I am similarly perplexed about why this argument is dragging on. This position: > People make suboptimal decisions, especially when the choices don't have clea

I am similarly perplexed about why this argument is dragging on. This position: > People make suboptimal decisions, especially when the choices don't have clear outcomes. Is nuanced and, I think, correct. But your original comment didn't clearly say this (though now that I know your actual position, I'm able to read back and see what you meant). It sounded like you were saying -- like many other people -- that if you don't have insurance in the U.S. you can't get treatment, so you die. Distinguishing between the two is important because to the extent that the latter view is perpetuated, it is a major reason why people "make suboptimal decisions." I suspect that you and I have the same views about healthcare in America. I'm simply trying to get you to tighten up your somewhat loose talk about it. Things are bad, but you seem hell bent on making things sound even worse than they are. This impulse itself is harmful for precisely the reason that I and waterlesscloud have now both pointed out to you. Case in point: did you know that there is also an automobile exemption in Chapter 7 bankruptcy that works similarly to the homestead exemption?