NIMBY — the acronym means "not in my back yard." People are all for new power lines, airports, factories, windmills, oil wells and other things that benefit the public good — just not in their neighborhood. It's the height of democratic hypocrisy, and it's going on in my neighborhood right now.

Our small hospital wants to become an EMS helicopter base and build a hangar next to the emergency room entrance. There are all kinds of good reasons for doing this. We get lots of ice and snow up here in the winter, and the hangar would keep the bird warm and secure, facilitating quicker dispatches and easier line maintenance. It would also reduce engine cycle times (fewer engine starts and shutdowns), thereby cutting costs and speeding the hospital's ability to transfer critically injured patients to a "higher level of care."

The flight paramedics, when not on missions, could help out in the chronically short-staffed ER. Drunk driving — cars, ATVs, boats, snowmobiles, lawn tractors, doesn't much matter — seems to be the sport of choice in these parts, especially on weekends, with the predictable carnage resulting. Extra hands on deck in the ER are always appreciated. Housing the flight crew at the hospital also makes it easier for the docs to keep an eye on the flight crews, ensuring they are fit to fly.

So basing the helicopter at the hospital, in this case, translates to better care and reduced costs. What's not to like?

Among the local gentry, plenty it seems. Once the hospital unveiled its hangar plans, a hue and cry arose about increased helicopter noise. Nevermind that this hospital has had a helipad for years and uses it frequently. It has to. We're talking bare bones medicine here: Anything more complicated than a few stitches and you're going for a ride somewhere else.

There is no evidence that basing the helicopter at the hospital would increase the noise footprint beyond current levels. Ah, but the local gentry, much of it retired, lakefront property affluent, and with too much time on its hands, cannot be convinced by mere facts. As for the gelatinous native political leadership — they've taken the courageous stand of deferring a decision on the matter.

This probably means the helicopter will end up being based somewhere else. Of course then the local gentry will be the first to carp about how long it takes a helicopter to get to the hospital or why a 20-minute helicopter ride costs $11,000.

Hospital executives seem to have been caught off guard by all of this. The plan's inferred benefits were so obvious they never saw the need to make a case — why would anyone possibly oppose it? However, when it comes to public opinion, nothing is obvious. Or logical. You need to be prepared with a well thought-out sales pitch that includes tables and statistics about response times, outcomes and relative decibel levels. Then trot out a couple of local people who were saved by an EMS helicopter and let them tell their stories.

Life and death choices are not always obvious to everyone. Sometimes, they need to be explained.