Former Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has unveiled a controversial new government initiative aimed at addressing issues in the city. The proposal would provide free dental care to methamphetamine users, funded by taxpayers.
During a recent event, Bass shared her latest thoughts on how to tackle the city’s challenges, raising eyebrows as she discussed her approach.
“How many people have you met who are homeless and don’t have any teeth?” she questioned. “Their teeth are gone because of meth. It’s hard to succeed without teeth. So, we need to offer comprehensive healthcare for these individuals.”
It feels a bit like trying to renovate a house while it’s still ablaze.
Honestly, this may be one of the most misguided ideas out there. She even uses the term “houseless,” which I find quite peculiar.
What’s the point of fixing someone’s teeth if they’re living in such conditions? Who’s going to look at a person struggling with substance abuse and think, Please, take my money.
We’re not discussing simple cleaning here; dental work can be incredibly costly. Implants can run about 6,000 yen per tooth, while extractions are around $300 each. Someone with a meth addiction might need substantial interventions, like bone grafts, sinus lifts, and sedation. Can we realistically expect someone in that situation to maintain expensive dentures that might end up in a pawn shop?
From my personal experience, the total bill could range from $30,000 to $80,000 if the city were to pay the dentist directly. Typically, though, these programs go through nonprofits or NGOs, which means the taxpayer cost likely doubles or triples. We’ve seen similar results with other government initiatives, like Gov. Gavin Newsom’s diaper program that inflated costs significantly.
Speaking of experience, I’ve been covering my own dental expenses out of pocket for a couple of years now, much like any responsible taxpayer.
So, is the takeaway that I just need to start using meth to get my dental work paid for?
Interestingly, Medicare doesn’t even provide coverage for dental care, so those who have spent their lives contributing to the system often find themselves without assistance for dental issues. Yet, here we are, proposing to aid individuals struggling with addiction.
How do voters in this city choose someone like Karen Bass to lead? Despite Republican candidate Spencer Pratt making a strong showing during debates and being a solid option, polling hasn’t favored him much.
This city seems to be in a downward spiral, and perhaps its voters are to blame… but I’m not affected; I don’t live there.
For those who are undocumented and struggling with addiction, it seems like public services are more than willing to offer assistance, including free dental work.
