Politicians could have used a few 'dollar sense' ideas from Santa

Editor:

//

I wish Santa could have brought some dollar sense to our leaders for Christmas. Here are just a few ideas.

Medicaid: Introduce an incentive for young men to marry, help their children to not lose Medicaid. Research shows that there is less poverty and crime in families with a father. Allow twice the income level for a married couple to qualify for Medicaid, and more people will marry. Also, charging a few dollars per medical visit would reduce Medicaid abuse (unnecessary medical visits).

Tax laws: Provide a deduction for a couple who chooses to have the wife or husband stay home to care for preschool children, which would save pre-kindergarten and medical costs. Childcare centers in the very young increase the rate of infections and medical care needed.

Small businesses: Encourage small companies to form insurance pools so they can afford to cover their employees. This would encourage preventative care, and reduce costly emergency care.

The Injured: Car crashes and homicide cause more death and disability (mainly healthcare costs) nationally than any other cause in people under 41. Profiling could help law enforcement prevent many of these costly injuries. Yet profiling is often viewed as discrimination, even though it is analyzing facts and guiding the use of limited resources.

The Veterans Administration: Make disability pensions equal to retirement pensions plus additional medical costs. This would encourage healthy living. Meanwhile, active duty soldiers and families survive on minimal care.

Above all, keep saying "no" to public option healthcare and encourage competition. There are political candidates who understand these unwise spending practices. When they win next November, we will see spiraling healthcare costs settle down.

Priscilla Bence, Martinez