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Both children and the elderly, curiously enough. For a country with a generally weak social safety net, the U.S. actually has a quite generous old-age safety ne
by mjn 13y ago
Both children and the elderly, curiously enough. For a country with a generally weak social safety net, the U.S. actually has a quite generous old-age safety net, via Social Security and Medicare: a quasi-universal pension and close to single-payer health coverage. So if you live long enough you're set!
I've found that a bit curious, since I don't see any obvious reason that a 70-year-old with cancer should have a stronger guaranteed right to free health treatment than a 30-year-old or a 50-year-old with cancer.
- wes-exp 13y agoI've found that a bit curious Older people vote and are a simply a constituency that politicians don't mess with. The same logic of "think of the children" can be "think of our seniors" with the added weight that they vote and and are a powerful political lobby.
- philwelch 13y agoIt's not hard to imagine why there's more sympathy for taking care of children and the aged rather than working age adults.