By Dr. Spencer Price
Death due to trauma is an ever present danger in our fast paced society. In fact, trauma is a leading cause of death in America in nearly every age group, especially adolescents, teens, and young adults. As if that isn’t scary enough, trauma-related death rates in Georgia are 20 percent higher than the national average. Part of the reason for this dangerous and deadly statistic is the fact that access to trauma care is severely limited for many Georgians.
Dr. Spencer Price
Price: Vote 'yes' on Amendment 2
However, there is a good chance that situation will begin to change after this election cycle. On the ballot this year is Ballot Amendment 2, an initiative to alter the Georgia State Constitution in order to provide a dedicated funding source for the enhancement of trauma-related services throughout the state. The Amendment calls for a $10 fee for annual vehicle registration that will generate an estimated $80 million a year. These funds, as clarified in the Amendment, can only be spent on trauma-related services and cannot be diverted to other uses.
Currently, Georgia has 16 trauma centers with only four – Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, and Savannah – designated as Level One trauma centers meaning comprehensive, 24-hour dedicated trauma services. Some estimates place the number of trauma centers necessary to adequately provide services to all Georgians at 30. Further, of the existing trauma centers, several are in need of upgrades to state-of-the-art equipment and training of personnel.
As mentioned above, money raised through Ballot Amendment 2 would be spent directly on these improvements. More specifically, according to the website www.yes2savelives.com (a website dedicated to promoting and explaining Ballot Amendment 2), the funds would be utilized to “train 911 personnel, paramedics, critical care nurses and physicians, increase rapid transport, provide life-saving equipment and technology, and upgrade more hospitals to trauma centers.”
The potential benefits of such a program are obvious and apply to all Georgians. However, those Georgians living the greatest distance from trauma centers (such as in the more rural areas of central and south Georgia) stand to gain the most in terms of access to trauma-related services. Expanding these services to all regions of the state is one of the goals of the supporters of Ballot Amendment 2.
In times of high unemployment and a depressed economy, we all must remain ever more diligent regarding the way in which we spend our hard-earned money. As bitter experience has often taught Americans, many government programs yield benefits far less than promised. However, Ballot Amendment 2, due to its careful wording designed to prevent funds generated from being spent on other project, holds out promise we can believe in and feel good about supporting.
Few times in life are we presented with an opportunity to benefit so much at so little cost. In fact, the $10 fee might be the best money any of us ever spend. That’s because the money could go toward saving a life – a neighbor, a friend, a family member, or even our own.
This year, feel good about spending some money for a change and vote yes on Ballot Amendment 2.
Currently, Georgia has 16 trauma centers with only four – Atlanta, Macon, Augusta, and Savannah – designated as Level One trauma centers meaning comprehensive, 24-hour dedicated trauma services. Some estimates place the number of trauma centers necessary to adequately provide services to all Georgians at 30. Further, of the existing trauma centers, several are in need of upgrades to state-of-the-art equipment and training of personnel.
As mentioned above, money raised through Ballot Amendment 2 would be spent directly on these improvements. More specifically, according to the website www.yes2savelives.com (a website dedicated to promoting and explaining Ballot Amendment 2), the funds would be utilized to “train 911 personnel, paramedics, critical care nurses and physicians, increase rapid transport, provide life-saving equipment and technology, and upgrade more hospitals to trauma centers.”
The potential benefits of such a program are obvious and apply to all Georgians. However, those Georgians living the greatest distance from trauma centers (such as in the more rural areas of central and south Georgia) stand to gain the most in terms of access to trauma-related services. Expanding these services to all regions of the state is one of the goals of the supporters of Ballot Amendment 2.
In times of high unemployment and a depressed economy, we all must remain ever more diligent regarding the way in which we spend our hard-earned money. As bitter experience has often taught Americans, many government programs yield benefits far less than promised. However, Ballot Amendment 2, due to its careful wording designed to prevent funds generated from being spent on other project, holds out promise we can believe in and feel good about supporting.
Few times in life are we presented with an opportunity to benefit so much at so little cost. In fact, the $10 fee might be the best money any of us ever spend. That’s because the money could go toward saving a life – a neighbor, a friend, a family member, or even our own.
This year, feel good about spending some money for a change and vote yes on Ballot Amendment 2.
It's time the government learns something the taxpayers learned a long time ago- If you think this is important enough to spend money on, then cut back somewhere else to pay for it.
It's got to stop, because we can't be taxed for more than we make in the first place and we're almost there now. Think about it- after federal income tax, state income tax, medicare tax, social security tax, sales tax, property tax, advalorem tax, fuel tax, energy tax, 911 tax, capital gains tax, AMT income tax, estate tax, inputed income tax, death tax- not to mention the ADDITIONAL income tax we're all going to have to pay starting in 2011 on our company provided health insurance- and when you consider the 'hidden tax' included in the increased price of goods to cover the cost of taxes paid by the companies who make those goods, we are very, very close to paying our entire income in taxes already.
Margaret Thacher said it very well. "The problem with big government is sooner or later, you run out of other people's money."
Cost estimates for educating illegal immigrants in Georgia is $952 million. You do the math, Judge.
Please quit reading my posts. One day in the future when your pay rate per hour is measured in Yen, just say....the old bitch was right. Sprinkle some rice on my grave, will you.
God Bless what is left of America. Please call me home Jesus I am surrounded by Idiots down here.
But once again you think you can save the world and it is obvious you KNOW IT ALL! LOL Yeah Right You blab and blab on these message boards with your greater then thou and know it all attitude. Once again "YEAH RIGHT"
Crime is always going to increase and it will get worse in Pike County and there will always be a need for EMS service and Trauma Centers and you think you want to cut back on this. Hmm makes a lot of sense GENIUS. LOL Yeah RIGHT
"Crime is always going to increase and it will get worse in Pike County"
We really need people, such as yourself, who expect and prepare for gloom and doom instead of taking appropriate measures to improve the issues.
You and the Genius Judge (comment 2.1) want to add to the expense of the already financially abused taxpayers to generate $80 million dollars a year for trauma centers.
I suggest "send back the expensive illegal immigrants" and you will save $952 million a year in education costs alone in Georgia."
Georgia is ranked number 7 out of 50 states for the growing number of illegal immigrants that us taxpayers support. Only six states are bigger suckers than Georgia. Does that make you proud? Send them back home and you will have so much less congestion and trauma, we may have an excess number of trauma centers. We can convert one to a psycho ward for trolls.
What seems like a no-brainer to me should be even simple enough for you and the judge to comprehend.
Quit following me around, Trolley Troll, in case brain cell damage has become an airborne disease, I really don't want to be exposed to your airspace.
The ads on TV distort the truth about trauma centers and how this tag fee will create more. Don't believe everything you see on TV. Vote "NO"!
Like Sheila Tolley said; "God Bless what is left of America."
The reason we can't get into trauma centers now is the poor using it for free health care.
We need to reduce the size of the federal government by 50% and the marginal tax rates by 30% so that we can attract businesses back to America instead of forcing them overseas. Then these people will be able to find jobs and afford paying for health care.
You obviously trust a trauma center and its' personnel more than God. I do not have that problem. I will die when God needs another Angel.
The trip from Zebulon to Columbus via of highways is 68 miles or 1 hour and 26 minutes.
The trip from Zebulon to Columbus via (as the crow flies) is 50 miles or 17 minutes.
Sounds wise to me.
I used Columbus as my trauma center of choice because the Macon trauma center tried to kill me.