Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Clown-Free Zone... sorry, no clowns allowed -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Oblomov who wrote (259849)	9/10/2003 8:13:48 PM
From: patron_anejo_por_favor	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 436258

<<Why should we socialize the consequences of preventable illness such as lung cancer, heart disease, and obesity??>> Because not all cases (of the above) are preventable? And because many other illnesses aren't preventable at all? Because it's bankrupting the country doing it the "other" way? Because employer-financed healthcare just doesn't work? Take your pick, it would be easy enough to exclude whatever the consensus wanted to from a national health system. And remember, the "consequences of preventible illness" are frequently socialized right now! <<A free market system would require those with bad habits (higher risk) to pay more. This does not happen in our current system. Why shouldn't it?>> There are a lot of other things that don't happen in our current system...like health care for children of uninsured workers....or prenatal care for uninsured moms. This is not a problem that is easily or efficiently dealt with by the free market system.

To: Oblomov who wrote (259849)	9/11/2003 10:49:00 AM
From: Knighty Tin	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 436258

Obl, shoot, I was a GS 12 when I left Civil Service in 1976. No demotions, dude. <G> You can't nationalize brokerage firms. My main thesis is that we socialize "Important" things. Brokers don't rate. We socialize the consequences because if somebody goes on disabiity, it is more expensive than fixing him. You don't make those with bad habits pay more the same way you don't make those who are not veterans pay more in income taxes and those who have gas guzzling cars pay more in road taxes. We're in this thing together for the important stuff and there will always be scamsters who take advantage. We can ostracize them in other ways.