Editor,

Sadly, the public treasury and public-owned assets are the poorest guarded in the land.

Back in the 1960s, Social Security taxes were increased to provide for expected retirements of post WWII “baby boomers.” Baby boomers are now retiring, but where did the treasure go that was being set aside for them?

Then there are the public-built assets, like Conrail, the railroad freight line in the eastern part of the nation. According to transportation journals some years back, it was nearly given away to Norfolk Southern Railroad due to lobbying efforts by Elizabeth Dole, President Reagan’s Secretary of Transportation.

It almost happened, and probably would have, if in the 11th hour someone in Congress hadn’t blown the whistle.

This sort of thing goes on all the time. It looks like we have similar happening here on Whidbey Island.

We have a public-built and -owned hospital. Island County taxpayers built it, own it, and are still building it.

But who really runs and benefits from it?

Does anyone remember when Island County residents could deduct their Whidbey General Hospital bills from their property taxes? What happened to that? Not long ago there was a privatization effort to take over our hospital.

Then, our hospital started buying up medical practices all over the island and now wants to change its name to reflect the takeover.

It built clinics of its own.

What’s really going on? We the people need to know.

In Saturday’s Whidbey News-Times commentary, Robert Boehm, a retired health industry professional, blew the whistle.

Is anyone listening?

Al Williams

Oak Harbor