Replies to post #96159 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[wall_rus]

Access to pols. "What is wealth", you ask? Don't know where you're going with that...seems obvious.

it's surrounding philosophy of vilificafion and the need to use socialism (which has a track record of proven failure) to replace the most successful system in the history of mankind ....CAPITALISM...

A couple of things there. personally. i would prefer another way...like raise the mim wage, but I fear ANY action to benefit the "Not Wealthy" would be called income redistribution, Socialism, Big Government, or what have you.

Second, Capitalism is responsible for the good times, but it must therefore also shoulder the blame for our current problems.....you can't have it both ways. And please don't tell me that our problems are due to Socialism, immigrants, yadda, yadda. That just doesn't fly.

[sortagreen]

the most successful system in the history of mankind ....CAPITALISM...

Successful for whom?

Most of the world's people live in dire poverty... almost all of those in places where the natural resources go to support "the most successful system in the history of mankind"... ours.

[wbmw]

it's surrounding philosophy of vilificafion and the need to use socialism (which has a track record of proven failure) to replace the most successful system in the history of mankind ....CAPITALISM...

Gosh, Geo... it's not a binary or black & white distinction. Health care reform isn't changing the state of business in the United States. It is and will remain a Capitalistic economy, but it's still a legitimate argument to discuss the role of government in truly "life or death" circumstances, such as access to health care.

After all, someone with cancer who has no access to health care (through a pre-existing condition) will die. The same person with access has a chance to live. That disease and many others are the center point for this conversation, and if you can't trust the government in the role of "life or death", then why do we have a military to protect against terrorism, or a police and fire dept to protect against crime and fire?

Seems like health care can be argued as part of a common theme. We're not talking about socializing consumer electronics or cell phones - clearly items that the private industry invests R&D and manufacturing talent to create the best products for consumers. But access to health care - sheer ACCESS is where we can have a conversation. Let the doctors and the hospitals remain PRIVATE, but let's fix the ACCESS to that health care. That is what the argument is about.