New York Times: "Bigotry on [North Carolina's] Ballot" - "driving “a wedge between gays and blacks.”

"...lawmakers got careless with the wording of the measure, known as Amendment One.

It would constitutionally prohibit recognition not just of same-sex marriages, but of other legal arrangements like civil unions and domestic partnerships.

That could harm all unmarried couples, imperiling some children’s health insurance benefits, along with child custody arrangements and safeguards against domestic violence.

...One of Amendment One’s most vocal opponents is the Rev. William Barber II, president of the state chapter of the N.A.A.C.P.

Mr. Barber draws a strong link
between the proposed amendment and struggles against racial unfairness,
an appeal with special resonance
following the publication in March of memos from the National Organization for Marriage,
one the most prominent groups fighting same-sex marriage,
about driving “a wedge between gays and blacks.”

...public opinion continues to move steadily toward marriage equality.

In 2001, Americans opposed same-sex marriage by a margin of 57 percent to 35 percent.

Today, 47 percent are in favor and 43 percent opposed...

Opponents of marriage equality have never been able to show any evidence
that any harm is caused to heterosexual marriages
by granting all American adults the right to marry as they choose
— because there is no such evidence.

With little more than a week to go before the May 8 contest,
and early voting already under way,
North Carolinians need to consider
whether they really want to inflict this gratuitous bigotry
on their fellow citizens and their children."

NYT

Charlotte Observer: "How a hospital profits on a charity case

"Johnnika Pyles, a 19-year-old student, had no insurance when she was discharged in June 2009 from Person Memorial Hospital, north of Durham.

When a collection agency called trying to collect the $5,486 emergency room bill, Pyles’ mother, Sheila, called the hospital to ask whether her daughter might qualify for charity care.

Chief financial officer James Leis encouraged Pyles to file and mailed her a four-page charity care application and a written agreement called a promissory note.

If Pyles paid off half of her debt, the promissory note said, the hospital would write off the other half.

But this arrangement was not charity.

It was profit.

Medicare cost reports show that Person Memorial’s emergency room costs are about 21 percent of the charges billed.

This means Pyles’ care likely cost Person Memorial about $1,100, so if she paid $2,743, the hospital would make a profit of more than 50 percent.

And the terms were onerous: If she fell behind on payments, the note would require Pyles to pay the full amount, plus any collection and legal fees.

Pyles, who was treated in the emergency room after an accident, did not sign the promissory note.

She received no charity care, and a collection agency is still trying to collect the bill.

Chad Brown, the new CEO of Person Memorial, said ...that he did not know how many promissory notes were held by the hospital, but he said he thinks there are only a few."

Charlotte Observer

chosenfast.com on Cone Health: "Why are HealthServe’s co-payments higher than Medicaid’s?"

"HealthServe Community Health Clinic provides primary healthcare
to adults and families in the Greater Greensboro area.

HealthServe is affiliated with Cone Health.

Their motto is “because everybody deserves good healthcare.”

HealthServe’s indigent clients are charged $10 co-payments
to see doctors and $6 for medications.

That compares to $3 co-pays
for both doctor visits and pharmacy for Medicaid.

WTF?

Why are HealthServe’s co-payments so much higher?"

Michele

Someone should run for Governor of North Carolina as an independent, backed by an unaffiliated Super Pac.

Someone should run for Governor of North Carolina
as a Super Pac with no known contributors
spends more than $100 million on marketing
within one and a half month of the election.

The fellow that can only see a week ahead

is always the popular fellow, for he is looking with the crowd.

But the one that can see years ahead,

he has a telescope but he can't make anybody believe that he has it.

Will Rogers

Any election can now be purchased
in the United States of America.

When buying and selling are controlled by legislation,

the first thing to be bought and sold are legislators.

P. J. O'Rourke

The candidate wouldn’t take any contributions,
as they all flow through the Super Pac
with which the candidate has no affiliation.

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent,

but the one most responsive to change.

Charles Darwin

The candidate advocates for mandatory health care cost cuts
To create a low tax, low debt, low healthcare cost industrial state.

A job magnate.

Increase the efficiency of the health care industry
through school for work education.

People who have what they want

are fond of telling people who haven't what they want,

that they really don't want it.

Ogden Nash

Bring North Carolina more than 1 million new jobs
by insurers sending out of state, higher cost patients
and an increased manufacturing base
for companies looking for lower cost domestic production.

…the earth belongs to each of these generations during its course,

fully and in its own right.

The second generation receives it clear

of the debts and incumbrances of the first, the third of the second, and so on.

For if the first could charge it with a debt,

then the earth would belong to the dead and not to the living generation.

Then, no generation can contract debts greater than may be paid

during the course of its own existence.

Thomas Jefferson to James Madison