Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler
Politicians in general refuse to see the consequences of their actions. Having never been involved in running a business, their actions are not tempered by knowledge. ... A few years ago, the legislators of Maryland voted an increase in the taxes to be paid by health insurance companies. The legislators clucked that the businesses involved would not pass the increases on to their customers, but would simply absorb the increased costs. HA HA! They were shocked! shocked! to hear complaints from their constitutents that their health insurance premiums were going up. ... Previous to this, the same body of wise persons increased the fees on the banking industry. The result was to drive all large commercial banks to Delaware where they pay no fees. Again, the elected representatives were baffled by this "illogical" reaction.
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Same sort of thing is happening in La Crosse...the city thinks the Fire Dept. should take over the city's portion of ambulance service that's being handled, currently, by a third party...all they see is the approx. $800.00/ride that MediWelCrap pays the ambulance company for each ride it gives a MWC receipient...they "did a study" that showed (at least they attempted to snow the folks with this "study") the city would break even in 5 years and after that, it was pure gravy in the city's coffers...
Dumbasses didn't even have the cost of training, re-certification training and the truck figured into the "study" - I mentioned that to them in a public meeting and mentioned that fact that half the people they were hoping to be part of the MWC payments weren't even on Welfare or even collect Medicaid...and when the city did do ambulance services back in the early 80s, they had, at best, a 67% collection rate. None of that was even figured in the "study" - The 67% collection rate was the main reason the city GOT OUT of the ambulance business back in the 80s to begin with. But, history is bound to be repeated when when you fail to heed its lessons...
The story that was being told in the back of the room was that the mayor (Demo-dunce) was paying back the Police/Firemens' Union for the past election backing he had received...
Now, the whole thing is going to go before the voters is spring in a binding referendum (only good for 2 years if I remember correctly) that should shelve this idea 'til Tweedle-dumbass loses his job as mayor. The other goof-ball we have to get rid of is the Demo-dunce that's the Chairman of the County Board. He had to be in on this hairball scheme in order for the city to even try to run it up the flag-pole...
Thank God someone got the petitions out and signed before this thing got rammed down the taxpayers' throats.
The bad part about all of this? If the referendum fails and the city gets to boot out the private amubulance service from the city of La Crosse, there won't be enough "business" in the surrounding 3 counties to sustain the current level of service, so the whole 3 counties would have to pay more just to keep something available for the out-of-towners...
Now, here's political thinking that's self-destructive, knee-jerkish at best, and selfish for sure...it must border on criminal, but no one's been able to figure how to get that one to stick...