You make an excellent point. I would think that before cutting police/fire/emergency wages and jobs, perhaps the posters here should consider de-subsidizing so-called "private" industry. I bet there is hardly a poster in this thread whose wages don't come in some part from tax dollars
I know that much of my salary comes from Medicaid reimbursement. I would receive more from Medicare, however, as much as they continually deny claims, and not to mention that they suspend all reimbursement as they are currently doing; its almost as if the said reimbursement doesn't exist.
As much as my position cost taxpayers a large amount, my position also enables parents of critically ill and injured children, the ability to remain gainfully employed. Cuts too deep into government medical reimbursement, would result in profound and disastrous results, affecting both the micro- and macroeconomics of our economy.