Mississippi Healthcare: A Portent of Things to Come? (Punishing the Poor)

[HuckleB]

Punishing the Poor

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/11/opinion/11HERB.html

"If you want to see "compassionate" conservatism in action, take a look at Mississippi, a state that is solidly in the red category (strong for Bush) and committed to its long tradition of keeping the poor and the unfortunate in as ragged and miserable a condition as possible.

How's this for compassion? Mississippi has approved the deepest cut in Medicaid eligibility for senior citizens and the disabled that has ever been approved anywhere in the U.S.

The new policy will end Medicaid eligibility for some 65,000 low-income senior citizens and people with severe disabilities — people like Traci Alsup, a 36-year-old mother of three who was left a quadriplegic after a car accident."

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Medicaid bill becomes law

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/8769469.htm

"Gov. Haley Barbour on Wednesday signed into law a Medicaid bill that would remove 65,000 people from the state health care plan, crack down on eligibility and drug costs and save state taxpayers an estimated $106 million.

Barbour promised those removed from the state system would receive adequate coverage under the federal Medicare program and said he understands that "not knowing scares people."

But at a rally at the Capitol later Wednesday, opponents, including scores of Medicaid recipients and health care advocates, said the plan would leave thousands of the state's elderly and disabled without adequate coverage or prescription drugs."

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If this isn't a wake up call to all Americans, what will it take? There is no such thing as "compassionate conservatism." All that means is saying you're sorry while taking from the poor to give to the wealthy. The GOP's class warfare escalates day after day. When will we match their firepower?

[David__77]

1. Though let's not forget the MS Democratic legislature's complicity.

The GOP is a small minority in MS. Right-wing Democrats dominate.

[QC]

2. The GOP has the governor's office and the state senate.

Pretty neat trick for an insignificant, powerless minority. But hey, it's always more fun to blame the Democrats, I guess.

[HuckleB]

3. Sounds like a technicality.

But I don't care about the party affiliation. It's still "compassionate conservatism" at its worst. And, at least the legislature is screaming for reconsideration, once it realized just how ridiculous this is.

[donsu]

4. US health care is going to crash

because the criminal bushgang wants it to crash. this is part of the suck-as-much-money-out-of-america-as-fast-as-we-can plan.

that noise we have gotten used to is that sucking sound.

the gang of criminals in no way want universal health care, or medicare, or medicade, or public hospitals, and they want to (and have done) lessen care at the VA hospitals.

health care is going to crash

[liberalron]

5. Last year the Gov. of Alabama attempted

to radically revise the tax structure system, off the backs of the lower/middle classes and onto wealthy/corporations. It was defeated, unfortunately with the compliance of those who most needed it. It failed. At that time, is was said that Alamba would compare with an undeveloped third world country.