As a nation, we seem to have become preoccupied with inconsequential matters, while matters of the most magnitude are left in a horrifying state of neglect. A few years ago, holierthan-thou politicians brought the government to a virtual standstill with their concern regarding a possible presidential peccadillo; this was not why we elected them, and the country was held in thrall by sensationseeking news media for months. In the meantime, the economy was slipping and information about terrorist activity in the United States and genocide occurring in other parts of the world was largely ignored by our country. To fiddle while Rome burns is neither new nor unique to our community. In the final decades before the birth of Christ, the ancient Roman poet and philosopher, Horace, was writing about the emptiness of boastful political promises, “The mountains are in labor, and a ridiculous mouse is born.” (The metaphor of using “mouse” as a mark of gross inadequacy is still with us today, often preceded by “Mickey.”) There are so many things that are expected of us anew, brought about by a humongous administrative process that leaves our patients little or no better off. So often the rules are changed to try to enforce what we were doing anyway but, in fact, create little change other than more paperwork to show observance of the protocols.