In his March 10 op-ed, “Targeting this $2.8 trillion tax shelter could help solve a big U.S. problem,” Scott Hodge invited readers to “consider nonprofit hospitals and health care plans,” which in 2023 generated more income “than many of America’s largest for-profit companies — yet paid no corporate income tax.” “The justification? In exchange for their tax exemption, nonprofit hospitals are supposed to provide charity care for the poor. However, studies consistently find that tax-exempt hospitals don’t provide more free or discounted care to low-income patients than their taxpaying competitors.”
I’m a retired anesthesiologist who served as medical staff president, board member and head of patient safety at a “not for profit” hospital. It was always clear to me that this was a for-profit facility. When decision-makers had to choose between spending funds for much-needed psychological services (which are not a moneymaker) versus opening yet another remote emergency room to generate more admissions and dollars, the needs of the community and patients lost every time. It is well past time to tax these fat cats. Give them a tax deduction for the free care they actually give; it won’t be much.
Tanya Argo, Denver
On autism, follow the money
I spent 50 years in both public and private children’s mental health settings. I encountered numerous occasions when children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders by agencies that then wanted to enroll them in their costly treatment programs, as well as parents who sought special services and disability benefits. In too many cases, I could ascertain no evidence to confirm said diagnosis. Though I remain an advocate of quality services for children in need, I am leery when providers and advocates receive financial benefit from the condition. There is a maxim that applies when considering the reasons for social trends: Follow the money.
As Adam Omary wrote in his Feb. 13 Friday Opinion essay, “The autism epidemic is a myth,” despite a dearth of supporting evidence, “some advocates support the narrative that autism is on the rise, because an ever-expanding ‘spectrum’ that produces more diagnoses draws more attention and research funding — even if children’s underlying psychology remains unchanged.”
In no way am I belittling those in need, but I believe this is an overlooked factor in the increase in autism’s reported incidence.
Philip McDowell, Lowville, New York
Timeless wisdom for another time
Bravo for the twin reflections on “The Wealth of Nations” in the March 8 paper: Jesse Norman’s Sunday Opinion essay, “This masterwork is turning 250. It’s needed now more than ever.,” and Nick Bunker’s op-ed, “The best argument for letting America go? A polymath nailed it.”
Adam Smith’s perspective is still correct. What is different is the complexity of the world we live in. When judging our president’s actions on free trade, the first step is to evaluate the actions of our trade partners. Canada is a great example. Canadians have been protecting their producers from foreign competitors here in the United States for a long time. President Donald Trump has rightly called them out on it. Many other countries have been doing the same thing. This situation is a legacy of our victory in World War II. We should fix it at last.
Bill Kent, Fort Lauderdale
First place in the 51st-state sweepstakes
I was vastly entertained by Max Boot’s March 7 op-ed, “Trump’s mini-me ambassadors are insulting and alienating U.S. allies,” but puzzled by the absence of comment on the hapless adventures of Pete Hoekstra, perhaps the most incompetent and despised U.S. ambassador to Canada in living memory. It appears Boot, however, has been clueless himself on one point. When chiding the esteemed nominee for U.S. ambassador to Iceland over his joke that it might become the 52nd state, Boot wrote that “the 51st, presumably, is Greenland.” How could Boot forget that this dubious honor had been, noisily and repeatedly, offered by President Donald Trump to Canada? Please, Mr. President, do not appoint Mr. Boot as the next ambassador to Canada!
David Humbert, Digby, Nova Scotia
Independence, merely declared
The March 9 online news article “Iran rallies around new leader after 10 days of war as oil prices spike” reported that President Donald Trump called surging oil costs a “very small price to pay” for his assault on Iran.
What good is the United States’ supposed energy independence if our gasoline prices are still impacted by the global oil shortage?
Vincent DePalma, University Place, Washington
Since President Donald Trump wants to pick Iran’s next leader and 55 percent of Americans oppose him as U.S. president, why not send him to Iran to run that country? Win-win.
Bill Becker, Wake Forest, North Carolina
The Department of Justice League
The March 6 front-page article “Noem booted as head of DHS” reported that President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem and moved her to a new role as “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas.” A poem in honor of the former South Dakota governor’s latest career move:
The “Shield” has welcomed Kristi Noem.
The disgraced Homeland chief has a new home.
Will the Hulk join the team
Alongside Wolverine?
Captain America’s dethroned.
Vin Morabito, Scranton, Pennsylvania
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