This happened on Daily Kos
But instead, allow me to ask you to do the Christian thing and donate to this young man’s fund. Yes, he assists in electing leaders who hurt my fellow Americans (and apparently himself), but he has two young, beautiful and innocent daughters who need him--and that is who the fund is for. He does not deserve to suffer, much less die. If you can spare anything, donate: Put .07 cents at the end of whatever you donate so they know it came from Kossacks (or KosKids, as we are unaffectionately called on Redstate). http://www.gofundme.com/...
My ire goes to his employer. Even though the ACA was a conservative idea, and even though it still doesn't cover everyone and essentially just forces insurance companies to stop engaging in their worst of the worst practices, it is the only thing we could get through and STILL Erick fights it tooth and nail.
Results below
Appears that this is what is happening with the money:
On a personal note, Caleb’s girls are dancers and quite good and that’s expensive. Having a dad who can’t work means losing opportunities. These donations will help them pursue their dreams while their dad gets well.
Wishing Caleb and his family wholeness and healing.
True the donate page did not quite say that this was for dance lessons and screw the hospital, but it does not quite say this is for health care bills either:
This fund is dedicated to helping the family of Caleb Howe. As he lays in the hospital with a failing liver, his children, ages 11 and 14, are heading back to school in a few weeks. It would lift an incredible burden for Caleb & Donna if they could get even the smallest amount of help with these upcoming expenses and with anything extra that comes in, we will help Caleb & Donna with their medical bills as Caleb is uninsured. If you're not in a position to give, your prayers are always welcome in lieu of a donation. Thank you for your compassion and help.
This is the political justification for it:-
Since this has been made into a political discussion, it’s worthwhile to point out that conservatives believe in helping the truly needy. This is what Medicaid was for–not as a catchall insurance program for everyone.
Also, here’s what the hospital will do for Caleb or anyone in a similar situation: they’ll assess his ability to pay and then bill him a small amount each month until they forgive the debt or it’s paid off. I’ve known people who pay $5 a month. Most hospitals were/are have Christian and charitable missions.
That’s America. It’s not a perfect system, to be sure. And improvements to the health care system were needed, but to claim that Obamacare would make Caleb’s situation better and ignore the harm that’s already being done by the legislation, is just willful political exploitation.
Worse, than the political, though, is the personal. The coarsening of our interaction and dehumanization is the biggest loss. Money comes and goes but community bonds and compassion abide. Well, I’d like to think they do, anyway.
Giving a dollar out of spite so you can say something nasty to man who might die and saying it in a place where his wife, children, and extended family will read it, well. What it says about you trumps any political point you hoped to make.
The truly needy are right-wing bloggers, everyone else can go screw.
It is perfectly fine to stiff hospitals but regulating insurance companies is socialism.
It is perfectly fine to ask for donations for health care costs and use them for dance lessons. That is the American way.
That's what free dumb is all about.
Whether this Conservative bloggers explanation of what is happening with the money is true it raises questions of deserving or non deserving. It should not be for Redditor Daily Kos to make that decision. It should be a purely medical decision.
Deserving or non deserving? Well I've just donated to a homeless charity.