Actually, Steve, I don't see anything in the article that contradicts what you quoted from my prior postings on the subject - when you take that quote in context with the rest of what I posted.
Again, allow me to try to explain this to you.
I agree with you that we should do a better job of controlling illegal immigration. OK?
I also agree that abuse of the resources in our healthcare system by illegals is a problem. OK?
What I can't seem to make you understand is that in many cases what motivates illegals to resort to emergency rooms for what should be things treated by physicians in their offices is the same thing that motivates many citizens to do so - poverty. (Point #1, please file for reference) These people do NOT necessarily have intent to be freeloaders. In many cases, they are simply....sick....or have a family member who they care about who is....yes, you guessed it....sick.
Further, a causal factor in motivating poor people to resort to abuse of the system in order to receive badly needed health care is the lack of a way to afford it within their means to pay. (Point #2, again please file for reference)
Last, the fact that illegals in many cases find sources of illegally paid for employment here at rates of pay that are both exploitave of their circumstances and so low there is no way medical care here will be affordable by those so employed is IMHnsO an indicator that we are, by virtue of how we are handling immigration and illegal employment issues, creating our own damn problem to a large extent. (Point #3, don't lose track here).
OK, let's summarize:
1) People who are sick and don't have money may want to be treated anyway and seek help where they can (doh). This doesn't mean they want to be freeloaders, they may just be in dire straits.
2) Our health care system isn't affordable until a person reaches a certain level of income - after all, there are more basic priorities, like food (doh again). If we fixed that by making sure alternatives existed that allowed people to receive basic health care by paying what they could afford, even if we had to subsidize that to some extent, we'd perhaps encourage them to do so rather than abusing emergency rooms and this would be beneficial and cheaper to us by far.
3) If we'd JAIL any prettythanghat who exploits wetback labor (including fat lazy gringas who pay for mexicanas to care for their kids while doing their laundry, farmers who want to be the cheapest in the market with product, sweatshop owners, etc) then that available job pool would dry up and perhaps there would be less motivation for people to seek it (doh X 3, eh?) Further, if we'd recognize there's a demand for these services and let capitalism work by allowing that demand to be filled legally, perhaps those who'd supply the demand would be very happy to be able to do so legally within the system, paying taxes AND for their health care (doh X 4 and I rest).
Try to get this straight. I, like you seem to be, am a libertarian. I believe that with freedom comes responsibility, including for self. I don't like paying anyone else's way, illegal or not.
I'm just compassionate enough towards other humans that I can sympathize with the plight of someone who's sick and can't dig enough pesetas out of their pocket to see a doctor.
I'm also sensible enough to realize that there are problems with OUR SYSTEMS that serve to exacerbate the things you're complaining about. I am merely pointing those things that I recognize out and saying we'd go a long ways towards solving the problems you're complaining about (illegal immigration and abuse of our healthcare system) by being proactive in the search for solutions.
Man, I've done my best. If you still can't grasp what I'm saying, lets agree to disagree, OK?
culero
