Unemployment

[kandrathe]

However, a government does do better when citizens are healthy and educated.

I'm not opposed to people figuring out a way to make these things affordable. I want everyone to be healthy, and to be educated. But, I'm opposed to the government, by force of law, reaching into our pockets to pay for it for everyone, regardless of the costs. I'm just generally opposed to the notion of herding everyone to the water hole, and forcing them to drink. Then if they still won't drink, we shoot them (e.g. Jail time for not buying health insurance).

I also want everyone to have a productive and fulfilling vocation, adequate nutritious food, warm clothing in winters, heating for their homes, and a nice place to live. The government's role in my area is limited to police, fire/rescue, sewage treatment, repairing the roads, snow plowing, and mail delivery, with snow plowing being the most useful. We have very low crime rates, and most of the fire/rescue activity is paramedic in nature. All those other things we figure out how to do for ourselves without making the government do it for us.

But, when you get the the State level... things get crazy. We have 3 state funded supplemental health care plans for poor people, Minnesota Care, SCHIP, and general assistance. This is above and beyond the Federal Medicaid program.

Our cost per child per year in our public K-12 schools is now, $21550. Which is about 2/3 the full cost of a year at one of Minnesota's most expensive private colleges.