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Skipping over the difficulties of implementing universal health care for the moment -- the thing I like best about it is that it drastically simplifies an entir

by jtheory 14y ago

Skipping over the difficulties of implementing universal health care for the moment -- the thing I like best about it is that it drastically simplifies an entire category of "stuff I hate that keeps me up at night". If "but what happens if I get sick" is no longer a large factor in questions like "should I start this business", people are freer to throw themselves into developing the kind of technology you're talking about. I've literally spent months of my life dealing with the details of arranging and paying for healthcare for myself and my family -- including time worrying about "but if X happens, how will I pay for it?" It's one of the main stresses in my life, and it very obviously costs me in productivity. Hm; hope this is coherent; I'm out of time. :(

guylhem 14y ago
You are quite coherent and this is IMHO the only case where healthcare could be considered an investment - so that it doesn't prevent people from starting a business. Not sure it is enough by itself to support a universal healthcare ideal, but this a very valid reason - along with easy to treat diseases when they are caught early on.
- jtheory 14y ago
  Right, preventative care, and not just starting businesses -- it stops people from doing all kinds of good things. Creating art or writing novels, going back to school, moving across the country, working for startups (not just starting them), having kids (or adopting, or taking a leave of absence to help raise kids)... there are lots more things that could go on that list. Not all of those things equal "more money to the government". Some are "quality of life" sort of things; some add cultural value; etc.. But having a safety net for health issues fixes a lot of problems even for people who won't ever really need it (but can't know that for sure...), and is a sort of economic equalizing factor that I like more than taking more money from rich people and giving it to poor people.

by jtheory 14y ago

guylhem 14y ago

You are quite coherent and this is IMHO the only case where healthcare could be considered an investment - so that it doesn't prevent people from starting a business. Not sure it is enough by itself to support a universal healthcare ideal, but this a very valid reason - along with easy to treat diseases when they are caught early on.

jtheory 14y ago
Right, preventative care, and not just starting businesses -- it stops people from doing all kinds of good things. Creating art or writing novels, going back to school, moving across the country, working for startups (not just starting them), having kids (or adopting, or taking a leave of absence to help raise kids)... there are lots more things that could go on that list. Not all of those things equal "more money to the government". Some are "quality of life" sort of things; some add cultural value; etc.. But having a safety net for health issues fixes a lot of problems even for people who won't ever really need it (but can't know that for sure...), and is a sort of economic equalizing factor that I like more than taking more money from rich people and giving it to poor people.