Although I agree with you on this election being decided by the habitual voter and the lack of local interest, I can't support your views in favor of this issue. Westwood has never been utilized fully as an extension of Midland Memorial because the purchase was ill conceived. This concept that good, quality health care is determined by a hi-rise memorial structure is nonsensical. The health care system in place now will be the system in place afterwards. A hospital is a business and should be run as such to survive. On the other hand, it is imperative that you have qualified, dedicated nursing staff that creates an atmosphere security and well-being. Excluding a few, Midland Memorial is lacking in this area. Some out-of-town doctors have been refused admission to practice at Midland Memorial due to their ethnicity. Yes, changes need to be made that a new building won’t bring.

Westwood was never an ill conceived purchase, it was never in fact intended to take over the primary facility, ever. As for the difference between a hospital system and a structure, that structure is 60 plus years old in several places, and does not even have proper drainage because the patch jobs that have been done over the years are a band aid, not a solution. Before you start saying it will continue to exist as is into the future, why don't you think about this scenario: You have a massive heart attack and time is of the essence; however, you have to be sent to MCH in Odessa because Midland's emergency care facility is shut down due to plumbing issues. Are you willing to take the risk of an extra 30 minutes while you're heart is failing? I sure as sh*# wouldn't. Lastly, I don't think race issues are what keeps doctors from practicing in this area, I think it is lack of proper facilities. Which, low and behold, affects the wuality of our health care system. What? You mean, the quality of the tools and facility at a professional's disposal affects his choice of place of practice? That's certainly a novel idea. If a doctor of medicine, a professional with decades worth of education, decides that he is being treated wrongly due to racial bias, I guaranty you that he would have filed a law suit complaining as such. Where are the lawsuits?

I wish people would quit thinking of this hospital issue as a property tax issue, and begin thinking of it as an issurance issue. Insurance you say? Yes, because the next time I am in a major car accident and my life is on the line and seconds count, I want insurance that the place I am sent to has drains that work better than a Denny's bathroom and a staff with proper tools to save my life. I'll pay 6 cents per $1000 valuation per year on my home to insure that, because if I am useless to my family's well being if I am dead.

The patch jobs you speak of cost the taxpayers millions as this one will, and if I were having a heart attack, I wouldn't be worried about drainage systems nor new, shiny tools. I've been the route through Midland Memorial on a possible heart attack, and my thoughts were never of the facilities as they were adequate. On the other hand, I was more than concerned about the ER staff, and that concern grew after admission into CCU. If you want insurance on your health in Midland, best keep a private jet warmed up in your driveway. And you say not to think of this bond issue as a property tax, now that’s a laugh! How about reversing that request? Leave our property taxes out of the equation and increase personal donations from 60 to 175 million. Possibly, then and only then, will there be a stipulation that the hospital become solvent and pay its own way. Imagine that scenario! As it was with the Sports Complex and MISD, personal property taxes will be used then abused by local aristocracy.

I agree with Doogie. So Hog Wash - you advise we keep a private jet in our driveway? While at the same time, saying 60 million in private donations is not enough? So you expect all the wealthy citizens of Midland to pick up the ENTIRE tab? Even more than they generously currently are? Not to mention, won't their property taxes increase the most?

I bet in route to the hospital you were worried about the doctors who were going to take care of you. Old, leaky, scary hospital = no newly-educated young doctors. Period. And we will all pay the price in the end.

Ospurt, I am with you here, and find your point #2 and #4 influencing my position.

We have a community hospital in Midland, and its infrastructure has been used by our community for 50 years. It's prevent remarkably adaptable, but things are really wearing out. And the more patch jobs it receives the more inefficient it becomes.

Several of my loved ones have received excellent care at Memorial, but I'm convinced that a facility that can no longer age gracefully will have an impact on care. Put Carl Lewis in old shoes on a decrepit track and he won't perform as well as he can. And if he chooses to perform at that level for a long time, eventually nobody will be interested in supporting him, sponsoring him or coaching him.

Might as well vote for it;

I am old and will die before I pay my share of the property taxes, but I will enjoy the great medical care now.

Exactly my point bob, thanks. And for the record, I would fall within the defition of a right wing extremist per the most recent Homeland Security report, so saying what I say does not come easily.

Hog Wash, good luck with that heart problem. If that last comment indicates anything about you to me, I think you should be more concerned about keeling over at the buffet line in the next 12 months than how high your next year's property tax assessment is.

Yeah, but since this bond proposal was built in the Oil Is High era last year, don't you suppose it has a lot of 'pork' in it? I'm thinking of how Midland has done with the school bonds: vote 'em down on Round One, then okay the Round Two proposal that is more realistic and doesn't have all the bells and whistles. Those would be lovely to have, but not in the current fix we all find ourselves in.

To Still not sure: It is my understanding from the presentation I attended that the current plan IS the one without all the bells and whistles, and that the first proposals were all much higher.

I enjoy listening to the proponents views and opinions about the necessity of this bond election as I have found them to be alike to those in past bond elections. They never have brought about the change that was and then now promised in your postings. There will be no change in health care with better-qualified doctors until there is a change in management, and as one of you has already stated that you have received excellent medical care, there is no need for change. So, if the age of a building makes you uncomfortable and the failure of the drainage system unnerves you, and you’re satisfied with current hospital personnel, then Midland should be in the top 100 hospitals in the United States on completion of the new hospital. Is that not a fare assumption? I sincerely hope that if the Midland taxpayers that I have talked to go to the polls, this will soundly be defeated until the next election is organized.

I, as a private business owner, do not go to the electorate and ask for money to modernize or expand my facility. I do not ask the electorate for supplemental income to offset my non-paying customers. I do build another facility when my old one is no longer worthy, at my cost.

I too will not be voting for this mess.

I, as a private business owner, do not go to the electorate and ask for money to modernize or expand my facility. I do not ask the electorate for supplemental income to offset my non-paying customers. I do build another facility when my old one is no longer worthy, at my cost.

I too will not be voting for this mess.

"Still not sure" - Yes you are right, and my opinion has been that to this point. However, I found out the other day that the $60 mil in donations is only contingent on passage of the bond. If the bond doesn't pass, then the money isn't collected. So, the entire fund raising process would have to start over again. In the meantime, which would be another couple of years, decent doctors will be heading to Odessa and Lubbock because these mid level markets have much nicer facilities and opportunities for doctors to participate in more leading edge sciences. The nurses and staff will go there to work with the highre credibility doctors. More people will go there for treatment because it has a higher reputation for the quality of the staff and the facilities. Meanwhile, Midland Memorial will continue to look like the Big Spring VA hospital and we are having to cart Hog Wash's fat a$$ to Lubbock for heart treatment because he got his panties in a wad over his property taxes going up, on average, $100 PER YEAR (about $8/month). So now, guys with heart conditions like Hog Wash but who don't have health insurance (I would assume that given his ol' ticker's condition and the fact that he has access to a computer that he earns enough money to at least cover the cost of insurance, but I know there are many who do not), we as taxpayer's will get to send them to Lubbock for treatment because we lack the electrical capacity, the size of facility, the proper supply and DRAINAGE lines at our local hospital to carry the modern equipment for proper treatment over at MMH. So, now I am on the hook for a medivac flight to Lubbock in addition to all other costs. You know where that payment will come from when Hog Wash's illegitimate brother with the same hereditary heart condition but no insurance will come from? My income taxes, because I have a good paying job and he doesn't and we are contributing to the case for raising our income taxes to cover the costs of health care. All because we didn't take two seconds to think, "Hmm, I can't force a person to carry insurance in our current system, but I could certainly have a proper local facility for treatment that would offset the costs of shipping this guy somewhere that does...". Thanks Hog Wash, your comparison of the hospital issue to the stadium and the airport issue pretty much somes up what you are, and a lot of other crazies out there in this town on tax and spend issues that should be differentiated from frivolous ones: you never stop to take a step beyond your knee jerk reaction to an issue and once you have stated your opinion you feel you have to back it up, as opposed to thinking for two minutes beyond the knee jerk and developing the topic in your mind. Instead, you feel the west Texas good ol' boy kick in and the need to back up whatcha said like the big ol' boy thatcha are! Well, good luck with that, I am going to think things through like a majority of the voters will be in this election and see the overall need that this bond brings to the table, not just a knee jerk that my taxes are going up and the government is taking over. You and your friends go ahead and vote "no", and we'll see how that works out for you. In all sincerity, I look forward to you having another "blip" on the heart condition radar screen in the next couple of years and have to suffer the personal shame and embarassment when you have to take a ride to the new facility and the treatment you need is available in the new hospital where it wasn't before. That, my friend, would be life's irony.

"Dr. Howser" - Local private business owner and home owner (with some common sense)

Hey Texican - about that business of yours - does it deal in life and death issues? Does it serve the ENTIRE Midland community?

Yeah, didn't think so.

Oh, and one last thing. Hog Wash, I am perfectly happy with the staff and the quality of my service at the Big Spring on Wadley and Garfield. They also have a clean restaurant. If what you are saying is analagous to this, then they should be shooting some dang commercials there. Where the hell is Jared? Your assumption is completely ridiculous, as expected. And one other thing, your little bubble you've created for yourself in your Republic of Texas fantasy world is obviously going to tell you they are going to vote against it. You've done what someone like yourself with narcissistic self denial issues would be expected to do, surround yourself with people of like mind to convince yourself that you are right. I'll see you and your buddies at the polls.

Excuse me, insert "Subway" where "Big Spring is in the first sentence of the last comment.

Edit - "Subway" where "Big Spring" is in first sentence.

By voting Yes - Oh my gawd, you cannot even see what I was trying to say politely. My point being the hospital is PRIVATELY owned and operated for profit by a corporation. What is the difference between this and our government getting in bed with GM, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Chrysler, etc?

If the city of Midland or Midland county wants a taxpayer funded hospital then they should build one. A not for profit one.

I too see similarities in this bond election with the airport and stadium issues. "Build it and they will come, don't and they will leave."

Doctors and nurses are not simply hired. They must be recruited. Doctors respond to attractive facilities just like high school athletes do. And everyone else for that matter. That is why The University of Texas has the sports facilities that they do.

While you be able to get treatment in Midland? Sure.

But the better...and greater number of doctors will go to the better facilities.

Texican: A question for you.

With no taxpayer support at all flowing to the hospital from funds collected by the hospital district do you think that Midland would still have a hospital?

Nice try, but no dice. Read your history books. MMH was began as a privately funded hospital and continued to be one for several decades. It was only after the costs of maintaining a hospital against the booming population in the area became so high that they created they voted to create the hospital district to qualify for public funds to, low and behold, continue to service the public. Our community did the absolute best it could for DECADES to maintain a quality level of health care on a private basis and only converted to public funds when it was time to fish or cut bait. Maybe you should think about taking the hospital tour and see for yourself, they have a very nice history exhibit at the beginning of the tour that I believe would give you some enlightenment on the issue before you walk into a gun fight with a knife.

Yeah, you can say that about the "Build it and they will come, don't and they will leave", but unless we have the Boston Red Sox as our franchise team out here I think you are a buffoon to have relied solely on the argument that if we didn't have a pretty new stadium our current lifestyle would get slammed. Again, that argument holds no water. I guess you could make the argument in the airport example that if we didn't build a new airport, then there could be a major airplane catastrophe due to outdated air traffic control equipment, but at this point I think you have to also look strongly at pilot error. Were the airport to shut down, we have a nice run down one that has direct flights to Vegas just an hour and a half north of here. Again, no dice. You don't give the voting public enough credit, which is your own fault in not trusting the reasoning abilities of your fellow community members. This is why you are wrong, and the voting public knows this is a completely different situation than the Lemon Bowl or our grand airport.

And for the record, I am a private citizen with no affiliation to the bond issue or the hospital other than a yard sign on my front yard and the experience of an evening hospital tour, where I too began the tour very pessimistic about the entire bond election and supporting it.

The comment above was directed toward Texican, not Walsingham.

Who actually owns the hospital? Us taxpayers or stockholders? When you find the answer to that then get back to me.

Us taxpayers nimrod. And decisions are made by majority, which you are not in on this issue.

Texican - Who BENEFITS from the hospital? Taxpayers or stockholders? Oh wait, I believe the answer is EVERYONE.

OK Dr. Doogie, whatever you say must be true?
Majority? Of whom?

Just like last November,I will stay in the minority and vote NO.

Texican - Who owns the hospital you ask? Read the History:

Midland Memorial Hospital, the only not-for-profit hospital in Midland County, Texas was established by prominent community leaders with one mission: "to make quality healthcare available to all residents of Midland County". Midland Memorial Hospital was built with funds donated by individuals, corporations and foundations as a nonprofit, community-based hospital, offering medical care to all Midlanders....

Now, the Board of Directors of the Midland County Hospital District (elected by the voters) add their counsel....

You can read more.
http://www.midland-memorial.com/body.cfm?id=51

Yes, whatever I say is true, because I am speaking FACT. It is the majority of people voting in the upcoming election, fyi, in case you do not understand how our election system operates, which it appears you do not. And as for your political stances in previous elections, I think you will find that a very large percentage of Midlanders who will be voting in the majority (which means most of the people who vote) on this election were in the minority in last November's election. So, we come to the ultimate conclusion that last November's election has no bearing on how a person will vote in this upcoming election and this bond issue is not really related to political persuasion or affiliation. Hence, though it is another bond election (which sucks), this one differs from the previous two major bond elections in the subject of the election. Thank you for giving me the avenue to clear that up. Any more great one liners for me that I can use to explore other arguments within the issue? I can do this all day, I packed a lunch...

Standard and Poor just recently reduced Midland Hospital District bond rating to BBB-. High priced bonds to fit right into todays debt ridden society. Just what got the nation into the mess in which we are drowning.

The taxing entities have learned well from their past failed elections. Now they assemble quite an impressive PR campaign loaded with all kinds of negatives of what will happen if their baby does not pass.

As well, it is the same old mantra that "it is only $60.00 more a year." Oh, don't forget, "all the doctors will leave town, we won't have electricity or drainage, no doctors will come, we're all gonna die."

We shall see if the majority votes for or against.
I am sure you are probably right is that those few that do attend the election will vote for it.

I think that if you look at the Abstract of this report, it is very easy to see that a significant portion of this downgrade in rating is in reaction to the Balanced Budget Act, as was a forecasted possible outcome to healthcare providers at the time of passage, as well as reliance on property taxes related to the volatile nature of the oil and gas industry. Hmmm, so let me see here. Part of the reason for the downgrade was a forecasted outcome, so that is not surprising, and the other portion is related to the property values tied to the volatile nature of our primary economic driver. And, in addition to that, the hospital district has no other means, under state law, in which to raise capital other than through private donation. So, I find it hard to see where a downgrade in bond rating is anything but to be expected. More managed care crippling the hospital, less opportunity to participate in federal funds matching programs, and the one source of raising funds for capital improvements is volatile. I am frankly surprised that they haven't downgraded the previous two bonds already, especially given the general across the board downgrades in all credit ratings in the past six months. Still not seeing what your argument is on this one, other than that circumstance out of the control of the hospital has been a primary contributor to a lower bond rating that would come as no surprise to anyone who looked beyond the title to the article.

I tell you what, I'll give you a little research project. Why don't you go look up the annual property tax assessments for hospital districts in Dallas County and then tell me how these compare to Midland County. In fact, why don't you look at all hospital district property tax assessments for counties in the state with populations above 100,000 and compare their property taxes rates to Midland County. If you are so concerned about evil socialists lurking in the bushes waiting to nickel and dime you to death, let's look big picture at what we are paying in property taxes toward the hospital district compared to other counties in the state with metropolitan areas, and see whether or not we have cap space for "just another $60.00 a year" as compared with our fellow statesmen.

Nickel and dime me to death? Of course that was several decades ago. Now it is tens and hundreds of dollars. And I for one do not care what other counties pay as I am tired of "well, the Jones taxes". Midland for decades has used that defense.

Look at the total bond debts that all of Midland county owes. 300, 400 million?

Anyway, this discussion is endless and meaningless. I will vote no, my family told me they are voting no and they say their friends are voting no. They, as me, think with the national economy and our local economic situation that this is not the time for any tax increases. That is, besides our new and coming higher property taxes, cap and trade taxes, bailout payback and projected higher income tax rates.

Well there you have it. It's all just about taxes, the bottom line, who cares about our city, right? I mean, Lord knows if this place goes to hell we can just move somewhere else. In fact, why don't you save yourself the pain of messing with it and go ahead and do it. Either move away if this place is so terrible, or go vote no. I hope that when you kiss your children or grandchildren good night tonight, tell them you will vote no to their safety if something serious ever happened to them. You know what? Tell them this while you are at it. "Your safety isn't worth $100 extra a year to me." But I promise you this, if they were in trouble and you needed proper care for them, you would be willing to pay any amount of money to keep them safe. And therein lies your hipocrisy. Good luck with your position, my heart goes out to you because you truly will go down with a sinking ship because of principle.

Listen Howser, I am sick of your crap. I don't know how old you are but I have lived in Midland since 1971. I have raised three boys here, buried a lot of friends here and have voted for many, many bond issues for this city and county.

My three sons were educated thru this school system although they had to go elsewhere for college educations. They are now, as well as their friends, facing layoffs, reduced hours and pay cuts. If you will open your eyes you will see it all around you too.

Don't sit there on your holier than thou perch and preach to me about why I should vote for this. The actions of those exactly like you are what got this country in the financial mess we are in now.

IMHO, there is a time for this kind of indebtedness but now is not it.

Whoever the two of you are, you're not going to convince each other so I suggest you agree to disagree.

Texican - You make some good points about the economy right now. However, there is never a good time to pass something like this. What we do now will have many ramifications over many future years of ups and downs, and many tumultuous economic cycles, the ups and downs of which us West Texans are very experienced.

Respectfully, as someone who plans to live here for the next 60+ years, I'm voting yes.

You are taking care of exposing all of the small mindedness in the opposition to this issue for me. Thank you sir.

How's about this? We actually have a difference of opinions. Oh Doc here thinks by voting against the hospital bonds, good quality health care will be doomed for years. On the other hand, we have sufficient health care now but not good enough. Let’s not dwell in the area of affordable. We have hospital facilities that have served the public well for 60 years, but it's time to strive for higher standards. According to Doc’s theory, there are top of the line physicians waiting in the wings to occupy Midland's Memorial Tower. It's only a small investment by Midland's property owners that will guarantee us a long, healthy life with many happy returns. Same old song, different verse. Doc belongs to the local Midland group that believes they know what's best for us all. There are some borne to lead, and the remaining must follow. We have been reluctantly drug along through bond election after bond election by self-anointed people such as Doc. We have experienced our property evaluation tripling in the past few years increasing our taxes along with the insurance, and Doc thinks a new hospital adding to an already inflated economy will make us feel better. Makes me want to go out, max out my credit cards, default on payments, and let Doc handle the repercussion. Not much different than obligating the taxpayer to a 115 million dollar debt on an empty building such as the West Campus became. Is the 60 million that has been promised in private donations similar to the money pledged by the Rockhounds toward the Sports Complex before it was built? Is the 175 million dollars estimate a correct one such as the 32 million dollar estimate on the Sports Complex, or will the cost triple on completion as it did then? Do we have justification for being against those who organize and then defraud the public as has been done in the past? How about the school bond advocates who claimed the danger our children were in because of dilapidated school facilities, and after passage, first item completion was enlarged parking lots. Yea, if you believe in track records, it don’t look good for your side.

Oh Hog Wash, you must have been on a high from the box of eggos you had for a late night snack last night. You know I warned you above about being too hard on your heart in the next year, given your admitted existing condition and what is coming down the pipeline. Don't you know obesity kills? Or is it cigarettes? Well, I am sure you will find out soon enough. In fact, I think it is affecting your memory and reading skills. You need to go back and read what I said above one more time. First, I am not involved in the campaign other than a yard sign and a hospital tour. I am not one of the annointed ones, that is your own fatty brain's assumption. Second, I know for a fact that the quality of our health care will continue to deteriorate. Did you know that the average age of our physicians in Midland as of right now is 55? Did you know that we are currently facing an already existing recruiting crisis in bringing new doctors, so much so that a primary reason for partnering with Texas Tech is to hopefully recruit more doctors to the area fresh out of school? How's this little factoid, since our community is as large as it is, we do not qualify for the federal program which places foreign trained doctors who qualify to practice in the US in rural areas that are experiencing similar developing health care issues? In fact, what a lot of them do is, they get placed here for a brief stint to get qualified by our Board of Medical Examiners, and then they are shipped off to Notrees or Paducah. Think of this, what's going to happen in the next couple of years when, after our aging physician population has made their boat load of cash, they retire to the hill country? What then? We can't even force doctors to come and practice here. Quite the dilemma... I guess we could always pay on top of our rising existing individual medical expenses and take a flight to Dallas or Houston for the day to see a specialist. At least we would be utilizing our airport some more and justifying that bond to the public. Hell, we could offer free Rockhounds tickets to people who make more than 3 round trips per month for medical purposes! Now that's thinking outside the box. As for property valuations skyrocketing, again, you really need to put the jellyroll down and scroll up through previous comments. I, too, am a fellow homeowner in this town, and have been so for quite some time. If you have a beef with the tripling in property values, you need to take that up with MIDCAD. I am sure you don't know what MIDCAD stands for, it is the Midland Central Appraisal District, and they set the property rates for the county. Last I checked, their offices are located several blocks away from the hospital and there is no affiliation with the hospital. I guess you could make the argument that they are near the West Campus, but I doubt they use it, at least that’s what you think. I've had a few rounds with them in the past few years, and let me tell you, if you haven't it is big government at it's finest! Next you are thinking about maxing out your credit cards. Well, I say go for it, because honestly, if all you have is credit right now, then you haven't learned Rule No. 1 of Midland Boom Times: set aside as much money as you can while times are good. But then again, after your comments to date, I seriously doubt your forward thinking to consider this. I can tell you this though, I am already paying more than enough to subsidize many Americans, and from what I see on the horizon, I will probably being subsidizing even more. So go ahead, go for it. You’ll become another product of the system, another slave to the government teet. At least with this bond, I have something to show for the money I paid. I guess you could argue that I would also see where my money has gone in your scenario by looking at your waistline, but that is beside the point. So, we are on to your West Campus comments. Again, you need to learn to read and remember what is said previously before trying to restate that which has already been discussed. See above. Finally, we get to the stadium and school bond issues. Again I say, see above. I think I have more than thoroughly differentiated this bond issue from previous bond issues to date that are the source of all of the controversy. But then again, I guess as the old saying goes, you can lead a horse to water...

On a final note, I really like how I am being labeled as a holier than thou and better than you, it really is kind of an esteem boost. I am sure you think that of every person who is in favor of this bond election. Thank you very much. But one thing I can make for certain is that I am just a fellow taxpayer and in no way annointed as the inner circle, or whatever your conspiratorial mind thinks that is going on in this town. Go read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, it talks about conspiracy theories at length. Or better yet, go see "Conspiracy" starring Mel Gibson, its a real heartstopper (pun intended). I wish I was indeed annointed, because then maybe I would have some stroke over at the Appraisal District to keep my property valuations down more than yours. Regardless, I know how to size up people pretty quick, as I have you and your friends, and I like to let them know why they are wrong. It is pretty flattering though, and I appreciate the adulation, no matter how unfounded and untrue it is.

Now go reread some of the information I have laid out for you ad nauseum (that’s latin in case you don’t know) above and come back to me when you have something new to talk about.

I have a follow up question to Hog Wash on an earlier statement. You stated some out of town doctors were refused admission to practive at MMH due to ethnicity. Would you provide a specific example or substantiate this comment. This might simply be your general feelings, but if you have first hand knowledge I'd be interesting in exploring this further. I have never heard of any treatment like this.

J, I do appreciate your query into my claim that MMH discriminated against applicants from another community because of their ethnicity. Matters of fact, their credentials were outstanding, and they were looking to re-locate. My apologies for not being more specific as my sources are within the inner circle and obviously would be targeted. Ole’ Doogie wants to refer to all this as a conspiracy theory as he refers to me as a fat, cigarette-smoking slob with a bad heart hiding behind locked doors. He’s hoping to convince all the readers that we’re neighbors and that he’s an average Joe. I’ve been at this long enough to know what Doogie’s all about. He’s not concerned about anyone outside his little band of cutthroats. He doesn’t have to be logical. He just has to be in control. He considers all who disagree with him as unintelligent, low-lifers. He considers that all who run this community such as city council, hospital board, county commissioners, school board, and those appointed by these boards as rulers without exceptions. If you distrust my assertions, Doogie, read your own postings and don’t prompt me to read them.

Don't forget that I also think you have issues with your personal finances.

Hog W: Although I disagree with you on this particular issue, I do feel your pain on how a personal decision to oppose any community project automatically means that you are necessarily a basement dwelling hater of progress in general and Midland in particular who has never stepped away from the computer in your Mom's basement....let alone put in a volunteer hour anywhere, ever.

We've been there. Lord knows, we have been there.

Howser, you made a comment about , “yes, whatever I say is the truth……..”! By this I take it you know HW(Hog Wash). Then again maybe not.
HW never said he was a patient at MMH, you assumed that, as a matter of fact, it was a family member. He neither smokes nor has heart problems. He is not a “fat slob “as I think he was referred too. I met him while he was working on the board of a NON-PROFIT, sorry --no basement. This was just one of several times our paths crossed while volunteering and serving on Midland city boards. The thing I hate most about these blogs is that they allow the insulting comments like you make to stand. A very smart college debate coach once told me, “You will know when they start insulting you, you have them. He was right.” Howser, you are rude and insulting. You claim not to be a member of the hardcore MMH bond backers, you sure could not tell it from what you say here. Why are you so condescending to others on this board? Do you think you are the only one with the secret of the MIDCAD, haven’t you noticed all your fellow citizens down there? What! Do you think they just came to watch you show them how it is done?

I have been told by local Dr.s, to go to Lubbock, Dallas or Houston, or even the Cleveland Clinic. This was due to staffing problems at MMH, not the building. Proper hand washing is not even observed at MMH. I told a staffer she had to wash her hands before touching a relative of mine(surgery patient) and she asked why. After I told her, she did it and then she informed me I read too much. I know several retired RN’s and they agree about the staffing problems here. I did not retire from any local hospital but I know it is the administration that sets the tone for the staff. Nurses are critical, they are the first line of medicine. RN’s that catch patients when they are first going “sour” and get the Dr., not the bedpans!

When the "Now discuss..." flag went down, I don't think the sniping and name calling was what someone had in mind.

The bond issue is a touchy one. Having worked at MMH for a short while, I'm not convinced the "Powers that Be" have shown me an ability to do any better with a new facility. Sort of like my son asking for his third gold fish "I'll do better if you get new one and buy me a bigger bowl!" Show me a concrete plan on how this will make things better. How will it fix people using the ER as a primary care facility? How will it stop the hemorrhaging of money due to indigent care? Why was all the major work done in the last +/-3 years if you were planning on going to the electorate for a new facility any way? In an area/market similar to Midland (demographically), show me how this has been successful. If you want (more of) my money, you are going to have to do better than "Trust us".

Physicians leaving is nothing new. Specialty physicians are going to follow the money and the money travels I-20 to D/FW or I-35 to Houston.

As for the nursing issue mentioned above, that may have more to do with the nursing shortage and the people being drawn into the profession. Many (not all) look at it now as a high paying job with job security, not a healing profession. I doubt a shiny new facility is going to correct that.

Note to specialty physicians, money bound for Houston on I-35 ain't ever going to get there.

The "GROUP OF 40" in Midland instigate all new "I want that projects...and I want the taxpayers to pay for it" like the stadium tax drag, the Horseshoe or Horse---- tax drag,the EMPTY RIDER tax drag, the Midland College tax drag (Let's recruit from out of county and out of state so the LOCAL taxpayers can pay for those students also), the Let's tear down buildings in downtown and make parking lots even though Yates Petroleum wanted to buy all those buildings and renovate saving taxpayers millions, the proposed "New Midland Convention Center" we SOOOOOOO desperately need for all the folks that don't want to come here. And, of course the Hospital bond issue ( the largest tax increase for a single vote in Midland history even though they go up 8% on taxes every year and most physicians in Midland averaged "D" in med-school. And , after that MISD will need to pass another bond issue for new tattoo parlors and body piercing facilities and of course we need to pay everyone more cause WE have better education than anyone else. And, I'm sure the Midland Police department will need raises the police even though they have use of police vehicles and the associated gas charges etc when they off duty. Not even oil company employees have company vehicles anymore. but, I see a Midland cop car driving to Stanton EVERY day on our dime.The Midland Taxing Bodies have caught the same tax and spend disease as the Federal Government! And as Sonny and Cher sang....THE BEAT GOES ON!