It may be futile to try to write a blog about
Plainfield’s Council meetings and the city’s administrative branch.
Once again, I am not able to open any of the supporting
material for Monday’s business meeting.
Not that it matters since the posting seems to be an exact unchanged
copy of last week’s agenda setting postings. The control of spending vast sums of money will not be questioned.
Of note that in line with this government's policy of
being public friendly and transparent the meeting time has change from 8pm when
people would have no meal conflicts to 7pm. Of course, this time is convenient
for the Councilors who will conduct their business in less than an hour.
Collect their compensation and spend the better part of the evening at home.
The Mayor this week wrote in favor of universal health
care. This is one of the favorite pitches of politicians who do not care how
they spend the public’s money.
Health care is a society’s responsibility. It has been
met in the past by charitable institutions, voluntary contributions and to a
smaller extent through governmental grants.
Universal health care is an expensive socialistic program
which societies are unwilling to pay for and can bankrupt that society unless
taxes are raised.
In New Jersey there is a cap on how much taxes can be
raised each year but as the Council will vote for Monday night Plainfield will
be able to increase its taxable budget by another percent. With a decreased
taxpayer base individual property taxes will rise significantly.
Universal Health care will be funded through federal taxation
in addition to present taxes or by increasing the deficit for another
generation to meet. This of course does not worry our local, state, and federal
governments who increase sending by increasing debt.
Controls for Universal Health Care include reduced
payments to vendors and providers, limiting access and services all of which negatively
impact the level of care. Examples today are long waits for appointments, use
of Practice assistants to treat patients and restrictions on the freedom of choice
of physicians. The list goes on but to this old doctor the net result is poorer
medical/surgical care for the individual patient.
