# I dont NEED health insurance! (Um... Can I have money to pay my medical bills?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 28, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817 "2015-02-28T01:00:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/1 "2015-02-28T01:00:10Z")
[Uninsured Ex-Sheriff Who Fought Obamacare Struggles To Pay Medical Bills](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sheriff-mack-gofundme-medical-bills) > [@](#): > > Former Arizona county sheriff Richard Mack, a fierce opponent of Obamacare and a leader in the “constitutional sheriff” movement, is struggling to pay his medical bills after he and his wife each faced serious illnesses. The former sheriff and his wife do not have health insurance and started a GoFundMe campaign to solicit donations from family and friends to cover the costs of their medical care. > > “Because they are self-employed, they have no medical insurance and are in desperate need of our assistance,” reads a note on Mack’s personal website. > > Mack, the founder of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, suffered a heart attack in January and is in recovery. His wife fell ill late last year. Nobody needs health insurance… until they do. And they will. It’s hard for me to feel sorry for the guy. He’s one of the people berating Americans for being ‘irresponsible’. Should he not have taken the responsibility for his and his wife’s own wellbeing? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/2 "2015-02-28T01:03:11Z")
How long has he been an ex-sheriff? Doesn’t he already get health insurance that’s paid for By The People? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/3 "2015-02-28T01:10:56Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Uninsured Ex-Sheriff Who Fought Obamacare Struggles To Pay Medical Bills](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/sheriff-mack-gofundme-medical-bills) _Raises both middle fingers in tribute_ ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/4 "2015-02-28T05:10:30Z")
schadenfreude ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/5 "2015-02-28T05:56:19Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > How long has he been an ex-sheriff? Doesn’t he already get health insurance that’s paid for By The People? That’s what I would imagine–I think the typical county employee belongs to some kind of union that provides health insurance as part of their pension. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/6 "2015-02-28T06:13:17Z")
There’s a link in the article to the GoFundMe campaign. He’s taking a beating in the comments. (Unless they can edit them out later) Samples > [@](#): > > Oh, my…I wish that you could be inside of my brain right now. You have been one of the most despicable human beings that I’ve ever read about, especially since you support Clive Bundy and his moronic idiots :-(. However, I AM a human being, and I choose to be a better person than those whom you choose to believe in. I still believe that you’re an asshole, you fucking asshole :-(. > > Were it not for poor deluded suckers like you, America might have universal health care available to its citizens now, as do most of the other major industrialized nations of the world. The ACA is a poor substitute, but as you now know - it is better than nothing. You have been played for a fool, my friend . Were it not for the damage you have done, I’d have given a great deal more. As it is, you deserve nothing but scorn. Please reconsider, and if you demonstrate contrition, I will be happy to revisit my contribution with a larger sum. The Koch brothers will not give you a dime in any case. If you disagree, please refund my contribution. > > I have decided to show you the charity you have denied so many. Even though you have done despicable things I hope that you take this second chance to see that people are equal and all deserve to live and maintain within the same society with the same protections as everyone else. > > At first I had no intention of providing any financial help to Sheriff Mack, who actively sought to deny American citizens the right to affordable healthcare through the ACA (originally designed by conservatives and implemented by the Republican governor Mitch Romney). It seemed to me that his fellow right-wing extremists should bear the responsibility of rescuing his personal finances, having previously cheered on his mean-spirited beliefs prior to his and his wife’s illnesses. (By the way, where _are_ Sheriff Mack’s once loud conservative supporters on this donation thread?) However, after reading down through this thread, I was inspired by the many liberal progressives who gave their hard earned dollars to Sheriff Mack despite vehemently disagreeing with his “you’re on your own” beliefs. With thanks to Barack Obama and the ACA (which I wish went even further towards universal affordable healthcare), I make this donation to Sheriff Mack in the hope that his small heart might grow larger. “And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville they say - that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of _ten_ Grinches, plus two!” And even these people have donated. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/7 "2015-02-28T06:55:46Z")
I am smiling like a butcher’s dog. Karma’s a bitch. (Actually, it seems most of those who are donating are telling him off. Think he’ll have the decency to feel ashamed, or even have a change of heart? Hehehehe) ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/8 "2015-02-28T08:06:07Z")
This reminds me of [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=698227) I started about a similar situation with a conservative blogger (though with some differences to this case). It’s hard to know what the “general consensus” is, though, without knowing how many liberals/progressives passed this page by; I would assume that there are many who would remain silent if they did. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/9 "2015-02-28T11:40:08Z")
This is the same piece of [del]work[/del] shit who, [during the Cliven Bundy standoff](http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/15/former-sheriff-willing-let-wife-daughter-die-front/), was “actually strategizing to put all the women up at the front. If they are going to start shooting, it’s going to be women that are going to be televised all across the world getting shot.” ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/10 "2015-02-28T12:02:11Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > (Actually, it seems most of those who are donating are telling him off. Think he’ll have the decency to feel ashamed, or even have a change of heart? Hehehehe) I’m guessing he curses them all the way to the bank. People don’t change. And as **John\_Stamos** demonstrates, he’s already deep down the rabbit hole. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/11 "2015-02-28T12:38:15Z")
Has anyone pointed out that he can still sign up for “Obamacare”, since they can’t deny people with pre-existing conditions? I say let him go bankrupt for his poor decisions, let him live the beliefs of his kind of people. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/12 "2015-02-28T14:04:09Z")
I’m a bit pissed that the people who posted such scathing (while both proper and fitting) comments STILL donated. Like Kobal2 said, he’s cursing all the way to the bank. Being kind, charitable and a good human being only goes so far. This guy will still get what he needs, and many Americans won’t. Fuck him. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/13 "2015-02-28T15:53:39Z")
Gee that really sucks. That is, it sucks for the medical providers who will undoubtedly get stuck with the bills these morons can’t pay. Karma sings such a sweet song. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/14 "2015-02-28T16:04:09Z")
What on Earth is a “constitutional sheriff”? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/15 "2015-02-28T16:04:10Z")
I seem to recall Republicans cheering the idea of uninsured people dying in the gutter. Maybe he should try that. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/16 "2015-02-28T16:05:17Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > What on Earth is a “constitutional sheriff”? Short version; [FotL-type wingnuts who believe that the county sheriff is the Supreme Law of the Land and that the federal government is subordinate to their will.](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Constitutional_Sheriffs_and_Peace_Officers_Association) Joe Arpaio made a big deal a few years ago of claiming that he could exercise such authority to arrest Barack Obama as an illegal immigrant if he ever set foot in Phoenix. I don’t believe he made any attempts to do so on the president’s last few visits, which is a shame because it would have been highly entertaining. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/17 "2015-02-28T16:11:18Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I’m a bit pissed that the people who posted such scathing (while both proper and fitting) comments STILL donated. Like Kobal2 said, he’s cursing all the way to the bank. > > Being kind, charitable and a good human being only goes so far. This guy will still get what he needs, and many Americans won’t. Fuck him. I have to chuckle that he’s been hoisted by his own petard. (Obviously, or I wouldn’t have started the thread.) As I said, it’s hard to feel sorry for him. OTOH, the whole point of universal coverage is that even people you don’t like benefit from it. I’m not going to donate. He has more money and resources than I do, and he probably _will_ ‘curse all the way to the bank’. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/18 "2015-02-28T16:31:05Z")
From his FundMe blurb. Written by his son. > [@](#): > > Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know him personally can attest to his humility, integrity, courage, servant spirit, and passion about people being free. \ > …and his love of and compassion for humanity. I thought Christians aren’t supposed to lie. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/19 "2015-02-28T17:04:53Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > I’m guessing he curses them all the way to the bank. People don’t change. And as **John\_Stamos** demonstrates, he’s already deep down the rabbit hole. Still, that’s liberalism’s best weapon. Kill their hate and fear with compassion. And although he probably won’t change, maybe some observers of the situation will. You’d think I’d be more cynical as I approach my 50th birthday. I was more cynical at 18 than I am now. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817/20 "2015-02-28T18:02:18Z")
What is it with sheriffs in Arizona? First Joe Apaio and now this guy. Are _any_ of the sheriffs in Arizona normal? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-need-health-insurance-um-can-i-have-money-to-pay-my-medical-bills/713817.md?page=2)