15 Aug 2009
There is a raging battle out on the internet and in real life about universal healthcare. I find it quite funny because the people arguing against universal healthcare have absolutely no chance; the proponents don't fight fair!
It generally goes like this: (A = anti-universal healthcare, F = for universal healthcare)
A: Universal healthcare will make things worse because prices will rise even further and the quality will drop as well.
F: LOL, LOOK AT SWEDEN AND CANADA AND CUBA
A: Have you done your homework? Most of those countries have lower healthcare quality and many people can't even get into the system because it's over-burdened. Some people in those countries can't get healthcare even if they wanted to pay out of pocket because it's all government operated, so they go to America instead for treatment. Those countries have a fraction of the US population, have taxes twice as high, and yet can barely compete with the shoddy system America has. For that much tax you'd expect your laundry to be done for free too.
F: UR LYIN. SWEDEN HAS THE HIGHEST LIVING STANDARD. CANADIANS SEEM OK TOO. CUBA OWNS US AT BASEBALL SO THEY MUST BE COOL TOO
A: Whatever. For effective reform, we should allow people to start paying for healthcare directly by giving more people access to tax-free Health Savings Accounts, let uncertified doctors practice, and not require companies to provide healthcare, which lowers demand and increases supply, thus lowering prices and letting private practice be profitable again. It's sound economics.
F: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 1% OF THE POPULATION WHO CAN'T GET HEALTHCARE? YOU'RE EVIL. YOU'RE PRIVILEGED AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO HAVE NO INSURANCE (COINCIDENTALLY, NEITHER DO I). EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE HEALTHCARE, THINK OF THE CHILDREN AND WHALES
A: That sounds nice in theory, but who's going to pay for it?
F: YOU ARE
A: Not just me, but you too, and everyone else. We're all going to be paying more for less return. Does that make any sense?
F: DON'T TRY TO REASON YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS, YOU UNPATRIOTIC WEASEL
A: You're being allured by socialism and its promises of something for nothing. It's never worked, however, as exemplified by a century of socialist experimentation in China and the Soviet Union that killed millions.
F: LOL THOSE GUYS WERE NOOBS. WE'RE AMERICANS FFS! WE CAN DO IT! YES WE CAN!!!!!111
To the proponents of universal healthcare: if you're really so worried about uninsured people, and not just trying to satisfy an emotional need or obtaining a moral victory, please start a charity and chip in your own money instead of telling everyone else to.