patrick.net

AdHominem says

Mandated health insurance, the beacon of hope for the “free world”

The rest of the free world has universal health care so I'm not sure what you mean with that statement. But mandated health insurance is really the only way to try to lower costs by eliminating the "free rider" problem.

^ hey man, being a free rider is what freedom is all about in the free world.

Troy says

^ hey man, being a free rider is what freedom is all about in the free world.

And here I thought it was free riders that bring collapse of freedom. Whoops my bad. Pass the free health care koolade please.

Ad--

Here's an article for you to consider:

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/the-platform/published-editorials/2010/01/an-individual-mandate-is-fairest-way-to-protect-health-care/

AdHom, every system has a problem with free riders. In laissez faire utopias, they are the rentiers, the landed class. In medieval economies, it is known as the tragedy of the unmanaged commons. In Stalinist dystopias, it is the Party apparat.

The only society without free riders is caveman society whose only fixed capital was the firepit. Once we became human and a social animal free riders became everyone's problem.

wish i was lucky says

There should probably be an option of some type of public work program where a person who lacks money - but who has some time - could trade some labor for their health care. And maybe a reward system for people who can manage to stay healthy.

I agree with alot of this idea

^ I think that particular jobs program is already run by the DOD.

wish i was lucky says

How about we figure out a way to turn some of those McMansions into Boarding Houses?

That's already happening.

Troy says

AdHom, every system has a problem with free riders.

Good thing we have a government to protect and enable the free riders. Both poor and rich alike.

AdHominem says

Good thing we have a government to protect and enable the free riders. Both poor and rich alike

Yes, good point. I almost forgot that everything is the government's fault. Good thing you are here to remind everyone..

tatupu70 says

AdHominem says

Good thing we have a government to protect and enable the free riders. Both poor and rich alike

Yes, good point. I almost forgot that everything is the government’s fault. Good thing you are here to remind everyone..

There there tatu, you don't have to speak for me all the time do you?

Government is not to blame. Big government ideology is. Government should not be big enough to enable freeloaders.

AdHominem says

Government is not to blame. Big government ideology is. Government should not be big enough to enable freeloaders.

That's just it. Free-loaders exist with big government, small government, and even with no government.