I am concerned about the proposed cuts in funding for the elderly, disabled and mentally ill. What a terrible decision. Many will lose their jobs. People will be left without care. It will cause an economic disaster, since many jobs are now service-oriented.

If medical care is based only on those who can afford to pay, that will put hospitals, nursing homes and many other service-oriented programs out of business. Government officials should think about that. Many Mainers are on Medicaid because they cannot afford other health insurance at today’s prices. There are too many low-paying jobs.

As it is, hospitals and nursing homes faces shortages of help because they cannot afford to pay for more workers.

That is not helping the needy patients, especially at a time when there are more elderly and disabled than ever before, and more to come in the near future.

Families will have to take care of sick relatives at home or pay for private care. That will put a burden on many who have outside jobs.

Gabrielle De Moras, Lewiston