Stan Geiger

Stan Brock's War

There are many things, and many people, worthy of criticism. Those things and people tend to occupy my pen. I'm sure you've noticed. Today, I'm going to treat myself. I'm actually going to write in praise of somebody.

A couple of days back, I caught a piece of an interview Tavis Smiley did with Stan Brock. And it reminded me that I should write about this good man.

Brock founded and runs an organization called Remote Area Medical (RAM). RAM picks a spot, then moves in with a small army of medical volunteers that provide free health care to people that otherwise couldn't access it. There are doctors and nurses, dentists and hygienists, and anybody else I might be leaving out. Most recently RAM was in LA. But the organization goes all around the world. According to Brock, RAM has completed 567 missions to date.

I first heard of RAM, if memory serves, on 60 Minutes a couple or three years ago. While watching the story, I kept thinking Brock looked familiar. I don't recall if it suddenly dawned on me or it was mentioned in the story, but years ago Brock was one of the animal wranglers on Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. I loved that show.

Nowadays, Brock devotes all of his time and energy to RAM.

As noted, RAM services are completely free. There are no co-pays, insurance companies or taxes involved. There is no qualifying. There is no stack of papers to fill out. All one need do is show up.

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking you can't give it away for free to just anybody because people that can afford to pay but don't want to will show up to take advantage. Not so. Brock calls the system "self-regulating." The reason for that is, it ain't all peaches and cream for the patients.

Things are done on a first-come first-serve basis. People might have to wait hours upon hours for treatment. At some point, of course, the resources are depleted and the crew is worn out. The doors are closed. So, many unfortunate folks wait hours upon hours and don't get treated at all.

Therefore, Brock says, people that can afford to pay will do so rather than put up with the hell involved with getting it for free.

Brock doesn't walk around with a puffed-out chest speaking of his greatness. He's quite humble. He throws credit to the volunteer personnel that provide the treatment, without whom the project would not be possible.

I would add my applause to his. The volunteers put in a very long day of treating patients for no pay at all.

But Brock, whether or not he seeks it, deserves much in the way of accolades. He is not rich. Far from it. In fact, most people would probably call him poor.

In other words, Brock hasn't founded a charity that brings in money so 10 percent of it can go to some stated cause while 90 percent goes to so-called "administrative expenses."

Brock is the real deal. I would be honored just to shake his hand.

Maybe Obama, or any other fathead in Washington blowing and going about health care for people that can't afford it, should invite Mr. Stan Brock in for a beer and a chat.

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