5 ms·
No way! This will be socialism!
by octix 14y ago
No way! This will be socialism!
- tibbon 14y agoJust like libraries, fire, police, roads, government buildings and the army :)
- chris_mahan 14y agoAnd, huh, those aren't exactly at the forefront of advances in technology. And they are not necessarily cheap either.
- ChuckMcM 14y agoI always wondered if we could run a 'medical service' that was a viable 'public service' alternative to spending time in the military or peace corps. Basically let young people volunteer to be health care workers, give them training, and guaranteed employment for 4 - 6 years. At the end of their enlistment they can go out to the private health care system or other jobs. Can you imagine the horror of spend a billion dollars a week "invading" a country like Afghanistan and having a 100,000 health care workers on the ground making everyone healthier?
- tjic 14y agoLibraries work ok. Re police: just reading an article over at popehat.com about how a cop framed someone for a murder and sent her to death row. Re roads: here in Massachusetts we've got toll roads that spend 80 cents of every dollar collected...on paying the tolltakers. Re army: take a look at the defense budget some time. There are some decent arguments in favor of government, but you picked some of the worst.
- stevenameyer 14y agoWould those things be better if they were privately run for profit? My personal opinion is that there are certain things that you can't allow the the private sector to run because it leaves too much room for abuse by individuals looking to make a profit. As a Canadian who's mother is a doctor, the one thing that really bothers me about the healthcare system in the US is that from a business stand point insurance companies are more profitable the more claims they deny, which really doesn't sit well with me. I'm not saying our system is perfect by any means, or that the US doesn't have a high quality of healthcare (if you can afford it). But the thought of someone making a profit on someone else not get a medical treatment that they need leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
- weavejester 14y agoAre you suggesting that we'd be better off with private security forces replacing the role of the police and army?
- paulgb 14y agoLibraries, police, roads, and the army are great examples in favor of government. All you've done is demonstrate that there are exceptions, as there are to anything.
- chris_mahan 14y agoThe defense budget is not an exception to the rule. It is the rule. (Almost the Rule, as in kings and rulers.)