Can't We All Just Have Free Stuff?

Mongoose,
I saw a few of your replies on twitter about Medicaid for all. Why is free healthcare such a bad thing?  Seems to me a healthy population would be something everyone is for.


Dear Dr Feelgood,
Mom always told me there is no such thing as a free lunch. Growing up, I didn't understand that because the bologna sandwiches we had every summer day never cost me a dime. Simply stated, someone pays--always.  Mom and dad paid for the bologna just as even a non-smoking, yoga instructor with 2% body fat will pay for the drug addict with 9 kids smoking 3 packs of non-filters a day to visit the ER with a hangnail.  "But, but you pay for that now if you have health insurance", ---no I don't.   

First of all, I only have catastrophic health insurance, it covers things like cancer or injuries; I pay for regular doctor visits, which is a much better option for me given what Edmonson Voice pays me (which is hilarious, but that's for another post). This yoga/drug addict juxtaposition brings me to my next two points: Let's suggest you like to skydive, work in a coal mine, or fish for crab in Alaska-- these would also be considered high health risk activities.  Don't think for a second that in time, the government (also your insurance provider), wouldn't limit or ban these activities.  More likely than the crackhead example given earlier, your personal freedoms could (likely) be limited.

My last point is this, if you trust the government more than private industry to be efficient and provide quality results, simply look at the Veterans Administration and their track record, or simply the postal service. The more control you give the government, the more you depend on the government, and the less control and independence you have for yourself.
--MG