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shaunsmomo
You forgot the part where management required everyone to purchase the sodas (some at a substantially increased price) whether they wanted soda or not. Oh, and also the part where management said we don't really know what will be in the machine, we will need to put it in here in order to find out.
Simplistically, that makes great sense, and Ken's analogy is fine except soda and medical care are not in the same category. I know, let's all just pay for what we use. I'm tired of paying for schools for other peoples' kids. And highways and parks I don't use. I don't mind paying for sidewalks if they're the ones I use personally, but why would I want to pay for others that are of no use to me? Police, I don't need them, and I don't use jails and prisons, and I hate politicians, so why should I have to pay for their salary? Why should I support a military that's fighting people I have nothing to do with, because someone else thinks they'll be invading my house? If they invade your house, that's your problem, don't expect me to pay for it. Railroads, airports, highways, let the companies who profit from them supply them and then charge us accordingly, according to how much their stockholders think they need to profit that year. Public transportation? Bah, if people can't afford a Mercedes and their own highway, then let them walk.
In fact we don't even need a government, let's all just arm ourselves and hole up in fortresses that we built ourselves, and enjoy real freedom!
Some people are fortunate enough to have paid-for health care, either through an employer or a government job, or they are wealthy enough to pay for it on their own. Did all of them earn that wealth, or are some of them spoiled brats who inherited it or just use their parents money that they inherited, and so on. A guy who does something as useful as throwing a ball through a hoop can certainly pay for his own, but those with less important jobs like growing, planting or harvesting food don't deserve it. The guy who does nothing but shuffle money around all day and produces nothing of any use to anyone can afford his health care, but the guy who builds his house probably can't. A good part of the reason for this is the high cost, not because it really costs that much, but because of lawyers, lawsuits, pharmaceutical companies and their stockholders, and the fact that no one can be a 'country doctor' any more, it's too complicated.
Many of the better governments around the world do provide at least basic health services for their citizens, so it is not unreasonable for some to think that the US should do that. It may not be your opinion, but that's why people banded together for common interest form governments, to provide basics for citizens (which includes many things that even the most radical conservatives consider to be necessary).
The way the affordable health care system is set up, no one will face an economic burden they can't handle. Those who are already 'set', such as politicians, government employees, and those working for large corporations may resent it, or they may just be greedy and not want to contribute to anything that pools funds for the well-being of the population in general. Greed and political rhetoric is the main fact in what's happened now. This is just a means of providing some basic health care to those who can't afford it and do need it. I don't need it...haven't been to a doctor in 30 years, but I don't mind paying for it, because people should have the option of seeing a doctor if they need to, without having their home foreclosed on as a result. Don't worry, you can still drive your Mercedes to the country club where you discuss your stock options, your world won't end. Just tip the valet a little less.
This whole shutdown is a childish tantrum of the "haves" not wanting all those dirty, welfare-collecting hippie drug users who lie around all day drain all the money out of their bank accounts. But in reality it's just real working people who maybe were not born wealthy or didn't have rich parents, didn't win the lottery, were not able to be hired by a major corporation or the government, and who can't even afford to see a doctor because of the bloated nightmare the health care system has become.
Gary
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