4 ms·
> As long as I'm paying someones healthcare, I'm not going to allow them to smoke. This. Once you socialise the costs of something it becomes increasing easy t
by perilunar 10y ago
> As long as I'm paying someones healthcare, I'm not going to allow them to smoke.
This. Once you socialise the costs of something it becomes increasing easy to justify laws banning it. Welcome to creeping authoritarianism.
The solution: stop socialism. Or if you must, tax at a level sufficient to cover the costs, but no more.
- alkonaut 10y ago> This. Once you socialise the costs of something it becomes increasing easy to justify laws banning it. Welcome to creeping authoritarianism. I agree: socializing healthcare means your health is my concern. That's what socialism is: your well being is my problem. That is both positive (If you are in need I'll provide) but as you point out also in the negative sense. But the same can be said without socialized healthcare; as long as you pay any taxes or receive any benefits, your life expectancy is the concern of others. Smokers living N years shorter than non-smokers is a problem to the next person in the US just as it is in Australia, but the difference is that without socialized healthcare, the tax needed for a pack of cigarettes in the US might be $2 to offset the cost, but in Australia it might be $50.