Socialized Health Care in the USA

[kandrathe]

OK. So, how about roads? Schools? Water, sewage? Dams and levies? In many places, electricity (rural electrification, TVA, Bonneville)? Police? Fire? EMS?

Focusing on the Federal level, I would omit roads with the exception of rare cases where interstate commerce requires the federal government to negotiate between states (who should pay for the projects based on per capita ratios). School we've beat to death, but there are only mandates and little money at the Federal level. Water, sewage, garbage are local problems, except to protect its quality (EPA). Dams and levies funding would be better left to those areas who are willing to invest and maintain them. When you build below sea level, you need to either be tolerant of flooding, or invest in your levies. Electricity (except again for coordinating and planning State level integration) is a local problem. Same with Police, Fire, and EMS. And... Actually, I'm not as opposed to a some State level services, although this one is pretty over the top in being high tax, and high service. We could garner some efficiencies with more public/private partnerships. I've seen great strides in efficiencies where the local and state government enter into 2 year contracts for services with private companies based on clear requirements.

The average person is a stupid, selfish, indifferent brute who cares only for his own desires and pleasures and that will allow the world to go to hell around him rather than give up one beer to save it.

Maybe I see a different caliber of people where I live. When people are indifferent here, other people freeze to death (in a broken car, or homeless on the street). We send all those brutish, stupid, selfish, indifferent people out west. :)

You make that claim against all evidence. It's pure BS.

55.8% of Americans have chronic illness-- obesity is the highest-- and teen pregnancy is highest (infant mortality) --and deaths due to diabetes.

We seen to run in the middle of the OECD pack on many other common killers like Cancers, but our obesity rates and well above the norm.