Dear Editor:

Apparently a number of states have had assistance waiting lists for years. These are waiting lists for hospital beds, waiting lists for nursing homes, waiting lists to see a doctor, and waiting lists for food.

Most of America was one big waiting list during the great depression, but when the depression was over and times got better most of America forgot about the waiting lists until last year when the biggest waiting list story hit the fan — the Veterans Administration had been hiding the fact that many veterans in desperate need of medical help were on waiting lists — specifically 238,657 died while waiting.

The fault was not the sick veteran, but people responsible for management and providing an efficient system that guaranteed all veterans in need would receive help when it was needed. Instead of blaming the victim the politicians blamed the administrative system and set about a plan to take corrective action.

So when I began to read and hear a repeated phrase in Maine about people on a waiting list, people who were in need, I began to wonder why there were any waiting lists? Has the government failed again? Are there families with children sleeping in their cars; are we in a great depression? I inquired as to how there could be any waiting lists? Surely if someone was in need of medicine, food, or a place to live, in this day and age we had no reason not to be able to help.

No, was the reply, these are disabled and sick or elderly in need of a hospital bed, or room that are waiting. Another sign that Maine had a systemic problem that seemed to interfere with our administrative ability to care for citizens.

If we were able to solve the VA problem, why can’t we solve the DHHS systemic problem? After all — this is America — this is Maine. There is no reason for waiting lists, unless it is by intent or we are inept or inefficient. What do you think? Can this problem be solved, or does it remain a hidden failure until we set our minds to end all waiting lists for families in need?

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb