Hillsdale College accepts no federal funding nor students who accept federal funding. This allows them a modicum of independence from the government that many of us envy. Unfortunately, the federal (and most governments) like to use our taxes and other revenue to “shape” (coerce?) policies and programs. Both sides of the political spectrum use these tactics. Recall the attempt to stop some federal funds to sanctuary cities during the Trump administration. The latest is the inclusion in the Build Back Better bill (HR 5376) of reduced payments to hospitals to cover uninsured patients.
Publicly supported hospitals are required by the “Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act” (EMTLA) to provide aid regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. (Private hospitals provide “emergency” care but only under the threat of malpractice, not law.) In a ham-handed attempt to force states that have not accepted the expansion of Medicaid, the bill reduces funding for public hospitals in those states. In effect, the federal government is saying that if you don’t expand the reach of the federal government, we’ll squeeze you until you do.
Like a petulant child, the state seeks to stop support or conversely, force compliance to get its way. Trying to stay out of the sphere of influence of the state is increasingly more difficult. Freedom to live our lives as we see fit is being marginalized with every new law or rule. Worse for me, is the people we choose are less in control as entrenched bureaucrats interpret poorly written laws to concoct rules that fit their particular outlook.
The land of the free is more and more the land of the corralled. Baa Baa Baa
Current Day Publius 