable pricing differences of insulin around the world. But there is no way to rationally include a girl’s suffering with the city’s accomplishments in providing public services.
By dragging medicine into the “commons,” Mr. Horton is subtly promoting our government being the “single payer” of our medical costs. To that, I have a twofold response: 1) Can Mr. Horton provide an example of socialized medicine anywhere in the world that provides a level of care close to what we have today? Yes, it may be less expensive, but the delays in getting care and the substandard preventative care is killing a significant percentage of people waiting for care. 2) Don’t EVER tout the “Affordable Care Act.” As independent contractors, my wife and I had to purchase our own medical insurance. At almost $500/month, it was a costly but necessary expense. Then Obama-Care was enacted and our same policy rose to over $1,100 per month!
Mr. Horton thinks that “prudence and generosity” are fiscally and politically connected. It is our city’s government responsibility to the citizenry to be prudent. The city should not have the surplus to be generous — that always comes back to grace and mercy expressed within the heart of man. Don’t talk to me about where “the commons ends.” I don’t want Mr. Horton’s idea of the commons to begin!
Jim Scott
Santa Clarita
