There are three sectors in the US "market": private/corporate sector with the incentive of making money; nonprofit sector which fills the void between the private and public sectors; and, the public sector which does what the public asks, more or less, via taxes.

January 8th's New York Times described the situation where public hospital Grady Memorial is failing in its health. It just does not have a sustainable funding model.

What should a public institution do when it has too many poor people knocking at its door?

This is the real question for Grady: what to do when the market model fails. And for the rest of us: will we give our money privately -- will corporations step in to help serve those where there is no market incentive?

Is "charity" the only answer?