So Let's See What Happens

[bu villain]

The UN has shown that the average life expectancy will not change. However, if people have to pay out more to fund other people's healthcare costs, where do you think they will suffer? The most likely place is in the quality of the food they purchase. If they are forced to purchase lower quality food, then their health may suffer.

I would like to see the UN data you are talking about. If going to the doctor for regular checkups and basic health care doesn't extend life or at least improve quality of life, why does anyone do it?

I don't find your food argument convincing. Everyone in life has to decide how to allocate their money. You could make the same argument about every single dollar paid in taxes, whether it is for healthcare or anything else. There is no particular reason to assume if taxes go up that everyone will start eating worse food.

Do you have any idea how much private school costs? I do. I send my daughter to private school, and believe me, it is a sacrifice. I have no choice but to make this sacrifice though, as public education is so poor in quality in Georgia, and specifically in DeKalb County, that I cannot place her in a location that is not conducive to her development. Luckily, there are enough other people who feel the same way and make the sacrifice. I also sacrifice to provide them with quality private healthcare insurance - as a responsible parent should. A government program would increase my cost and sacrifice to maintain the status quo. How is that fair to someone who works and provides for his family? Your method of providing healthcare lowers the quality of care and raises the cost for me and my family - and these are the people that I am personally responsible for - not a stranger on the other side of the country who chooses to drink and smoke and ruin their kidneys, lungs,and heart, and who is unwilling to pay for his own health insurance.

I can sympathize with your concern about costs as I also am the sole provider for my family (including a good health care plan). I think working to reduce the costs of healthcare is one of the most important issues facing our country today, but it's still secondary to providing basic coverage to everyone.

I pay taxes for public schools and I have no kids, is that fair? In my opinion, it is because it does benefit me to live in a society where everyone is given an education. You benefit as well in the same way even if your kids go to private school.

Is it fair for you to pay for someone's health care who drank and smoked their whole life? No it's not but it's also not fair that someone like you go bankrupt because your child gets a serious disease (medical bills are the #1 cause of bankruptcy in this country). If I have to pay for the smokers health care in order to ensure you won't go bankrupt if your child gets that disease, I will make that deal.

You say that it is difficult to provide health care and private schooling with your income but you chastise people who can't afford health care. It sounds like you draw the line for reasonable cost of health care at what you can afford. I can't help but wonder if your feelings would change if healthcare becomes more than you can afford.