In recent weeks, I have read with interest the reactions of readers to Gov. LePage’s decision to decrease funds to MaineCare (Medicaid). Unless reversed by the state Legislature, the results would be the cancellation of health insurance for many sick and financially disadvantaged Mainers. In my opinion, the anger and blame directed at our governor is misdirected and the result of shallow thinking.

The letters to the editor have taken one of two forms. Many letters assign blame, a process that is generally useless. Those blamed have included Gov. LePage, the Legislature and The Press Herald (for not vetting the authors of some letters). The cruelest of these responses was a writer who blamed the enrollees themselves for the budget shortfall! He described them as poor planners with poor work ethics. Other letters describe the rather painful, sad, but obvious results of unmet medical needs in some ill and helpless Maine citizens.

The Medicaid segment of our national medical care system has long been the one closest to financial collapse. As the economy falters, it is logical that financial pain would be felt in this segment first.

In fact, the financial stress within our entire medical care system is the result of conflicting goals, politically based, poorly thought-out solutions and unaddressed greed. We citizens must accept that we have allowed the creation of what we have. The entire system is overpriced, poorly managed, hard to understand and not well-administered. Some basic questions need to be answered. Is basic and reasonable medical care a right of citizenship or a privilege? Would a government-run medical care system be a solution? We must do better.

David Scotton, M.D., is a resident of Cape Elizabeth.