To the Readers' Forum:
Time and time again we scream until we're blue in the face that the government, primarily NYS, isn't working for us but time and time again we continue to vote, think and act the same, while expecting different results, which of course is the definition of insanity. This is regarding the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare, which the Supreme Court did rule states may or may not opt in.
We all know that NY is practically the "welfare capital" of the country, at least on the state wide level. Your opinion of good, bad, or indifferent aside, we all know that Obamacare is going to add more dependents. Regarding the Medicaid expansion, the federal government is going to allegedly 'pay for it all', for the first five years and then 90 percent after that. States already pay out the rear for this "wonderful" program, they mostly now regret opting into. How will this increase be sustained? Not to mention the federal government is rarely upfront and honest, and it's no secret, just as they do with all programs, they'll put lipstick on it and swear it's not a pig, then hook line and sinker they'll stick us with it.
With all that being said, what I find most concerning is that Sen. Young, who I've traditionally admired as far as politicians go, has simply said she's "concerned." Well I'm concerned too but you were elected to be more than concerned. Even worse than that, Assemblyman Goodell says that his recommendation is to opt in and "use those savings" and "change the structure" later on. Is he kidding? So we should opt into a bogus program that is "supported," controlled, by the federal government who are starting an expansion program that we will never be able to get out of or change, on our own, but will certainly incur the consequences. NYS should be outraged!
Nathan T. Tuccio
Jamestown