When I read stories such as this one (which is real), I understand why there are some people out there who believe that it is asking too much of kids to learn to read and write and do math on a basic level, or that it's asking too much of schools to teach every child the most basic of educational skills:
Roughly 40,000 poor people have been dropped from the Oregon Health Plan this year because of their failure to make monthly premium payments, some as low as $6 a month.
The departure of more than one-third of the 88,000 poor people from the state-subsidized Oregon Health Plan Standard program has far exceeded the expectations of many state officials.
Advocates for the poor say the premiums are too expensive for some people and the government may have overestimated the ability of people to mail a check.
"It's an enormous barrier," said Ellen Pinney, director of the Oregon Health Action Committee. "Let alone the $6, there is the whole issue of writing a check or getting a money order, putting it in an envelope with a stamp and putting it in the mail to this place in Portland that must receive it by the due date."
Those dropped can return after six months.
Good thing those poor have advocates to make excuses on their behalf, isn't it? After all, it seems to now be unacceptable to ask that people make even the most minimal efforts on their own behalf. But now that I think about it, maybe Ellen has a point. If schools don't teach kids how to write, how can we expect those kids, who will grow up to be unproductive members of society, to know how to write a check or address an envelope? "Expectations just can't be lowered enough" seems to be their motto in Oregon.
Sheesh. I've heard complaints about the US becoming a "nanny state," but this is ridiculous.
(Via RightWingNews).
Posted by kswygert at October 30, 2003 04:08 PM