Charity role puts strain on hospitals -- Charity, St. Francis H...

The selfish, racist, and ignorant hatred of poor people and immigrants expressed in these comments is shocking.

For those too bigoted or self-centered to recognize that a healthy life is the right of every individual - regardless of accidents of birthplace or circumstances - consider this. Every other rich country insures all its people, provides medical care as good as America's, and does so for far less money. http://razetheladder.blogspot.com/2008/01/har...

It's in your own self interest to support universal government-provided health insurance. The only reason you might oppose it is a blind commitment to market fundamentalism or a hatred of those different from you so intense that you will sacrifice your own interests.

Jake WE need you to write a letter to save the Joliet East Side Hospital. Please write it now

www.eastjoliet.blogspot.com

clyde wrote:

Exactly WHY are hospitals "required to provide quality health care to the poor and uninsured"? That's why people buy health insurance instead of big-screen tv's,$100 sneakers and big chrome rims on their rides. Besides, with tax-exempt status, that money has to be made up by someone, and it's taxpayers. So NOTHING in life is free, and it's time the "poor" realized it. The ONLY things guaranteed in this life are death and (in Chicago especially) taxes.

Forty years ago people of your type used to say black people were simply profligate, not really poor. That has been pretty thoroughly disproven. Are we now supposed to disprove the large screen TV and expensive sneaker argument? Why don't you just say what you really think?

East Joliet wrote:

Jake WE need you to write a letter to save the Joliet East Side Hospital. Please write it now
www.eastjoliet.blogspot.com

You need some better facts on your website though East Joliet.

jake wrote:

It's in your own self interest to support universal government-provided health insurance.

Then where will Canadians go for good healthcare???

OakParkDan and Clyde,
The reason that hospitals are required to provide "free" care to those unable to pay is because it is a requirement of their tax-exempt status. Read up on Section 501(c)(3) in the Internal Revenue Code. If the hospitals cannot abide by this provision of the code-then they must forfeit their tax exemption and start paying taxes at corporate rates. Given the huge balances the health care sysytems like SSM, Northwestern, Advocate etc carry in their net asset accounts (cash, investments, etc) they have generated huge profits during their history-all while paying no federal, state or local taxes. Take a look at the returns of these entities-they are available online-and you will also see huge salaries paid to the top executives of these companies-just like the for profits. They are detailed on Schedule A of the return. Also check out the details in the liability section of the balance sheet-they like to hide the retirement obligations to these executives there. Our state and federal governments should rightly be challenging the exemption of these companies. They act alike more like "for-profits" than tax-exempt charities.

jake wrote:

The selfish, racist, and ignorant hatred of poor people and immigrants expressed in these comments is shocking.
For those too bigoted or self-centered to recognize that a healthy life is the right of every individual - regardless of accidents of birthplace or circumstances - consider this. Every other rich country insures all its people, provides medical care as good as America's, and does so for far less money. http://razetheladder.blogspot.com/2008/01/har...
It's in your own self interest to support universal government-provided health insurance. The only reason you might oppose it is a blind commitment to market fundamentalism or a hatred of those different from you so intense that you will sacrifice your own interests.

I think a lot of the comments are about money and the ignorance of some people who have 3 or more children without jobs and the will to work, not race.

I think we still need Silver and another hosp in the proposed area, call it Gold Cross Hospital. LOL

akarussell wrote:

<quoted text>I think a lot of the comments are about money and the ignorance of some people who have 3 or more children without jobs and the will to work, not race.

When you peel away the covers and look behind what you can see it's race and class. Sometimes a little more one way, sometimes a little more the other, but still both.

Sue wrote:

<quoted text>
It's not the role of government to bail out investmnent firms, such as Bear Stearns but they did it.

Sue, I originally thought the same as you when the government started bailing out the banks, however, when you think about it more in-depth, FDIC would end up bailing out some of these banks anyway and at least we have a chance at having the monies returned if they are still in operation.

As far as Bear Stearns goes, we are in such sad shape right now, economically, that if the feds didn't step in and force Bear Stearns to merge with Chase, we could have faced grid-lock in the financial sector. Nobody wanted to borrow money to these investment firms who took on such risks and the end-result would be that "NOBODY" in average households would be able to borrow money either. If nobody can get a loan, then what does that to to spending, not to mention that people will lose jobs and the downward spiral would just continue.

I do think that people should be forced to take out, at the very minimum, major medical healthcare plane to cover their family in the event of hospitalization only. These plans, which don't pay for doctors visits are relatively inexpensive. Think about it, we are required "by law" to carry car insurance before we step into a vehicle, yet, the chances of us getting sick and needing medical care are far greater than getting into a car accident. If "everyone" has insurance, the rates should come down for everyone, since the few that do have insurance aren't having to pay for all those who don't.

St. Francis Hospital was supported by Blue island for years and this is the way they treat the town.
Offer the hospital to a for-profit, close the emergency room to prevent the indigent from using it as a primary care clinic, and the hospital will be in the black shortly.
Why this will not be done is that a for-profit will allow abortions and better no hospital in the area than one that bucks the catholic agenda.

clyde wrote:

Exactly WHY are hospitals "required to provide quality health care to the poor and uninsured"? That's why people buy health insurance instead of big-screen tv's,$100 sneakers and big chrome rims on their rides. Besides, with tax-exempt status, that money has to be made up by someone, and it's taxpayers. So NOTHING in life is free, and it's time the "poor" realized it. The ONLY things guaranteed in this life are death and (in Chicago especially) taxes.

I agree. I went to the PA office in Joliet with my friend who was a single mom who was trying to see if she was qualified to get some help financially with food stamps. Her ex husband was not paying his child support and all she wanted was food stamps- that's it. To feed her kids! She was denied even tho all she did was waitress.
There were people walking around in there that got what they applied for- and they were all dressed 10 times better then me and my friend were. Some had more gold arounf their necks than I have ever owned in my life- and wearing those very expensive tennis shoes and coats too!
When we went to leave they were pulling away in nicer cars then we drove too.
Frankly- it makes me sick.

Ladybug2 wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree. I went to the PA office in Joliet with my friend who was a single mom who was trying to see if she was qualified to get some help financially with food stamps. Her ex husband was not paying his child support and all she wanted was food stamps- that's it. To feed her kids! She was denied even tho all she did was waitress.
There were people walking around in there that got what they applied for- and they were all dressed 10 times better then me and my friend were. Some had more gold arounf their necks than I have ever owned in my life- and wearing those very expensive tennis shoes and coats too!
When we went to leave they were pulling away in nicer cars then we drove too.
Frankly- it makes me sick.

I have a keen sense of what you know. Been there done that, They ask if you got a dollar coming instead of is that worth a dollar. Bling is evil!!!!!

LCK wrote:

The political hacks are fat and sassy and do not have to worry about any health care or retirement since they all have sweatheart deals for them and their families. Charity begins at home, we should now take a look at our own and instead od sending the relief to other countries give back to our own.

Amen to that!

The White taxpayers cannot carry the burden of the non white poor any longer. I would give them all travel tickets to their lands of origin and send them back.