I commend state Rep. Martin Causer’s outrage regarding the termination of infant delivery services at UPMC Cole in Coudersport. It is unacceptable … but then many things are unacceptable these days.

Having lived in Emporium for more than 40 years I have no idea how expecting families deal with this … get to Wellsboro or DuBois? A recipe for disaster.

I do respectfully disagree with Rep. Causer’s premise that the UPMC executives don’t understand or relate to the circumstances women in rural areas find themselves in. You see, in today’s world it is not about people, not at all. Delivery services are just not profitable or cost-effective — the balance sheet is the bottom line. UPMC is a business and it’s in it to make sustaining revenues.

The government’s function, however, is to serve the people, providing safety, security and improving the quality of life for everyone. What we are witnessing before our eyes with our federal government is nothing related to that, not even close. It is functioning like a business.

The slash and burn approach being taken will devastate agencies — federal, state and local — providing vital, life-sustaining services to the people at all levels.

And we ain’t seen nothing yet. What the hell are we going to do about it?

Jan Burkness, Bradford