4 ms·

We have a military service (because defense is crucial to our nation's wellbeing), a postal service (because verified communication is crucial to our nation's w

by bsanr2 6y ago

We have a military service (because defense is crucial to our nation's wellbeing), a postal service (because verified communication is crucial to our nation's wellbeing), and so on. I don't understand the resistance to things like a healthcare service or a local news service. Those things are necessary to the stability of our society, loss or profit be damned.

Loughla 6y ago
Do you think a news service, funded via taxes and beholden to elected officials, would keep 'open and honest' as its purpose for more than one election season? That may be way too snarky, but it's an honest question. I do not see state controlled media, without massive, massive investment in checks and balances made public in an easy to digest and incredibly accessible format, as being useful. Essentially, I would think they would have to publish what they publish, and also publish whatever it was they chose not to publish, to ensure there are no biases.
- claudiulodro 6y ago
  Counterpoint, NPR and PBS are doing a great job so far.
  - Loughla 6y ago
    That's not a counterpoint, that's the literal point. Edit - whoa. I made another comment about that with NPR as the example, and got confused. I agree with you, 100%. But They also have private donors and are listener/viewer supported.
- zepto 6y ago
  I don’t think it’s too snarky at all. ‘State run media’ is not associated with democracy generally.
wombatmobile 6y ago
This may be OT, or perhaps not, let's see where it takes us. I hope you can educate me about Americans in a way that could help us to think of a different business model for journalism, and other services to improve the commons which require real funding. I'd like to respond to the part of your comment where you say > I don't understand the resistance to things like a healthcare service I also wonder why many Americans seem to reject universal health care. Here in Australia anyone can walk in to a public hospital and get treated for free. Why do so many Americans think it is better to have to pay (the most expensive prices in the world) and be tethered to your employer for health care? I put that question to a Trump voter who asked me, who pays for the health system in Australia? I told her taxpayers. Everyone pays a little bit, and that works because everybody benefits. She told me her answer straight away. She said it's not fair to have open access hospitals because then illegal immigrants will get free health care. Is that why (some) Americans reject "socialised medicine"? Because they are afraid that outsiders will take advantage of a system they pay (expensive prices) for? It sounds like a version of Stockholm syndrome(?). If there are other reasons, please enlighten me. I'd really like to understand this.
- xboxnolifes 6y ago
  > Because they are afraid that outsiders will take advantage of a system they pay (expensive prices) for? Inside my community bubble, this is basically the biggest reason. They don't want to subsidize (through taxes), using their own words, people who don't work to support themselves or illegal immigrants. Some of the people (again, inside my own life) with this opinion don't have, or even seem to care that they don't have, health insurance themselves.
  - wombatmobile 6y ago
    What happens to them if they get sick enough to require hospital?
    - xboxnolifes 6y ago
      I'm not sure. Probably just hope it doesn't happen. Can't be sick if you never go to the doctors I guess.

by bsanr2 6y ago

Loughla 6y ago

Do you think a news service, funded via taxes and beholden to elected officials, would keep 'open and honest' as its purpose for more than one election season? That may be way too snarky, but it's an honest question. I do not see state controlled media, without massive, massive investment in checks and balances made public in an easy to digest and incredibly accessible format, as being useful. Essentially, I would think they would have to publish what they publish, and also publish whatever it was they chose not to publish, to ensure there are no biases.

claudiulodro 6y ago
Counterpoint, NPR and PBS are doing a great job so far.
- Loughla 6y ago
  That's not a counterpoint, that's the literal point. Edit - whoa. I made another comment about that with NPR as the example, and got confused. I agree with you, 100%. But They also have private donors and are listener/viewer supported.
zepto 6y ago
I don’t think it’s too snarky at all. ‘State run media’ is not associated with democracy generally.

wombatmobile 6y ago

This may be OT, or perhaps not, let's see where it takes us. I hope you can educate me about Americans in a way that could help us to think of a different business model for journalism, and other services to improve the commons which require real funding. I'd like to respond to the part of your comment where you say > I don't understand the resistance to things like a healthcare service I also wonder why many Americans seem to reject universal health care. Here in Australia anyone can walk in to a public hospital and get treated for free. Why do so many Americans think it is better to have to pay (the most expensive prices in the world) and be tethered to your employer for health care? I put that question to a Trump voter who asked me, who pays for the health system in Australia? I told her taxpayers. Everyone pays a little bit, and that works because everybody benefits. She told me her answer straight away. She said it's not fair to have open access hospitals because then illegal immigrants will get free health care. Is that why (some) Americans reject "socialised medicine"? Because they are afraid that outsiders will take advantage of a system they pay (expensive prices) for? It sounds like a version of Stockholm syndrome(?). If there are other reasons, please enlighten me. I'd really like to understand this.

xboxnolifes 6y ago
> Because they are afraid that outsiders will take advantage of a system they pay (expensive prices) for? Inside my community bubble, this is basically the biggest reason. They don't want to subsidize (through taxes), using their own words, people who don't work to support themselves or illegal immigrants. Some of the people (again, inside my own life) with this opinion don't have, or even seem to care that they don't have, health insurance themselves.
- wombatmobile 6y ago
  What happens to them if they get sick enough to require hospital?
  - xboxnolifes 6y ago
    I'm not sure. Probably just hope it doesn't happen. Can't be sick if you never go to the doctors I guess.