[Jim Noble]

Forth, we don't charge the entire cost of the fire department since the last fire to the next fire victim just because they had a fire.

That's actually a good analogy.

Fire Department infrastructure and salaries -all of it-is paid by taxpayers.

What's the line item in your town budget to maintain and equip your local hospital?

Huh?

[DB]

It is a community hospital that gets public funds. I don't know the details of how that works though.

I spent 20+ hours with her in the room. That $500k bill would have more than paid for every piece of equipment in the room. It was mostly old equipment and they've recouped the cost many times over.

[DB]

I should add, the truth is, she (and the insurance company) are paying for all the others who didn't pay - particularly the illegals. It isn't that her specific care cost $500k, it is her care in addition to the many before her that didn't pay their way.

That is wrong.

If the voters demand that hospitals take care of illegals and dead beats then it is the voters who should pay the cost directly. Not the next person that comes through the hospital door sick and who happens to have insurance or can otherwise pay.

And just perhaps if they started bearing the burden of their vote they'd vote differently.

[STD]

Most Fire Departments are made up of Volunteers