Today's Economy & Trek's Future Economy

[Squiggy]

These are the same idiots who use medicare/medicaid...which is government provided healthcare.

Medicare/medicaid (and the VA) are examples of single payer plans. However they are voluntary, you are not required by law to enter those programs. Nor are you financially penalized if you don't.

So is a public option.

 

[CoveTom]

I'm saying people that can work should pay for their own doctor's visit.

We're saying that even if you work hard, the free market often cannot be relied upon to provide you with the services you need.

And you're wrong. The examples you're citing in the United States are not examples of the free market failing. They are examples of the market failing after government has spent nearly a century trying to intervene in order to make things "better." Were the free market left to function on its own, without constant government tinkering, it certainly could provide the services that are needed. And it has before.

These are the same idiots who use medicare/medicaid...which is government provided healthcare.

Medicare/medicaid (and the VA) are examples of single payer plans. However they are voluntary, you are not required by law to enter those programs. Nor are you financially penalized if you don't.

So is a public option.

Sure, if the government simply created a public option and left it at that, that would be voluntary, and a lot less objectionable to many people. However, what's being compared here is the mandate that everyone purchase health insurance, be it private or public. That's not voluntary, that's compulsory, and there is a financial penalty if you do not comply.

 

[Sean Aaron]

Were the free market left to function on its own, without constant government tinkering, it certainly could provide the services that are needed. And it has before.

Because we have so many examples of this to draw upon, right.

Have you been running alternative histories of the United States in a supercomputer or something?

 

[Misfit Toy]

This thread has had some excellent points raised. It has also gotten too personal in a few cases. What it has not done is to return to a Trek-centric discussion. It is therefore NOT a discussion that is suited to the General Trek Discussion forum.

Those who are so inclined should feel free to create a thread in Misc or TNZ to continue.

My thanks to those who tried to keep it Trek-related.