Friday, February 10, 2006
Beverly Outrage
There is today reported in the Southwest Times-Record a grim and sinister plot to hold every nursing home resident in Arkansas hostage so that 600 people in Fort Smith might be able to keep their jobs.
Here's the deal. The new owners at BEI are concerned about the "business climate" in Arkansas, as if we had not already given the story away to the Stephens interests, the Waltons, the timber people, Entergy, natural gas companies, the chicken lobby and Farm Bureau. For the love of all that is holy and right, what more do they want?
Ron Silva, from Filmore Equity in San Francisco, will soon be running things at Beverly and his tone bears the superioristic authoritarian tone of a real smart-ass. Here is a quote from Mary Crider's story in the Times-Record.
Toys? That says a lot about one man's vision of the business structure which provides essential medical care to the most fragile members of our society, the elderly. To Silva, Beverly is a "toy." Professional staff is a "toy." Residents? They are all like little make-believe soldiers on Silva's imaginary battlefield.
I don't think I am nitpicking here. His approach to a serious matter and undisguised arrogance brings his qualifications for leadership into question.
Silva has called a secret meeting of local government leaders and Chamber of Commerce. The message is that the headquarters will move without "tort reform."
While I hate to get all bogged down with facts, but this is very important.
The Arkansas General Assembly already passed "tort reform" legislation making it harder for injured parties to bring lawsuits. What this California wise guy wants is SPECIAL "tort reform," which would go far beyond what is available to any other business in Arkansas.
His wicked proposal will have the effect of making nursing home residents completely helpless against the large corporation which decides how much food will be served, how many nurses will be hired, and how often sheets will be washed.
70% of the residents in Arkansas' nursing homes are on Medicare of Medicaid, s this is an important issue of public concern. Business already gets every break under the sun here, so it seems more than brutal that a bunch of out-of-state corporate bullies would attempt to negotiate a deal while holding a gun at the head of every older person in this state.
Such tactics are past despicable.
MEMO TO FORT SMITH COMMUNITY LEADERS: When Ron Silva moves into your town, you couldn't ask for a better neighbor.
Here's the deal. The new owners at BEI are concerned about the "business climate" in Arkansas, as if we had not already given the story away to the Stephens interests, the Waltons, the timber people, Entergy, natural gas companies, the chicken lobby and Farm Bureau. For the love of all that is holy and right, what more do they want?
Ron Silva, from Filmore Equity in San Francisco, will soon be running things at Beverly and his tone bears the superioristic authoritarian tone of a real smart-ass. Here is a quote from Mary Crider's story in the Times-Record.
"I'm going to give these ladies and gentlemen food for thought. ... For those interested in learning about the nursing home industry, I plan to offer to open the doors and show them what we do. What we need to do is stop being attacked. And if that can't happen, we'll pick up our toys and move on."
Toys? That says a lot about one man's vision of the business structure which provides essential medical care to the most fragile members of our society, the elderly. To Silva, Beverly is a "toy." Professional staff is a "toy." Residents? They are all like little make-believe soldiers on Silva's imaginary battlefield.
I don't think I am nitpicking here. His approach to a serious matter and undisguised arrogance brings his qualifications for leadership into question.
Silva has called a secret meeting of local government leaders and Chamber of Commerce. The message is that the headquarters will move without "tort reform."
While I hate to get all bogged down with facts, but this is very important.
The Arkansas General Assembly already passed "tort reform" legislation making it harder for injured parties to bring lawsuits. What this California wise guy wants is SPECIAL "tort reform," which would go far beyond what is available to any other business in Arkansas.
His wicked proposal will have the effect of making nursing home residents completely helpless against the large corporation which decides how much food will be served, how many nurses will be hired, and how often sheets will be washed.
70% of the residents in Arkansas' nursing homes are on Medicare of Medicaid, s this is an important issue of public concern. Business already gets every break under the sun here, so it seems more than brutal that a bunch of out-of-state corporate bullies would attempt to negotiate a deal while holding a gun at the head of every older person in this state.
Such tactics are past despicable.
MEMO TO FORT SMITH COMMUNITY LEADERS: When Ron Silva moves into your town, you couldn't ask for a better neighbor.
