OT: Entitlements [was Re: Python usage numbers]
Steven D'Aprano
steve+comp.lang.python at pearwood.info
Mon Feb 13 03:05:33 EST 2012
On Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:48:54 -0800, Rick Johnson wrote:
> Do you think that cost of healthcare is the problem? Do you think the
> cost of healthcare insurance is the problem? NO! The problem is people
> expect entitlements.
Entitlements? I work hard and pay my taxes. I *earned* that healthcare
that trolls like you call an entitlement. Damn straight it's an
entitlement -- I paid for it, I earned it, I'm entitled to it, and if you
try to steal if from me, expect a fight.
Socialised healthcare is a win-win system:
- the working class wins, because they get healthcare at a much cheaper
rate than they could otherwise afford
- bosses win, because they have reduced absenteeism, lower training costs
to replace workers who die, and fewer epidemics that threaten their own
families
- Wall Street wins, because productivity is increased due to better health
- pharmaceutical companies win, because even though their profits on
individual items are reduced, their increased sales more than make up for
it
- doctors win, because they spend more time getting paid to deal with
patients and less unproductive time on dealing with insurance companies
- the economy wins, because fewer people are bankrupted by simple medical
procedures
The only loss is for the insurers, who have to get an honest job. So why
on earth is anyone against socialised healthcare when it provably works
better than the US system?
Simple. To a certain mind, "win-win" is not a good thing, it is a bad
thing. "Win-win" implies that you might have to share the pie instead of
eating it all yourself, and to that sort of person, anything less than
ALL the pie might as well be nothing at all. What's the point of being
wealthy and powerful without having hungry, sick peons to lord over? How
will you know you have won unless others lose?
The inefficiencies (economic and moral) of the US private healthcare
system are not a bug, they are a feature. It is part of the war the 1% of
the 1% have been waging on the rest of society for the last 40 years.
> You are only born with one
> guarantee; you will die, guaranteed! Any questions?
Yes. Why haven't you moved to a libertarian paradise like Somalia yet?
You'd like it there. There are two sorts of people: those who can afford
their own private militia, and victims.
--
Steven
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