# Man robs bank for $1 just so he can get health care in jail ! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 22, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412 "2011-06-22T12:28:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/1 "2011-06-22T12:28:08Z")
> [@huffingtonpost](#): > > James Verone said he walked up to a teller at a Gastonia, N.C. bank and handed her a note. > > It said “This is a bank robbery, please only give me one dollar.” Verone then told the teller he’d be sitting in a nearby chair, waiting for the police. > > The 59-year-old said he did everything he could to get caught so he could receive free health care in jail. [Beautiful.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/james-verone-robs-bank_n_880660.html) I can’t get angry at this guy for what he did, but I’m putting this in the pit because I’m angry at the health care system that made him desperate enough to do this. This is why we need Universal Healthcare. With [45,000 people dying](http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/harvard-medical-study-links-lack-of-insurance-to-45000-us-deaths-a-year/) every year in the United States who would have otherwise lived if they had health insurance, I’m honestly shocked that this doesn’t happen more often. Kudos, James Verone. I’d probably do the same thing in your shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/2 "2011-06-22T13:07:52Z")
I can see helping this guy out but does America really need to provide health care for the whole Universe? I’ll be damned if my hard earned money is going to pay for a new liver for some alcoholic dick bag on Xemulon 4. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/3 "2011-06-22T13:09:51Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I can see helping this guy out but does America really need to provide health care for the whole Universe? I’ll be damned if my hard earned money is going to pay for a new liver for some alcoholic dick bag on Xemulon 4. Is there anyone proposing that the U.S. provide health care for people outside the U.S.? ---
**Author:** ![sundog66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@sundog66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sundog66)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/4 "2011-06-22T13:12:58Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Is there anyone proposing that the U.S. provide health care for people outside the U.S.? universal |ˌyoōnəˈvərsəl| adjective of, affecting, or done by **all** people or things **in the world** ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/5 "2011-06-22T13:15:48Z")
> [@sundog66](#): > > universal |ˌyoōnəˈvərsəl| > adjective > of, affecting, or done by **all** people or things **in the world** I’d stop using that dictionary if that’s the only definition it gives of “universal”. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/6 "2011-06-22T13:18:49Z")
> [@sundog66](#): > > universal |ˌyoōnəˈvərsəl| > adjective > of, affecting, or done by **all** people or things **in the world** Let’s ignore that this is just semantics (when someone references “universal” health care, you can assume that they don’t mean outside of the country)… This kinda does make it seem ridiculous how bad it is in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/7 "2011-06-22T13:30:31Z")
> [@sundog66](#): > > universal |ˌyoōnəˈvərsəl| > adjective > of, affecting, or done by **all** people or things **in the world** Thank you for pulling out the dictionary. I’m sure you did this in all sincerity, and not to be a pedantic dick. :rolleyes: But you forgot [definition number two](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/universal): > [@](#): > > Universal — adj > > 1. of, relating to, or typical of the whole of mankind or of nature > 2. **common to, involving, or proceeding from all in a particular group** I could further drive the nail into the coffin of this semantic sidetracking by posting a gazillion links to uses of the phrase “universal healthcare”, but I think my point has been sufficiently made. Let’s get back to the main topic. If you think this issue has any legs, take it to another thread please. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/8 "2011-06-22T13:38:21Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > Thank you for pulling out the dictionary. I’m sure you did this in all sincerity, and not to be a pedantic dick. :rolleyes: But you forgot [definition number two](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/universal): > > I could further drive the nail into the coffin of this semantic sidetracking by posting a gazillion links to uses of the phrase “universal healthcare”, but I think my point has been sufficiently made. Let’s get back to the main topic. If you think this issue has any legs, take it to another thread please. Gee, I kinda thought the “alcoholic dick bag on Xemulon 4” was a whopping huge clue it was humor, but keep right on being over-sensitive and snippy if it makes you feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/9 "2011-06-22T14:05:17Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > With [45,000 people dying](http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/17/harvard-medical-study-links-lack-of-insurance-to-45000-us-deaths-a-year/) every year in the United States who would have otherwise lived if they had health insurance… Just to put that number into perspective, they’re claiming that insurance could reduce the death rate by 1/60th. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/10 "2011-06-22T14:18:09Z")
So, now that he is in jail, he can get his shiv wound treated gratis? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/11 "2011-06-22T14:28:54Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Just to put that number into perspective, they’re claiming that insurance could reduce the death rate by 1/60th. I wonder if you can point me to where it says this in the linked article or in the published paper. Or is this a different “they”? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/12 "2011-06-22T14:45:16Z")
At least we can comforted by the greater popularity of Dickens as opposed to Swift? CMC fnord! Give a man a fire, and he’ll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he’ll be warm for the rest of his life. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/13 "2011-06-22T14:45:36Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Gee, I kinda thought the “alcoholic dick bag on Xemulon 4” was a whopping huge clue it was humor, but keep right on being over-sensitive and snippy if it makes you feel better. Alcoholism is nothing to laugh about. Especially not on Xemulon 4; it’s practically an epidemic there. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/14 "2011-06-22T15:12:49Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Gee, I kinda thought the “alcoholic dick bag on Xemulon 4” was a whopping huge clue it was humor, but keep right on being over-sensitive and snippy if it makes you feel better. Thank you… ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/15 "2011-06-22T15:16:27Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I wonder if you can point me to where it says this in the linked article or in the published paper. Or is this a different “they”? It’s simple mathematics. The death rate in the United States is 8.38 people per year per 1,000 people. The population of the United States is ~313,232,000 people. ([cite](https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html)) 8.38 (deaths) / 1000 (per thousand people) \* 313,232,000 (multiplied by the number of people) = 2,624,884 deaths per year in the United States. 45,000 / 2,624,884 = 1.71%, or approximately one in every 58.5 deaths. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/16 "2011-06-22T15:21:44Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Gee, I kinda thought the “alcoholic dick bag on Xemulon 4” was a whopping huge clue it was humor, but keep right on being over-sensitive and snippy if it makes you feel better. OK, I’m confused. Wasn’t he responding to\*\* sundog66\*\*? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/17 "2011-06-22T15:25:44Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Alcoholism is nothing to laugh about. Especially not on Xemulon 4; it’s practically an epidemic there. Well, duh…the Xemuloni _don’t even HAVE livers_ in the first place! They’re stealing our livers!!! ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/18 "2011-06-22T15:25:52Z")
> [@PlainJain](#): > > OK, I’m confused. Wasn’t he responding to\*\* sundog66\*\*? I don’t know, but **crow** ’s post is hilarious. I can’t believe I’ve never heard that before. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/19 "2011-06-22T15:48:23Z")
So if the guy wanted to go to prison so he could get food, would you think we need some system where all food is paid for through tax dollars and handed out to everyone free of charge? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/20 "2011-06-22T15:56:00Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > So if the guy wanted to go to prison so he could get food, would you think we need some system where all food is paid for through tax dollars and handed out to everyone free of charge? Yes – if there were people trying to get into prison in order not to starve, I’d think we’d need some such system. However, since that’s not happening, it’s not an issue. (It may not be happening because generally people can get enough free food from charities in the U.S., so there’s not a need for a government system of free food.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412.md?page=2)