Spokane7
49°
February 15, 2010 in City
Weighing in
A weekly look at reader comments and reactions to the news
Readers reacted sharply to the passage of legislation in the Idaho House of Representatives that would exempt the state’s residents from having to comply with any health reform mandates that might be imposed by the U.S. Congress. Some cheered the move, others called it profoundly ill-informed. What follows is a sampling of the reader debate. Full coverage can be found at www.spokesman.com.
natoslug: I love the scenery, but I’ve come to dread the politics up here. Thank you, Idaho House, for once again reaffirming my decision to move to Northern California this summer. Redwood trees and hippies beats narrow minds and knapweed any day.
Yikes: Indeed. I’m so sick of these creepballs trying to put the fear of God into Idahoans and pretending to give a damn about their “individual rights.” Such a load of crap.
Ol_Blue: California’s Anthem Blue Cross is raising rates 39 percent in March, 23 and 22.8 percent increases in Maine and Oregon … and Republicans … scream and cry “We’re Scared” over the prospect of a public option and health care reform to keep these corporations in check. Now the Supreme Court has opened the floodgates for these same companies to pour unlimited monies into the political process to guarantee their record profits continue, while the Republicans cheer and the citizens who are hurt most continue to vote these crooks in.
PhiltheBibliophil: As a senior (62) with quite a few health problems and not able to receive Medicaid, Medicare and being “underemployed” with no employer health benefits, I rely on the VA system for care! If you can wait long enough and not die first they do a fantastic job, especially here in Spokane! If I had to buy into a federally mandated program or face jail there is no way I could afford such a premium. I’d be homeless or would starve and then go to jail, where I’ve never been in my life! I’ve voted Democratic all my life, but I have to agree with the Republithugs in Idaho on this one!
Sugar Shane: Odd, every time someone brings up legalizing marijuana, the first thing they say OH NO, that’s against federal law! But if it’s mandated health care reform, that lowers costs and ensures access by everyone, it becomes “this is our state, and we won’t let the government tell us what to do!”
Ender: I think we need to take a step back and look at the larger implications of what that type of mandate could lead to. The mandate would be in place to protect the public or common good, right? Well, if that’s allowed, what else could the government force us to do for the common good?
Couple acquitted of caging 2 boys 
Ninch on February 15 at 7:25 a.m.
I notice non-Idahoans commenting here. Probably Obama’s paid bloggers and/or loyal followers. You can tell them by their name-calling and deflection: e.g. narrow minds and knapweed, creepballs, crooks…but nary a mention of mandates.
cryssT on February 15 at 7:46 a.m.
I live in Idaho and government already mandates we pay income tax for the greater good.It costs more to care for very ill people (think diabetics who can’t afford medication) than to provide basic health care. No one should die of pneumonia because they can’t afford to go to the doctor. The emergency room is not a stop all for those who are ill due to colds and etc. Additionally, it should not cost a GP or FP 40K a year for malpractice. But then the average consumer sues over trivial items and the jury of peers awards astronomical amounts.
shanusmaximus on February 15 at 11:39 a.m.
Left hand does not no what right hand is doing. Health reform mandates? Excuse me, but you can buy soda with food stamps. You can also buy candy, twinkies, little debbies. Basically garbage is allowed and they don’t care. Ah, but you cannot buy Vitamins with food stamps. (???)
If these clowns want people to be healthier then stop allowing people to buy this garbage with food stamps.
They also need to wake up to how the food stamp program is gamed. If you don’t know let me clue you in. Food stamp recipient gives his Quest card to a friend of even stranger. Let us say the card has 100 bucks on it. He tells his friend to buy 50 dollars worth of food if he gives the recipient 30 dollars. He then buys booze and cigarettes. Game over. Tax payer loses, food stamp “need” is then inflated.
Another thing people may not realize, gaining food stamps is based on INCOME, not on what you actually have. Let me tell you a real life story.
I have a friend, she has not held an actual job for at least two years (not because she cannot find work). She has moved in with her parents. She has money from inheritance and other sources in the bank. She receives 400 dollars a month in food stamps. (which is then spent on luxury food items from an unnamed organic supermarket)
My other friend is a Vet and worked his entire life. He had a stroke and now lives on his parents property. He CANNOT work. He gets disability, SS, and it equals to 1,200 dollars a MONTH. He cannot get ONE DIME of food stamp because he has INCOME. Even though he is the one that REALLY needs the help.
I have a couple of solutions. Stop basing food stamps on your income. Base it on your worth. All accounts will be opened for review and if you are caught getting money on the side, you will not only pay back the tax owed on that, but you will pay the entire amount of food stamps used. Maybe also a hefty fine on top of that. Also to stop the gaming of the Quest card, a thumbprint will be required to use that card to eliminate the giving away of the card for cash to buy cigs, booze and drugs. And the two examples I have given you is just the tip of scamburg.
Think of the money we could save……