James E. Maynard Jr.: Medicaid expansion would help rural NC

Rob Christensen’s March 18 column “GOP confronts N.C.’s divide,” concerning the issues that have historically arisen between the rural and urban areas of our state, was a good summery by an informed political journalist. However, I completely disagree with his conclusion that, “the small towns and rural areas are still the heartbeat of North Carolina.”

The rural residents of our state should not be challenged to overcome artificial barriers, but the future of North Carolina is to be found in its institutions of higher learning and the dynamic businesses that gravitate to the larger metropolitan areas where worldwide transportation and communication resources are more available.

In fact, because of gerrymandered legislative districts, the interests of our rural residents are overrepresented in our legislature. These are the people who allegedly believe the “magic hand of the market” will resolve every economic problem. Any governmental intervention to level the playing field is unwanted and unnecessary.

If there is a perceived need to extend a helping hand to our rural residents, a good start would be to extend Medicaid to those communities who are in danger of losing their community hospitals.

Hypocritical political positions do not solve anybody’s problems!

This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 7:17 PM with the headline "James E. Maynard Jr.: Medicaid expansion would help rural NC."