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Inland Valley Bulletin
Editorial
January 8, 2007
We share Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's hope to insure
California's kids. Whether they are in this nation illegally
or not, minors deserve coverage for this reason alone:
They're children.
Denying youngsters true access to the health care system--not
just swelling emergency rooms--because of decisions made
by their parents is cruel. And costly. Preventive care,
paid by that proverbial ounce, is less expensive than
emergency care paid in pounds of taxpayer flesh.
We understand that some of the uninsured are here illegally,
and that's wrong, but most of the time immigration decisions
are made for them by their parents. They are not generally
here by choice, but they're here.
The true character of a society is a reflection of how
it treats its innocents, and California's reflection
is blemished by an estimated 763,000 uninsured youngsters.
While we agree with the spirit of Schwarzenegger's plan,
we are not ready to endorse the funding mechanisms just
yet, as they will be released in detail with the governor's
overall health care plan today. But in general we support
redirecting existing taxpayer money to feed the proposed
$400 million system, rather than saddling businesses
or individuals with higher taxes or new fees.
Even so, the governor should face some dissent from
his own party. Republicans appear poised to oppose providing
care to illegal immigrants. Though arguments against
insuring the children of illegal aliens aren't unfounded--coverage
is yet another "reward" for those who sneak
into the United States--the pull of economic opportunity
in California is strong enough as it is.
Schwarzenegger's proposal wouldn't create new incentives
to cross the border. There are enough already: work,
shelter, food, opportunity, reuniting with family. Add
in lax immigration laws, and insuring children doesn't
even come into the equation.
And since immigrants and their children are here anyway,
consider the benefits of health coverage. Insurance would
increase regular checkups, which means youths would be
more likely to see doctors before ailments become truly
serious, and reduce the likelihood of diseases spreading.
Teens could also discuss the most private matters in
confidence with their doctors, including how to prevent
pregnancy, get prenatal care, treat venereal diseases
and receive mental health care for maladies prevalent
in their age group like depression and Attention Deficit
Disorder.
Children need to talk with their doctors in confidence,
just like everyone else.
Insuring minors is also less expensive than covering
adults, since they generally avoid the more serious illnesses
that come with age. But this is not just a financial
issue; it's a moral one. Not caring for children, no
matter where they were born, is inhumane.
California still has enough heart, and money, to treat
all of its children.
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