I have read with interest the schizophrenic letters referencing the budget and MaineCare.

While the state implodes financially in response to years of Democratic neglect, any discussion about cuts and reductions are followed by a personal story or two that shows the insensitivity of making hard decisions.

Can MaineCare be reduced and become more efficient? Yes, but it takes hard decisions and may require cuts and reductions to assure the greater chance to remain effective.

The sob stories about those losing care are never balanced by those referencing individuals who cannot qualify for MaineCare but support it financially through taxes.

Some letters restrain themselves from the individual impact story and go right to the Barack Obama soap opera of class warfare.

Here’s a suggestion: Everyone on MaineCare reimburses the program 5 percent of their income or 5 percent of costs incurred by MaineCare, whichever is the lesser of the two.

This will not fully subsidize the financial hole faced by the administration but would illustrate one writer’s comment that Mainers are willing to join together in an emergency. The MaineCare deficit is such an emergency. There are many innovative ways to save Maine Care and the state financial gaps. The problem is no one is willing to make hard decisions or explore new ideas so to avoid the next tearful story.

Bill Perfetto

Gardiner


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