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Green or White... Asparagus is out of sight! - Ginny Erwin

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M I S S I O N: TO H E L P P E O P L E H E L P T H E M S E LV E S TO S E L F-SUFFICIENCY T H R O U G H G A I N F U L E M P L OY M E N T<br />

From the Direct<strong>or</strong><br />

By Bruce Crane<br />

Executive Direct<strong>or</strong><br />

Pondering healthcare<br />

ref<strong>or</strong>m can<br />

take a very long<br />

time. It has already.<br />

Th<strong>is</strong> I believe: we<br />

don’t have the luxury<br />

to allow it to take much longer. I <strong>of</strong>fer up<br />

two views that supp<strong>or</strong>t th<strong>is</strong>. First, a classic<br />

adage: If we do what we’ve always done, we’ll<br />

get what we’ve always got. What we’ve got <strong>is</strong><br />

good by some standards and bad by others. We<br />

could debate ab<strong>out</strong> where our healthcare system<br />

<strong>is</strong> good and bad, as many people do. But I<br />

think most <strong>of</strong> us can agree that f<strong>or</strong> whatever it<br />

<strong>is</strong>, it <strong>is</strong> not “good enough.” So we should then<br />

be able to agree that we need to do something<br />

different to get something different.<br />

Second, doing something <strong>is</strong> better than<br />

doing nothing. It <strong>is</strong> an imperfect w<strong>or</strong>ld, (and I<br />

can accept that we <strong>of</strong>ten have imperfect data),<br />

human foibles, m<strong>is</strong>guided self interest, and<br />

other things that lead to imperfect dec<strong>is</strong>ions.<br />

When we do nothing, we have no hope <strong>of</strong><br />

making an improvement. Only when we act,<br />

do we have the chance to make an improvement.<br />

We should also be able to agree that we<br />

do something, even if it won’t be perfect.<br />

The big <strong>is</strong>sue, then, <strong>is</strong> what should we do?<br />

We know it needs to be different from what<br />

we’ve been doing and that we have to do it<br />

swiftly. I am not the one to answer th<strong>is</strong>, but I<br />

can <strong>of</strong>fer a framew<strong>or</strong>k f<strong>or</strong> understanding: It<br />

won’t be perfect, and it won’t solve everything.<br />

Not everyone’s personal concerns <strong>or</strong><br />

self interests will be addressed. But it can<br />

make a huge improvement and lay the groundw<strong>or</strong>k<br />

f<strong>or</strong> the continuous improvement that<br />

most highly successful businesses strive f<strong>or</strong>.<br />

The plan needs to be malleable so it can be<br />

improved over time, as we gain better data and<br />

knowledge. We need to accept “most” rather<br />

than “all,” and “better” rather than “perfect.”<br />

Our collective crystal ball <strong>is</strong> just not clear<br />

enough to do it all now. We must leave those<br />

improvements f<strong>or</strong> the future. We need to step<br />

back from the notion that every need will be<br />

met, because we just aren’t that capable <strong>of</strong> a<br />

collective society.<br />

We are capable enough to improve things. I<br />

believe we can make drastic improvements,<br />

too. All it takes <strong>is</strong> a commitment to change,<br />

action, and an acceptance <strong>of</strong> imperfection.<br />

Oh, and yes, it also takes folks a lot smarter and<br />

experienced in health care than I to draft it,<br />

and politicians who will look at the big picture<br />

<strong>of</strong> a simple framew<strong>or</strong>k, and the acceptance <strong>of</strong><br />

experts who will do their best eff<strong>or</strong>t to handle<br />

the unending details.<br />

If we don’t do th<strong>is</strong>, most <strong>of</strong> the StreetW<strong>is</strong>e<br />

vend<strong>or</strong>s will continue to be uninsured.<br />

Where the money goes...<br />

Vend<strong>or</strong>s buy StreetW<strong>is</strong>e f<strong>or</strong> 75 cents, and the remaining $1.25 goes directly to the licensed vend<strong>or</strong>.<br />

Look f<strong>or</strong> the Badge!<br />

Please purchase your copy <strong>of</strong> StreetW<strong>is</strong>e from badged vend<strong>or</strong>s only!<br />

F<strong>or</strong> questions <strong>or</strong> comments regarding our vend<strong>or</strong> f<strong>or</strong>ce, please<br />

contact Greg Pritchett at (312) 829-2526 <strong>or</strong> at<br />

gpritchett14@yahoo.com.<br />

STREETWISE STAFF<br />

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER<br />

BRUCE CRANE<br />

BCRANE@STREETWISE.ORG<br />

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF<br />

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BCOOK@STREETWISE.ORG<br />

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GRACE@STREETWISE.ORG<br />

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES<br />

MARY FAITH HILBOLDT<br />

PROOFREADER<br />

ROBERT CASS<br />

BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />

ROB FEDERIGHI—PRESIDENT<br />

SOCORE ENERGY<br />

PETE KADENS—VICE PRESIDENT<br />

SOCORE ENERGY<br />

JUDD R. HORWITZ—TREASURER<br />

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STREETWISE IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY AND IS SOLD BY THE POOR AND HOMELESS OF<br />

CHICAGO. STREETWISE IS A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND IS<br />

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1201 W. LAKE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607<br />

OFFICE: 312.829.2526 FAX: 312.829.2623<br />

2<br />

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E.ORG<br />

M A R C H 24-MARCH 30, 2010

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