freedom fries
Last September, not for the first time in my life, I walked out of a job. But for the first time in my life, I didn't have follow-on employment. And not only that, for the first time ever I did not have to worry about health insurance.
At around the same time, cruising my favorite American political blogs, I stumbled on several videos of Sarah Palin ranting away at her campaign stops. It made for amusing watching and always gave me a chuckle to hear her decrying Obama's "socialism" and explaining "socialist" countries as places of less "freedom".
At one stop: "...and government kind of moving into the role as the other half of our family, making decisions for us. Now, they do this in other countries where the people are not free." Her audience went along for the ride, bleating its approval.
No worries about what happens if I get sick. That's freedom.
At around the same time, cruising my favorite American political blogs, I stumbled on several videos of Sarah Palin ranting away at her campaign stops. It made for amusing watching and always gave me a chuckle to hear her decrying Obama's "socialism" and explaining "socialist" countries as places of less "freedom".
At one stop: "...and government kind of moving into the role as the other half of our family, making decisions for us. Now, they do this in other countries where the people are not free." Her audience went along for the ride, bleating its approval.
No worries about what happens if I get sick. That's freedom.
posted by JB at 29.1.09
10 Comments:
There are many obstacles to overcome when transitioning to socialized health care, but you are correct: maintaining freedom is not one of them. Thankfully we are no longer being led by a leader who preys on fear in order to rally the masses.
Hope you don't get sick, Irregaahdless!
-km
Can you build your own little retirement home wherever you like? I mean, does all of Iceland belong to somebody? If you go near Hveravellir and decide to build a house there in the middle of Iceland, do you need to buy the land from somebody? Do you just need a permission?
Always wondered,
I dunno fellas - I don't get my health insurance through my employer - so I have no fear either. Costs me $400/month for the whole family and covers all sorts of routine things and all costs beyond $3000 (I had about $14K in costs last year = I win). Seems like a deal to me. (Oh and the $3000 was tax deductible, so more like $2000 out of pocket.) With this comes the choice of whatever doctors I want, where I want, when I want.
I just don't get socialized medicine - why should I pay for your health care - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness fellas - not free health care for all.
Should we socialize automobiles so that everyone gets the safest car too? Volvo's for everyone!
Cool. But what if you want to leave your job and do nothing but hang with your kids for a year?
Nafnlaus,
All of Iceland is accounted-for, yes. You can buy land and build a house on it. Or buy a summer house that's already built. But the normal rules of economics and property rights apply here, too. Sorry.
My job has nothing to do w/ my health insurance. Nor should it. So if I want to quit and hang out w/ ACK and JMK for a year, no problem.
PLo checking-in from Hong Kong. I just noticed your blog is in-action. Great to see it and will be checking it. cheers & good luck
Dr. Lo,
Great to have you back on the readership roster. I lost a lot of good readers (and my soul, too) during the "banker days".
How is HK treating you?
- Dr. J
JDK,
Ah! If only it took a year to stay home and raise a child. If you were to leave your job for the 10 years (min) of constant parenting it takes to raise a well-adjusted and morally decisive child, would it be as easy to pay for the health care? Housing? Food? Clothing? College? And still be able to get back into the career that perhaps you've worked so hard to build for yourself 10 years earlier?
You pointed out something very important. Your health care should have nothing to do with your employment.
...and if you can afford it, do take off a year!
km
JDK,
$400 per month! That sounds like quite a bit of money to me. I'm glad I don't have to pay that for my "universal health-care". Even if I convert it with the old exchange rate ( which I think is more normal than the current one) $1 to approx ISK 67 it's a whole lot if monthly expenditure here. I am glad though that you can afford it.
But what about the millions of Americans who make a minimum wage? They work hard, too. What about them?
Skrifa ummæli
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