Socialized Health Care in the USA

[--Pete]

Hi,

As for healthy eating and exercise, surely the government has no business whatsoever telling me what I can eat and how I spend my leisure time?

Whether or not the government has any business telling you how to behave is besides the point. Consider the use of motorcycle helmets or seat belts. At most, their use should be regulated by insurance companies (i.e., failure to use the safety device invalidates your claim, or they could charge a 'risk' premium). The government is in no way directly effected by your choice, yet in many areas it mandates the use of these devices 'for the common good'. Now consider the situation if the government payed for your health care. Your choices would have a (probably trivial) financial impact on the government. Do you really think that the same type of people that gave us Prohibition would really restrain themselves from legislating their life style prejudices in the name of fiscal responsibility?

Of course, that is a separate (but related) issue from health care reform. The one can lead to the other, but that is the responsibility of the concerned and informed citizen -- to establish the good and block the bad. Unfortunately, the other 99% of the population also gets a vote.;)

--Pete