done

[mellowtigger]

In my truck on the way out to the Anoka County offices earlier this morning, I listed to Minnesota Public Radio. They talked about how our governor unilaterally (without oversight from the legislature) cut funding for a health program for former convicts. That program was meant to keep them on their psychiatric medications so they wouldn't reoffend and arrive in prison again. Anyway, the program was gone because of budget cutbacks.

These former prisoners were being moved over to Minnesota Care where they would have to pay monthly fees just like everybody else. These new enrollees may be part of why there is a backlog in MN Care applications right now. (She said today that it could take up to 45 days.) Well, that reason plus all the other poor people like me signing up.

So I was thinking as I continued my drive, my tax money...

1. pays for inmates to have better medical care than I do,
2. pays for former inmates to have better medical care than I do,
3. pays for lawmakers to have better medical care than I do, and
4. pays for disabled or old people to have better medical care than I do.

It sounds strangely like slavery to me. I was born in the wrong country. I should live someplace civilized.

"The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not have a universal health care system."
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_health_care

It seems likely (although I make no promises) that I can keep my body together for 45 days. Then, assuming I'm approved for the Minnesota Care program, I can force other people to pay for my medical bills. Yay!

Comments

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

thing is, the prisons are big profit centers ... they have no reason to try and keep people out of prison; plus they get to say, "I'm tough on crime!"

[mellowtigger]

Even better, we're importing prisoners from another state.

1. build prisons
2. create prisoners
3. profit!

Ah, the joys of capitalism.

[dangerdhotrod.livejournal.com]

the cutting of the general assistance is pretty sad, it also included homeless and mentally ill homeless besides ex-cons. i know you're having a hard time, but it could be worse. you're not homeless at least. it's a big problem with our system that it's all or nothing - if you're not totally f*cked then you're f*cked. like if you don't qualify for a gov. program because you're not poor enough (yet), you end up paying way more. and way more of a percentage of your income than higher income people. the people who are just above poverty are struggling the most in a way. lame!

[phreddd.livejournal.com]

Minny's had some of Hawai'i's prisoners for at least a minute, too...

[mellowtigger]

The article mentioned Pennsylvania and Washington, but I'm not at all surprised that we could be "hosting" prisoners from many other states.

[mellowtigger]

Yes, General Assistance Medical Care was a program that covered more than just inmates. I wasn't real clear about that point in the original post.

I agree, there really should be grades of coverage rather than just cutoff points. For whatever government handout we're discussing, there should be a defined 100% coverage and 0% coverage. Anything in between just gets pro-rated to the appropriate level. A little extra calculation is required up front but then it provides better service to those who need it. Plus, it provides no artificial incentive to sink to the bottom to the magic boundary where coverage is finally provided. Instead, it encourages people to do as well as they can on their own while still offering some help.

I don't know why that method isn't the standard.

[mellowtigger]

translation: Thanks for pointing that out! The MPR story focused on the prisoner aspect, so I did too, but I phrased it badly and that was misleading (which I dislike).

[mellowtigger]

Interesting. 11:39am. 11:39pm.