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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on December 6, 2008, at 15:29:49
Office of Construction and Facilities Management
Department of Veterans AffairsI'm not a huge signer of petitions or sender of letters of objection. But I have done it on occasion. I've never received a reply as thoughtfully expressed as the one from Mr. Orndoff's office.
It was a form letter, of course. But it was very detailed in outlining the thought processes involved in the decision to place the new VA hospital where it currently planned. He explained how the concerns I brought up were considered, and what they planned to do to mitigate, as best as possible, the negative impact.
I am still not in agreement with the proposed location, but I appreciated the thoughtful reply and understand the motivations better, and I have a better opinion of the project than I would have otherwise - even if I had researched the pros and cons myself. It would have been easy enough to ignore the letters, or to give a facile and condescending response.
It made me realize what media coverage of these issues could be. Even in articles that aim to present both sides of a topic, there isn't usually that degree of reasoned nuance. At least I hadn't read anything about the location argument that explained the thought processes so well.
Posted by fayeroe on December 6, 2008, at 17:45:35
In reply to An appreciative nod to Donald Orndoff, posted by Dinah on December 6, 2008, at 15:29:49
I am always happy when someone (who makes decisions that affect me) answers my letters. We're blessed here in Texas that our politicians are very responsive to the voters. Now, before you get excited and think that they vote the way they said they would before election.....nah...that ain't it.
They are responsive to the letter writing and always state their position. Dare I say that sometimes I suspect they are telling me to go take a flying leap? But they say it with so much civility.
Pat
Posted by Dinah on December 6, 2008, at 18:04:27
In reply to Re: An appreciative nod to Donald Orndoff » Dinah, posted by fayeroe on December 6, 2008, at 17:45:35
I wish our politicians would take a lead from yours on that. I've gotten responses before. But few are that responsive to my concerns.
I don't have any expectation that what I say will change the course of events, other than that if they get enough complaints they may find it sensible to make different plans. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate a polite response.
Posted by Dinah on December 8, 2008, at 13:07:19
In reply to Re: An appreciative nod to Donald Orndoff » fayeroe, posted by Dinah on December 6, 2008, at 18:04:27
Well...
I drove by the proposed spot so that I could place it in my mind, and darned if I don't see the wisdom of what he wrote.
Perhaps I wasn't as right as I'd thought. :)
This is the end of the thread.
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