So, this most vulnerable group of Americans will be able to receive adequate healthcare and other life essentials (education, food, clothing)  from their extended families and our churches when their parents lack the means? And what if these two groups lack the resources, Pat? Should we change the bumpersticker to "United We Stand, Unless You Fall Through The Cracks"? To whom should these children look then? The decent society that I want to live in will provide what is necessary. And that means all of us paying for it.
Peter you bring up compassion although not by word. What did we do before all the messy social programs? These always sound good in the beginning. They just end up ugly because they
become a never ending funnel of money. You bring up no alternative other my idea of(extended family and churches). Do you think it ends there? The alternatives are more than just issuing a government health care card and sipfon more money off the "rich".  Those evil bad rich. I support helping those that cannot help themselves I just dont think government should be involved. Peter I have worked(am working) for government agencies here in Austin. I see this stuff first hand every day. We as a nation first have to fix the messed up system we already have(HMO'S and PPO's) and devise a way for universal health care(did I say that). Uhhhhhhh UHC.........