To err is all too human. A recent “60 Minutes” story concerned Michael Morton, wrongfully convicted 25 years ago of murder after the prosecutor withheld vital evidence from the defense. Tragically, the real killer killed again. The prosecutor apologized for the error, but without accepting blame — happily for him, the Supreme Court has granted prosecutors immunity for their mistakes and misconduct. Even rocket scientists make mistakes, yet the criminal justice establishment claims near-saintly infallibility for itself, and thus the process of appealing a conviction is heavily weighted in favor of the state. Judges can and do deny the admission of evidence of innocence on procedural grounds, which is why the findings of two world-renowned forensic pathologists that Dennis Dechaine could not have killed Sarah Cherry have been excluded from the upcoming hearing on Dechaine’s motion for a retrial. “Closure,” to the criminal justice system, means the ending of all litigation, not that justice was done.

Yet when circumstances require, errors by officials can be alleged from within — Deputy Attorney General Bill Stokes claims that unidentified male DNA found under a thumbnail of the strangled girl was contamination from poor hygiene at the crime lab. Yet Stokes defends the secret incineration of fingernails, pants, the rape kit and unidentified hair after an appeal was filed as routine housekeeping. And although the decision to put two detectives on the stand whose testimony contradicted documents withheld from the defense helped to win a conviction, it surely was an ethical lapse, should anyone care.

NASA did not get a re-do on the Challenger, but the criminal justice system has the means to correct its errors. What it lacks is the will to do so — the inability to admit to error is also all too human.

William Bunting

Whitefield

Improved processes could streamline state government

In today’s tough environment, it makes sense to streamline the operations of our government. We have the know-how here in Maine to do just that; reduce spending, boost productivity and create customer satisfaction. The method is called lean production.

From 2004 to 2006, the Maine Department of Labor initiated a lean-based improvement program called “Bend the Curve.” It generated $6 million in savings and $6 million in further improvements that were never implemented. Lean was part of the department’s organizational game plan. Were it in wider use, the state’s budget problems could be solved!

From 1986 to 1992, I led lean-type efforts in two manufacturing plants of a Fortune 500 company. The results were dramatic, including 75 to 125 percent greater productivity and more than 25 percent savings in office space used. Lean is an offshoot of the 1980s Total Quality Management business philosophy, also known as the Toyota Production System.

What I have learned from my study and practical experience with lean is that problems in industry and government are not generally caused by people performing poorly, as is often alleged. Inefficient workplaces are due more to a lack of attention given to process and process management by managers.

I have written to Gov. LePage and the Legislature encouraging them to institute lean procedures instead of proposing (or accepting) drastic cuts in employment. I want my tax dollars to go where they are most needed, not to tax strategies that have damaged our economy and employment base for decades.

We can do better. Mainers should insist on a better, faster, cheaper government by supporting our leaders’ efforts to put to practice what has been shown to work, even in Maine state government. We should tell our leaders to get lean!

Arthur Davis

Woolwich

Affordable Care Act puts nation’s children first

The (nonpartisan) American Academy of Pediatrics supports the Affordable Care Act. The AAP is an organization of more than 60,000 pediatricians in all states and territories, the armed forces and Canada. There are roughly 200 pediatricians in Maine who are members of the AAP.

The ABCs of health care reform center around three fundamental priorities for children. These are as simple as “ABC”: Access to health care services, age-appropriate benefits in a medical home and health care coverage for all children. The Affordable Care Act addresses these goals in a meaningful way. The following reforms have already taken effect:

• Guaranteed coverage for children with pre-existing conditions;

• No lifetime coverage limits;

• Essential preventive-care services are provided with no cost-sharing for families;

• Insurance companies cannot drop coverage when a child gets sick;

• Young adults can stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26; and

• Out-of-pocket expenses are capped at $5,950 per individual and $11,900 per family.

The Affordable Care Act creates a shift to preventive care and value for our health care dollars and does not focus primarily on volume and profit. It is good for kids. Period.

The Supreme Court is now hearing challenges to the Affordable Care Act, and later this year we will have a general election with health care as a central theme. As pediatricians in Maine, we can tell you firsthand how much is at stake for Maine’s young people.

The passage of health reform by Congress more than two years ago marked the beginning of a much-needed focus on children’s health. We must build on this investment and put our children’s health first. Let’s preserve and strengthen the Affordable Care Act.

Steve Feder, D.O., FAAP, FACOP

president, Maine AAP, Boothbay Harbor

Janice Pelletier, M.D., FAAP

vice president, Maine AAP, Bangor

Reader wonders why we give companies tax breaks

Gov. LePage asked: “Why should I pay welfare to companies?”

My question is: Why give thousands of dollars in tax breaks to companies? My understanding is that our contributions help keep companies going and improve the business climate in our state.

Companies are welcome to the part of my income that the state of Maine so generously shares on my behalf. Life, the way it is.

Julie DeRoche

Gray

Legislators should worry about own accountability

It is past ironic that the very legislative body currently trying to impose more stringent accountability and evaluation standards on the hard-working teachers of Maine is itself lacking, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

Based on criteria including “risk of corruption and lack of accountability,” Maine receives a resounding “F” overall: “F” in public access to information; “F” in legislative accountability; “D+” in political financing; and “F” in ethics oversight.

If the citizenry of Maine relative to their legislators were to be compared with the public school students of Maine relative to their teachers, the students would be miles ahead in terms of satisfaction given, progress made and goals achieved.

Public school teachers continue soldiering on in the face of daunting cutbacks, stagnant wages, erosion of their pension and insurance benefits and a concentrated assault on their professionalism and competency by the governor, the education commissioner and the Legislature.

Our schools do “A” work under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Now let’s work on bringing Maine’s accountability rank up to at least a “C+.” Failing grades should not be an option.

Hilda Grant Jones

Farmingdale