BUDGET: You can assist state

Amid wars, world turmoil and ominous economic forecasts, we need to do our best to manage our own state affairs in a calm, balanced way. There can be a tendency to plan state budgets primarily to favor business interests. Citizens unable to care for themselves or contact legislators could be forgotten. Budgets should reflect considerations for all our people.

Medicaid is a needed state service that provides care for the severely injured, the helpless and the elderly who do not have financial resources. Often when we are in our 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, we are busy making a living and fulfilling our desires. We may rarely visit a nursing home. Then, a time comes when an aging parent is admitted to a facility or a relative may suffer a serious injury and require institutionalized care. Soon we become familiar with a whole other group of people in society - people alive because they are being cared for by a dedicated community of the faithful staff who work around the clock to care for them.

Medicaid services are necessary because few citizens have enough money to pay for full-time care or have family members able to care for them at home. If people live long enough, after all their savings and possessions are used to pay for their care, they may have no recourse but to apply for Medicaid.

We see former business owners, schoolteachers, neighbors and old friends who are now aged or disabled and residing at a nursing home. Churches or charitable organizations do not have sufficient funds to pay for their medical treatment and long-term care. If Medicaid was not available, our loved ones might need to move to another state where care was available.

Medicaid costs may be reduced if more citizens would stop unhealthy habits, avoid risky behaviors and develop a more responsible lifestyle. Nevertheless, eventually disease, injury and old age incapacitate most people.

Citizens who patronize local businesses and are paying Idaho sales tax are helping to fund these necessary services which they may need one day. They are also probably preventing a large rise in property taxes.

I love Idaho and am fond of the people here who work hard to keep their businesses open and offer their products and services. I rarely make purchases online or out of town. I purposely shop in my hometown. If more people willingly supported the Idaho businesses that pay all their taxes, perhaps our state would have sufficient funds to maintain necessary programs without raising taxes.

TWILA LITTLE

Coeur d'Alene