Fist off, I think all this discussion is good. Regardless of how much people hate my comments, they do cover a lot of the corners of this debate.
iforget, your comment:
“Nope, I actually have pretty decent insurance and also make enough to cover whatever my health insurance doesn’t cover. However, I also know that there are millions out there who don’t have health insurance. Out of the many things my taxes are used for (war, banker bonuses, roads to nowhere, stimulus, etc), this is one of the few things that I’m proud to help pay for.”
Then there is nothing stopping YOU from donating and contributing. This would actually be better because the government would not be involved, you could contribute to the cause you prefer, and more of your money could go directly to the people who need it.
With regard to the comments from youself and briands1, it is my opinion that you are both missing some major points:
1. As already noted, services are in place for those sick and dying. Go to and ER, or use medicaid. The sick and dying argument has some major holes. For example, are you saying its ok to take of the people in the US but not the whole world? If your argument does not take every human being on the planet into consideration, how are your comments in this regard that much different than mine?
2. You are ASSUMING the quality and availability will be as good or better. I can pose the same type of question: what if you are sick and dying and the medicine you need is not available? What if the government sponsored system is filled with marginal doctors and they can’t save you? As soon as you remove the reward for working harder things will degrade. That is just human nature. Its also arguable that the government tends to run things badly (both parties).
3. You can’t take more out of an INSURANCE program ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS than you put in. For all those that think they should only have to pay $200 a month for a prescription program, but know that their pre-existing condition means they must draw out $1000 per month, the need to understand this is no longer an insurance issue. Insurance premiums are based on a risk calculation, not sure thing.
