# Honest Question: Why are the republicans so pissed about this health care thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 24, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682 "2010-03-24T22:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/161 "2010-03-27T04:29:10Z")
> [@](#): > > Suck it up… well I’ve had my fair dealings with the IRS in sucking it up and I don’t care for any more. Like I said - what’s new? The IRS was founded in 1862. Taxes are not some new idea that Barack Obama just invented. Stop acting like it’s the Apocalypse. But if you really find you can’t handle it anymore, there’s always Costa Rica. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/162 "2010-03-27T07:43:42Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Well, maybe we’ve just observed radically different happenstances in life, but I couldn’t disagree more. There would be a true bloodbath at the polls if a government-run company took your money every month under the pretense that they would take care of you in the event you got sick, and then dropped your ass like a hot potato and left you to die when you got sick. But it happens all the time in the private sector, and no one has made a big enough stink about it to force the market to change itself. If what you say is true what you need isn’t health care reform, it’s contract law reform. You need to implement something similar to the Australian _Trade Practices Act_, and you need to enforce these laws. Otherwise it doesn’t matter what you do, your attempts at health care reform won’t be worth the paper they’re written on. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/163 "2010-03-27T11:16:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > So tell me again why I should trust the government to interfere between the most trusted of relationships : doctor and patient? Since all the health insurance under the new law will be through private insurance comapnies, just how exactly is the government coming between you and your doctor? Specifically, please. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/164 "2010-03-27T12:23:27Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > No matter how you spin it, I am being forced to buy into something I do not want. And be penalized in the process if I do not buy it. It’s NOT the same as paying for police protection, roads or what have you. It’s more akin to buying automobile insurance (and yes, I do realize its state not Fed mandated). If I choose not to drive, then I do not have to purchase it. I know you’re all HUGE O’Reilly fans here… but this Dem dodged the question 5 times: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O6Jk7icfMw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3O6Jk7icfMw) It may well be that yu do not want to be forced to pay for something you do not feel applies to you,but should you (or a family member) not have insurance and the need arises,such as: You by some accident have a spinal injury from an unexpected fall, or a brain injury, and you would go bankrupt if you did have a little savings, would you expect others to pay for you? If you didn’t drive wouldn’t you be glad that the person who drove you around did have insurance, if the person had an accident that was their fault? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/165 "2010-03-27T13:15:58Z")
I’ll take Darth at his word. Maybe he really would be willing to die rather than accept any form of public health care. How does that make public health care an unacceptable idea? It wasn’t created just for Darth. It was created for everyone. If I decided I wasn’t planning on going to school, it wouldn’t make it illegal for the government to operate schools using my tax money. If I decided I didn’t want to drive anywhere, the government could still use my taxes to build and maintain roads. If I decide I’m a pacifist, the government can still use my taxes to fund the armed forces. This is the way democracy works. The majority elects a government and the minority accepts the decision, even if they didn’t agree with it. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/166 "2010-03-27T13:16:29Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > New Jersey =/= Federal government. But state government is STILL a form of government, no? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/167 "2010-03-27T13:23:27Z")
I understand that I will be taxed extra if I don’t buy into it and that there will be exchanges set up by around 2014. I’m just worried about the the whole setup is all. Like I said previously, I don’t make much money and I’m afraid of the extra money taken out of my paycheck. Please don’t misunderstand me, I WANT health insurance. It’s the affordability right now I’m concerned about, exchanges existing or not. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/168 "2010-03-27T13:25:09Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Since all the health insurance under the new law will be through private insurance comapnies, just how exactly is the government coming between you and your doctor? Specifically, please. Well, from what I understand, you will pay a penalty if you don’t buy into a plan. SOME arm of the government has to enforce this, no? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/169 "2010-03-27T13:26:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Like I said - what’s new? The IRS was founded in 1862. Taxes are not some new idea that Barack Obama just invented. Stop acting like it’s the Apocalypse. > > But if you really find you can’t handle it anymore, there’s always Costa Rica. I heard Rush is moving there… so it’s not really an option. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/170 "2010-03-27T14:23:45Z")
If countries with socialized medicine have such quality, why did the Canadian Premier Danny Williams go to Florida for his heart surgery? [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/02/canadian\_premier\_has\_heart\_sur.html](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/02/canadian_premier_has_heart_sur.html) ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/171 "2010-03-27T14:48:20Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > If countries with socialized medicine have such quality, why did the Canadian Premier Danny Williams go to Florida for his heart surgery? > > [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/02/canadian\_premier\_has\_heart\_sur.html](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2010/02/canadian_premier_has_heart_sur.html) That’s a non starter. The actions of one person do not reflect on the system as a whole. Nor does the fact that a person with a lot of money and political capital traveled to a US specialist for a procedure. No one has said that the US has poor quality care. We have among the best in the world, but if you cannot afford it, you’re screwed. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/172 "2010-03-27T14:53:18Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > Well, from what I understand, you will pay a penalty if you don’t buy into a plan. SOME arm of the government has to enforce this, no? How does this constitute coming between you and your doctor? Mandating private insurance doesn’t affect your doctor/patient relationship one whit. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/173 "2010-03-27T14:55:43Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > That’s a non starter. The actions of one person do not reflect on the system as a whole. Nor does the fact that a person with a lot of money and political capital traveled to a US specialist for a procedure. No one has said that the US has poor quality care. We have among the best in the world, but if you cannot afford it, you’re screwed. I leave it at your own quote: “We have among the best in the world” ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4bbf92/32.png) [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Hamsandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/174 "2010-03-27T14:57:25Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > How does this constitute coming between you and your doctor? Mandating private insurance doesn’t affect your doctor/patient relationship one whit. There is a third party involved, no? The IRS has to determine whether or not you have health insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/175 "2010-03-27T14:59:44Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > There is a third party involved, no? The IRS has to determine whether or not you have health insurance. The third party is not the government, so your original claim can be put to rest. _Next!_ ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/176 "2010-03-27T15:00:25Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ll take Darth at his word. Maybe he really would be willing to die rather than accept any form of public health care. Boehner said health care would pass “over his dead body”, yet he’s still with us. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/177 "2010-03-27T15:04:30Z")
You have proof that Boehner’s leathery, nictotine-embalmed cadaver is actually still alive? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/178 "2010-03-27T15:04:39Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > I leave it at your own quote: “We have among the best in the world” …if you can afford it ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/179 "2010-03-27T15:06:20Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > I leave it at your own quote: “We have among the best in the world” Your point then? Quality does equate to accessibility, affordability, or even to sensibility. What difference does it make if we have the best if half the population can’t afford to be seen? ---
**Author:** ![IClaudius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c37758/32.png) [@IClaudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IClaudius)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682/180 "2010-03-27T15:08:40Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > I leave it at your own quote: “We have among the best in the world” The existence of first-rate specialists in the US has no relationship with the absence of universal coverage as addressed by the bill. Such expertise is a function of economies of scale, education and infrastructure. So pointing to the desirability of US specialists is irrelevant to the general point. By OECD standards, for example, the US pays far more as a percentage of GDP than everyone else for equivalent or worse outcomes in the case of the 50 million uninsured and countless under-insured. Such an abysmal situation is a joke for a sophisticated, developed Western nation and self-styled leader of the free world. A true public option, with genuine competition, and the abolishment of the existing employee funded arrangements would be far more ideal to meet the twenty-first century, but this reform is better than nothing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honest-question-why-are-the-republicans-so-pissed-about-this-health-care-thing/533682.md?page=10)