It is unfortunate that not everybody can afford health care. Yet, for those who are in need and have no means to provide for themselves, they have a safety net provided by state and local governments when it comes to health services.

Practically anyone in the state of California can go to a county health center and receive non-emergency medical attention at a low or no cost at all.

Unfortunately, this safety net has caused many people to become dependent on these government services which are intended to help people who can’t provide for themselves.

Due to California’s ongoing budget crisis, cutbacks of public services have been seen as an alternative to save the state money. The new victims of the state’s budget cuts are the county’s health centers. According to an article published by the L.A. Times on Feb. 14, county officials plan to close down 11 of the county’s 12 health centers.

The county’s proposal would have private and nonprofit clinics step in and provide health services for an estimated 400,000 patients, two-thirds of whom are uninsured, at a cheaper cost than the public system. This would keep the few emergency rooms left in the county from having to take in more patients.

Closure of these centers does not mean that health services will be completely taken away. The problem with this proposal is that it fails to fix the health care situation that plagues the county.

There are many people who have a legitimate need for these services and they are going to suffer the most. Those in need of services will have to travel farther or wait longer to receive treatment.

Dependence on these facilities has become such a part of people’s lives, that when faced with the possibility of losing access, they automatically complain.

It is unfair for hard working, tax paying Americans to see their tax dollars go to waste providing health benefits for fully able-bodied adults who refuse to provide for themselves.

It is also unfair for people with real disabilities who need these health centers and who will now have to turn elsewhere for their medical needs.