PRESS: Double delight

Some days it is a joy to read the paper and hit on two or more disparate items that seem to strike a theme. Sunday, Jan. 22, was one of those days.

First there was the article wherein Rep. Malek is quoted as saying, “The problem with Medicaid is that it incentivizes production,” and I thought, “what the heck does that mean?” He goes on to assert that the most important aspect of health care is the doctor/patient relationship. Silly me, all this time I thought the most important aspect was getting one’s medical needs taken care of. That is when I realized Rep. Malek was just pointing out the obvious: If you make health care available to those who can’t otherwise afford it they are going to use it. That is, incentivize production means that the general population gets a little more healthy. Apparently that is not good.

Then I turn to Stephanie Gossard’s letter. Indeed, why should Ms. Gossard pay for schools when she has no children in the system? Clearly she does not believe she benefits from an educated public. This unfair system means that production will be incentivized. In other words, people who are foolish enough to have children of school age will send them to school. The general population will be better educated. Apparently that is not good.

In the words of Red Green, “Remember I’m pullin’ for you. We’re all in this together.” I guess Red hasn’t heard from Luke and Stephanie.

JERRY SHRINER

Coeur d’Alene