Healthcare and government funding of same

On Facebook the other day a good friend of mine posted this link to a story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/13/upshot/a-deal-too-good-to-turn-down-unless-its-medicaid.html?smid=nytcore-ipad-share&smprod=nytcore-ipad&_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0

It goes into the fact that Virginia is not meeting the criteria set up by the federal government on expanding Medicaid as outlined in the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). This prevents Virginia from receiving funds from the federal government.

My friend's comment was: "Hey VIrginia legislators! Get a clue."

He and I differ somewhat on the role of government and such, but I respect his opinion and knowledge greatly. I felt compelled to post a response.

Then this exchange follows between he and I:

• Scott Poole My argument is - there is no government money! Neither state nor federal! To tell one overdrawn bank account they will be made whole by another larger overdrawn bank account is not fiscally responsible nor ethically honest.

  August 13 at 1:27pm · Like
• 

  Brian Keller Would you agree that there are pools of money that are collected from the citizenry? If so, how should they best be distributed to provide for the common good? How should we get a grip on our current healthcare system?

  August 13 at 1:48pm · Like · 2
• 

  Scott Poole You know I love a good, sensible dialogue. So...Yes monies are needed from the citizenry. I do not, however, agree in the scope and reach that we have allowed government to obtain; especially at the Federal level. There simply is not enough money from the producers to support the non-producers. Some societal "safety nets" are necessary, and I might even be convinced that government should provide some of them. (I am greatly in favor of private enterprise and personal charity - another subject) Regardless of the negative press that the US healthcare system gets, we have the best system in the world. By force of law, public hospitals are required to treat and provide care for anyone that needs it. IMHO, the biggest improvement we could make is to eliminate the threat of bankruptcy by tort by capping awards for malpractice in all but the most egregious negligence. We could also help by making health insurance sales national, not state by state. Also, health insurance policies that offer whatever coverage the insured wants/needs. The idiocy of making all insurance policies cover all illnesses and conditions is just making it more expensive for most at the expense of some. Many, many more. Not necessarily the forum for this. I may try my "discussion blog" again with this.

  August 13 at 8:55pm · Like · 1
• 

  Brian Keller Let me know when you start it, Scott. I'll serve up some responses. I love a sensible dialogue too, you know. There are so damn few of them.

  August 13 at 10:28pm · Like

I would ask that any and all of you that can have an adult, responsible discussion of this subject please do so. ANY respectable, non-judgmental, and civil response will be posted. Any rude, crass, disrespectful response will NOT.