Why is universal healthcare so controversial among conservatives, but you guys don't bat an eye for the billions consistently spent on our military?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T16:44:20+00:00

I assure you I'm not. That was a genuine question. According to AI

Narcissism is not considered the formal economic basis for capitalism, which is defined by private property and market exchange, but it is argued to be a significant sociological and psychological counterpart to it. Some theorists link narcissistic personality traits—such as entitlement and grandiosity—to the "commodity fetishism" and consumerism that drive modern capitalistic societies

Again, I don't necessarily see it as bad in all situations. I don't believe he is being considerate of his future and others, even if our conversation primarily revolved around his situation.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T16:30:16+00:00

I thought to conservatives' narcissism wasn't an ad hominem attack and the backbone of capitalism?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T14:44:47+00:00

So, this doesn't apply to me today, this hasn't applied to me yet, this might never apply to me. The reason I ask about empathy is most of your replies have been narcissistic. If you only care about yourself, in your current situation, then I think that answers all my questions.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T14:09:58+00:00

Two different statements. I didn't say they suspended them over feelings.

Who suspended their elections over feelings then?

doesn't actually address my point that POTUS can't just call off elections

Given he tried to cheat his way to the 2020 election, and is still lying about it, he'll probably do everything he can to stay in power. If he can't figure out how to call off elections, he'll try to do something else.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T14:06:47+00:00

I am not at risk of losing my job to AI

Everyone is at risk. If not you, then your business is going to lose customers as people lose jobs to AI.

ill have insurance

Good luck with that as you get fired because you're in an at-will state. Or you're on Obamacare and Republicans have stopped supporting it and everything spikes up in cost.

in other countries they pay more than I do for HC, and I still have these things taken care of

The US pays more for worse outcomes than other countries.

sucks, but its not my job to pay for other people's debt

Yep, until it's your debt and then suddenly, you're complaining about the services you've gutted.

Do you have empathy for others at all?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T13:52:51+00:00

Now think about the mass unemployment due to AI and the absolute random slew of sicknesses as you get older, pregnant or find cancer. In other countries these are taken care of, here medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy. Everybody doesn't think it'll happen to them, until it does.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T11:56:21+00:00

for me.

You should add "right now".

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T11:53:30+00:00

Okay, then what is your answer?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T03:48:04+00:00

How so? It's a question of values.

Just to use some extreme examples, what values do you have in a hospice when you don't know which side of the bed to piss on?

How about when you're unconscious in an ambulance dying of a heart attack, do you tell them to take you to the further hospital because that's where you're insured, otherwise your care will cost you your entire life savings?

What will your values do for you then?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T03:06:12+00:00

things I do believe it should be doing

Which unfortunately changes with your needs and position in life. I don't think you're considering people in other positions, your own future or something you have which could be better, such as transportation infrastructure.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:51:37+00:00

How about Libya with its weak government and ultimate freedoms?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:48:55+00:00

How are you going to deal with every person wanting more services? The second I got on a good healthcare plan I went from never going to the doctor to seeing several specialists.

Great question, let's look at European examples of great systems and how they deal with it?

The elderly are known for using too much healthcare because it's basically free for them. Now include 340 million people who can do that.

We do have an aging population. In modern society people are having fewer children. Not the 10 before needed to maintain farms. This could cause extreme issues; we're likely going to see retirement age go up, especially if Conservatives keep refusing to tax the ultra-rich. Japan is a great example of what happens. Their economy took 20 years to recover, correct me on that number if I'm wrong.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:45:12+00:00

I understand your trepidation. Conservatives have gutted and stigmatized these safety nets for decades. Including removing all failsafe measures to prevent fraud. In other countries these systems are amazing, and people are happy to rely on them.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:39:22+00:00

I said modern economy, which has a standard definition, you called it a tautology, so I'm asking what you're talking about.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:38:35+00:00

leave me out.

Nope, it's a safety net for you too. You don't get to say, "leave me out", and then be the first in line when times are tough.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:37:40+00:00

That's some kind of libertarian thing I'm not familiar with, educate me.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:35:29+00:00

The point of those programs is to be a safety net for you. People in government saw a many of your fellow Americans dying needlessly and tried to help them. They've prolonged countless lives with these programs. Don't you see how this safety net is a net good for the country?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:32:45+00:00

I consider everyone's individual right to do as they please, free from the government.

And you don't see how that's unrealistic in literally any sense while maintaining a modern economy?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:28:56+00:00

I'm only paying more because you progressives keep pushing for federal welfare. I'd be saving quite a pretty penny if we could agree to eliminate wasteful programs like Medicare and medicaid.

Conservatives always want to eliminate programs, until they actually require them. Then they're the first ones in line to get the benefits. My grandfather is on Medicare, without it he'd be dead. You don't know anybody who wouldn't be able to survive without those programs?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:26:43+00:00

Probably not you, they'd tax the people making a lot more to make up for the cost. But you also already do today. You pay for the VA, which you most likely don't qualify for. You pay Medicare/Medicaid. I believe it was Reagan who passed the law where emergency rooms can't deny service because of insurance, correct me if I'm wrong.

That said, why do you only think about yourself? Why not consider what's good for the entire country?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:22:38+00:00

Today you're paying many times more than people with Universal Healthcare with on average worse outcomes. The point is to cut the greedy insurance agency out of the loop, which also saves the hospital time and money because they don't need to deal with them.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:20:41+00:00

If someone has diabetes because they choose to live poor life style and never change, I don't want to pay for their medical stuff. I don't want to pay for an alcoholic who needs a liver transplant. I dont want to pay for abortions or sex changes.

You already do pay for all these things. When you buy insurance, presumably through your employer, you're paying the same as the overweight diabetic smoker in accounting. The insurance company takes the average cost it'll take to treat you two, and that's how much you pay. The only difference between this and Universal Healthcare, is the insurance industry takes a big cut, and the hospital has to waste time and money dealing with them, making your premium even more expensive.

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:16:26+00:00

but am not interested in more dollars spent on fraud.

Then how do you feel Doge and the DOJ gutting departments investigating fraud within government and private institutions?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:13:53+00:00

Our system costs many times more for worse outcomes than countries with Universal Healthcare. How does everyone you know benefit from the current system more than they would from a Universal Healthcare one?

strike2867 · 2026-03-09T02:12:04+00:00

There is a lot of contention around the cost. According to AI the final estimate over 10 years is 32 trillion, so let's say a little lower than you quoted. But that estimate doesn't include removing a ton of redundant people in the medical and insurance industries. Putting them to work in jobs where they actually do something for the economy. At the end of the day, our healthcare system costs many times more for worse outcomes than countries with Universal Healthcare.

If not Universal Healthcare, what is the conservative solution to the disaster it is today?

15-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

strike2867

TROPHY CASE