Toon & text by John Auchter
There are two types of people in this world: Those who like black licorice and those who must be punished for not liking black licorice. This is because (1) black licorice is delicious and (2) it is the one true licorice.Twizzlers, Red Vines, and other so called “red licorices” are abominations. And other flavors are worse. Do you know what’s infinitely better than chocolate licorice? An actual piece of chocolate!!! There ought to be a law.
Of course there are those who would love nothing more than to persecute us black licorice aficionados. They are tired of having to pick out the black jellybeans. They are weary of being tricked into thinking that Good & Plentys might somehow be delicious. They have nothing but disdain for those of us who consume candy they think has the taste and consistency of a driveway. They think there ought to be a law.
Emotions, especially strongly held emotions, can easily be translated into legislation. But is it a good idea to do so? Just because we feel strongly about something doesn’t mean a law is a practical or functional (or moral) way to act on it.
And so we have the Michigan Senate passing a bill to require “able-bodied” people to work for their Medicaid benefits. I get it. It comes from an understandably human place: We don’t like to see other people get something for nothing.
The problem is that it just won’t work. Other states have tried it. You can either be totally draconian and cut so many people that you appear to save money. (But in truth, all the money saved on Medicaid will be lost manifold when these people start showing up in terrible shape at Emergency Rooms.) Or create so many rules and enforcement mechanisms that money is lost on the subsequent bureaucracy bloat.
So here’s my counter-proposal: From this day forward, all Michigan legislators who propose laws that restrict access to medical care have all of their healthcare benefits replaced with a bag of discarded black jellybeans (or chocolate licorice, depending on what side they are on).
John Auchter draws cartoons. Lots and lots of them, each one better than the last. You can find them at auchtoon.com. You can also find his stuff on Michigan Public Radio’s website under Opinion.
Just where are all of these wonderful jobs just waiting for current Medicaid recipients?
What if the current Medicaid recipient lives far enough away that transportation is an issue? Will Medicaid recipients who are elderly or disabled also be required to work under this proposal?
It is unforgivable that the richest country in the world does not provide health care for the citizens. It makes me ashamed of my government. People should not have to forego medical treatment in order to eat or pay the rent. There is so much waste in government that could be eliminated to insure that everyone had a fair shot at healthy living.
As to the licorice, It’s my favorite treat.
What do you do with a mother with kids. Who is going to watch the kids? I’m sure she can’t afford day care. Do they ever think how these laws would actually work?
I’m curious about Schuettes ad. He pushing heavy on the Medicaid/work bill bit also pushing drug testing as a requirement.
Mi did a random test program couple of years ago for aid applicants. At what cost? No positives reported.
I just googled to be sure I remembered correctly.
Who decides what is considered “able bodied”? Just because someone can stand and walk, doesn’t mean they don’t have other alignments that makes it difficult for them to stay gainfully employed. Especially in this economy, with the stock market falling more every week as proof.
I am going to have to chalk this up as another example of the lack of compassion right wingers so proudly exhibit. The sad thing is many of the people who vote for these conservatives are the very people who rely on these benefits.
Most Republicans do not seem to realize that almost all able-bodied Medicaid recipients ALREADY ARE WORKING! They need and get Medicaid EVEN THOUGH THEY ALREADY HAVE JOBS AND WORK HARD!
Most of these people work for Republicans.
My mom is not on Medicaid yet, but her $8,000 plus monthly bill at her assisted living place will use up all her money soon, and she will wind up on Medicaid. These ding-dong Michigan Republicans will want her to get a job.
After all, she has an impressive resume. She worked hard for many years. She has great experience and qualifications. Why, at age 92, has she decided to slack off and go on the dole?
She is stuck in a wheelchair for physical reasons, and stuck in a home for dementia. Are these guys going to send their minions to check her out, and encourage her to go on job interviews?
The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.
I know working dad, just let the poor and old die, and lets not forget the poor children. It’s survival of the fittest right, just like animals.
So you will not draw social security when you are eligible? It’s a socialistic program right? Other people’s money.
Minister of Simple-Minded Cliches.
The problem with American Conservatism is eventually you run out of people to exploit, people to blame, people who believe your lies.
I have to say, Kanye West and Roseanne Barr are doing the country a great service by boldly and proudly announcing their love for Donald Trump with no context other than; “it’s a FREE COUNTRY!” I mean, who wants to be part of that stupid club?
Yes, the nasty republicans are so against children dying that they are anti-abortion. Want people to take resposibility for their own actions.
Liberals/socialists are supposedly for children’s rights, so long as they are useful to the state/government.
Case in point: Alfie Evans, age 23 months, died on 27 April 2018 after being taken off life support on the 24th of April while he was in the hospital on life support. The parents wanted to fly him to Rome, Italy for treatment. Alfie was made a citizen of Italy and was given a Papal Blessing by the Pope to be treated in a Roman Catholic hospital in Rome.
The socialist government and the English courts said that the parents could not remove little Alfie from the hospital at all. The socialist state said that Alfie had to die because in their opinion he would nver have a meaningful productive (slave) for the government.
The [parents were threatened with jail time if they dared to try to take Alfie out of the hospital, or out of country.
This a socialist country, not a republican country.
Could this happen in America? Yes. If socialists/democrats/liberals ever gain control of the government.
They would not just stop a the young. They would also go after all those deemed to be of no worth to the liberal/socialist/democrat government.
This is a socialist country, not aRepublican country.
That sentence was meant for England, not America.
So if the Michigan Rebublican party gets their way on Medicaid for work this kid would die under there proposed law. No Medicaid for able bodied working poor that can’t work. No Medicaid you die
Jim says you are twisting words again. The death of Alfie happened under a socialist govenment not a republican form of government. You, along with John Auchter are twisting words and ideas. The socialist/democrat/liberal type of governments get rid of those who they deem of no use to their form of government.
People will not die by requiring those who are healthy and able to work or at least pretending to look for work.
You and John are using the tactics of saul alinsky and other radicals to impose your lifestyle on the rest of the nation.
You may very well get your wish, someday. I hope that you, John, Andrew, fred and others live long enough to see that plan copme top fruitation. You will quickly learn that you will considered a slave to feed the top 1% of liberals/socialists that will be in charge. Your children and grandchildren will be cursing your names.
It was stated earlier that most people work that are on Medicaid. I know several minimum wagers can’t afford healthcare on their own. You are gonna pay either way. Have them go to the ERs. That would be better right? You pay billions of dollars for farm subsidies. You have a president that doesn’t pay taxes. Legislators are set for the rest of their lives on health care. That’s ok though. Deny the deserving. The Rebublican way.
To jimsays at 9:57 a.m.
Yes congress critters have a “gold plan” when it comes to medical care. One thing you need to keep in mind is that the democrats in crafting the obammascam health plan they jammed down the throats of American people made sure that they exempted themselves from coverage of obamma scam.
The republicans are just continuing the gold plan for congress. Is it the right thing to do? No.
But both the democrats and republicans will not change their health coverage.
I refuse to let Jimmie The Third have the last word here. Do you guys all know that Trump and Pense just went and spoke at the NRA’s national conference? I want to know whether they are planning to speak at the KKK’s national conference.
I tried to look up the KKK’s annual conference on the WWW. The KKK calls it the Faith and Freedom Conference, but I cannot find much info. However! There is another group which holds an identically-named Faith and Freedom Conference.
And, Trump plus a whole bunch of his Republican idiot right-wingers like that identically-named conference. Coincidence? I myself think NO. What do you think?
NO! President Trump and Vice-President Pence will not speak at a KKK rally. The KKK is an offshoot of the democrat party.
Yes, President Trump and Vice President Pence did speak at the NRA national conference.
I now have to ask Tom says what kind of radical words did either President Trump or Vice President Pence utter? I did not hear any negative words spoken. I guess I will have to go back and watch those 2 speeches and see if they did say anything radical.
Of course (SMH) anytime a conservative republican speaks on any subject that does not toe the democrat/socialist/communist party line it is in the minds of the democrat/socialist/communist that it is not a good speech.
As i have said before the KKK is an offshoot of the democrat party. It was created by the democrats after the Civil War to suppress the black vote. It was the democrats in the south that opposed MLK Jr. and those who joined him. The democrats were the ones who turned water hoses and the German Shepards on the peaceful marchers. Yes, MLK Jr. and those who marched with him were peaceful. Unlike the SJW and other democratic/socialist/communistic leaning party today who break out in rioting when they do not get their way.
Or, if they are at any University of California location and a conservitive speaker or some law/policy the republicans enact they do not like, they end up needing crayons, coloring books, safe spaces and other things to comfort them.
CBS News reported on their evening broadcast that the Obamascam health plan is going to raise premium rates up to 90%. It may not raise the rates that high in all states, just a majority of them.
Team Mueller just got a set back from 2 judges this week. One judge wanted to read the reason for the investigation and he wanted a copy that was not redacted. the Mueller team tried the “it is not a good idea because of national security items in the report”. The judge rejected that argument and basically said “give me a unredacted report”. We will have to see if team Mueller does as the judge asks or they will refuse to do so.
Basically the Judge wanted to know how Paul Manforts financial records from 2007 or so could have any bearing on the “Russian Collusion” investigation.