MaineCare enrollment has increased from 250,000 to 361,000 lives over the past 10 years of Democratic leadership in Augusta. The argument continues as to whether this increase of more than 110,000 at a time when Maine’s overall population has been stagnant is due to an influx of those seeking lucrative social service benefits.
But look at the only alternative answer. If not an out-migration of taxpayers paying into the system being replaced by those coming in seeking to take from the system, then the only other possible answer is that hard-working Mainers, who have always lived here, have lost jobs and benefits and been forced to ask for more assistance from the state.
So maybe it's time to ask for an honest answer from those who created the situation — is the increase in MaineCare and other assistance requests a result of Democratic efforts to expand social services in Maine or is it a result of Democratic failed economic policies and decisions that has brought the state to this point?
The time to fix the problem is now and new leadership in Augusta has taken that task in hand and begun making the changes necessary to ensure that everyone can continue to believe it when we say — “Maine, the way life should be.”
Voters should remember that in November’s elections.
Robert Reed, Lewiston
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R. Reed: Time to fix the problem
Robert, 12.03.16 14:20 hst
Your time is past . You are writing this as a former Lewiston councilperson ? You had your chance . Now you do not like Romney Care as it is manifested in Maine and the rest of the nation . That's so 00's . Your question is moot
The solution has been adopted whether you use it or not . Go ahead now , cut off your nose despite your face . Then try to get it fixed /s, Dr. Dosh , http://www.pnhp.org/ <- not necessarily an endorsement
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.How about door #3?
Mr Reed, I think I’m going to go with option three:
The National economy tanked. I dunno if you remember, but a few years ago, the economy tanked because some people got greedy. They were making too much money with too little oversight. Any who, most of the problems you mention can be traced back to that.
Don’t get me wrong, there has been some serious oversight issues with these programs, but my guess is that the 2008 crash has made everything worse. Maine unemployment spiked in 2008 from 4.7% in Jan 2008 to 8.4% in Jan 2010. This compounds everything. No wages means no income taxes. Housing prices dropped, and people were defaulting left and right. No property taxes. And now you have a bunch more people qualifying for Medicaid.
So politicize it all you want, but I’m not voting blindly for anyone. I’m going to vote for the one who will represent me best.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I can't see...
...where this is a political problem. Why is it more important to assess blame than find a solution?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.GOP
It's a direct result of failed gop economic policies of concentrating more and more wealth into fewer hands.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Finally someone who can see the problem for what it is.
Robert hit the nail on the head. Politicians see the same problem,their just stuck with a dilema.
On one side ,If they blame this problem on the huge influx of welfare seeking people moving into the state. They can blame someone else. the republicans can blame the democrats and visa-versa.
However if they were to see the real problem for what it is, Long time residents losing their jobs, their homes everything. Then someone is going to have to realize that someone in this state, both sides, are not doing their jobs. Trying to get a politician to admit he's made a mistake, is harder than getting a cat to lick mustard
I'll admit I have no clue on how to fix this problem, But half the solution is understanding what the problem is.
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