So this friend of mine says, regarding health insurance: [View All]

"Well, 100 years ago people didn't have all this expensive medical technology. Just because it's there doesn't mean people have to use it."

I says: "Well, what should they do then, just suffer miserably and die - shoot themselves maybe - if they're in terrible pain or chronically ill?"

He says: "Well. That's an option, just as much as society providing free, unlimited healthcare to everyone. Maybe people have to just accept suffering and death if they haven't provided for themselves and their medical care. Just because there is an emotional aspect to suffering and death, doesn't mean it isn't a viable option. Your mother's hip replacements for instance, do you think those should have been FREE? You're attaching all this emotional baggage to the issue that just isn't relevant".

(Uhhh. They weren't FREE. my 79-year old Mom on a fixed income paid thousands for them - what the insurance and Medicare didn't cover and she would have been completely immobile and debilated had she not had them - I guess my friend thinks that is what she should have done)

:wtf:

I think this guy's lost his marbles. He's been hanging out with some Republicans and Libertarians lately and I hate to say he may be getting brainwashed. That, or he's just lost his freakin marbles. Scary. And, I'm totally turned off by this freaky attitude of his. After a few years, I thought he was a pretty decent person.

But - uhhhh :wtf:

First of all no one is advocating free, unlimited healthcare for anyone. However we pay taxes to our lameass gov't in order for it to provide some basic services. Basic healthcare being one of those -- for people who otherwise cannot afford insurance or basic healthcare. I guess he thinks we shouldn't do or expect this. I mentioned Canada's national healthcare system which is apparently very well implemented. Says he: "Well, I hear there are problems with thaat."

Yes. BUT IT'S A DAMN LOT BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE IN THE US NOW! Whatever we have won't be perfect but we damn well need better than what we have -- which is a government that MISMANAGES the money from our taxes and gives it to big insurance and pharmaceuticals and medical companies in sweetheart deals allowing them to make HUGE profits and jack up their damn prices -- at the expense of the taxpayers who need the healthcare. Can you say Medicare Rx Drug Plan?

Decent (NO not perfect) nationalized healthcare (NO not free or unlimited) is possible and preferable to what we now have, which is a gov't/insurance/pharm plutocracy which serves itself and NOT the larger society who pays the taxes into that system. It's corrupt to the core and it can and should be fixed. Those costs can come WAY down. Someone in DC just has to have the 'BALLS' to get it done.

My friend (who I think has been kidnapped and replaced with some sort of Republifreak) apparently thinks people who can't afford health insurance or healthcare and "didn't provide for themselves and their own medical care" should just .. drop dead.

And THAT -- is the REPUBLICAN mantra about the issue. Granny sick? Had an accident? No money? No insurance? Fine. Drop Dead, Granny. Byeeee. 'Cause well -- 200 years ago Granny would have just suffered till she kicked the bucket so she can do the same now, right? YES, there is an "emotional" aspect to that. DOH!

:wtf: