# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/21 "2011-06-22T16:01:37Z")
> [@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? If we lived in a universe where random segements of the population, through no fault of their own, needed $5,000 a day food supplements? Yeah, I think we would want to have a conversation about that. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/22 "2011-06-22T16:05:21Z")
> [@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? I think they call those “food stamps”. ---
**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, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/23 "2011-06-22T16:07:32Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > I think they call those “food stamps”. Bingo! I’d forgotten about that government program. Of course, **Rand Rover** probably would want it abolished as “socialism” or the like. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/24 "2011-06-22T16:11:29Z")
It seems like a real life version of the O Henry story, “The Cop and the Anthem”. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/25 "2011-06-22T16:17:25Z")
> [@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? Is food randomly priced out of the grasp of some middle-class and above people? It’s not surprising that you’re a libertarian, since you’re too fucking stupid to understand simple concepts. ---
**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, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/26 "2011-06-22T16:24:21Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > 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. Ah, now I see where you were going with that. Your calculations are very nice. So by enacting universal health care, you’d “only” reduce the preventable death rate by 1/60. This is what you’re saying, correct? Forget about the gross numbers, let’s just look at the percentage? However your logic is a bit wonky there though my friend. You seem to be saying that the benefit of fewer deaths is too slight to be of much interest. “Only” 1/60. I suppose that we really should not bother with anything that would reduce the preventable death rate by anything less than 1/60th then. It’s just too small a number to trouble with, hmmmm? ---
**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, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/27 "2011-06-22T16:25:48Z")
> [@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? If the guy went to prison to get a free pony,should we give everyone a free pony? If my aunt had balls would she be my uncle? ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/28 "2011-06-22T16:26:59Z")
Yeh, this sucks. Since society “needs” individuals who are willing to work menial jobs, jobs which the free market can’t pay enough to provide health insurance, then maybe yes. Maybe those individuals who are willing to work those jobs ought to be provided with some health insurance. But there would need to be lines drawn to avoid the inevtiable outrage, like no alcoholics, no drug addicts, or something. Something probably should be done. But I truly believe it is out of the realm of possibility given our current system. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/29 "2011-06-22T16:54:19Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Gee, I kinda thought the “alcoholic dick bag on Xemulon 4” was a whopping huge clue it was humor Actually, on first reading, I thought “Xemulon 4” was a chemo drug like interferon or an immunosuppresive, something a person with liver cancer or the recipient of a liver transplant would be “on”. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2011, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/30 "2011-06-22T17:30:28Z")
> [@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. > [@](#): > > I think they call those “food stamps”. Whoa there pardners… last time I checked food stamps won’t buy you a new liver _let alone_ booze. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/31 "2011-06-22T17:36:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Hamsandwich](#): > > Whoa there pardners… last time I checked food stamps won’t buy you a new liver _let alone_ booze. It’s cow liver. He’s making liver and onions for dinner. It goes well with his dollar-store wine coolers. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/32 "2011-06-22T17:59:52Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Just to put that number into perspective, they’re claiming that insurance could reduce the death rate by 1/60th. Which still cuts 750 people from that daily death toll. Now, the total population of the US is ~350 million, so there’s only 2.14^10-6 chances it’s gonna to be you today. Every day. So I guess the question you’ve gotta axe yourself in the morning is: “Do I feel lucky, punk ? Well, do I ?” for the rest of your life. (yeah, I know my math is wonky and ignores a fuckload of factors. Making a point here, dude !) ---
**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, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/33 "2011-06-22T18:20:31Z")
> [@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): So I have to consider all possible definitions now? Next thing is you’re going to be telling me I have to read the entirety of each definition, which in this particular case, the definition continues as follows: universal |ˌyoōnəˈvərsəl| adjective of, affecting, or done by all people or things in the world or in a particular group And you accuse _me_ of pedantry… ---
**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, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/34 "2011-06-22T18:34:35Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > Just to put that number into perspective, they’re claiming that insurance could reduce the death rate by 1/60th. Which is greater than all homicides and drunk driving deaths combined. If it were formally listed by the CDC as a cause of death, [it would be](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/lcod.htm) in the top 10 causes of death. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/35 "2011-06-22T18:53:16Z")
> [@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. Come on, do we really need to drag healthcare for illegal aliens in to this mix? ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/36 "2011-06-22T20:14:08Z")
Prison has crappy health care. Why didn’t he steal enough to buy really kick ass health care and then go to jail? ---
**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, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/37 "2011-06-22T20:44:20Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > Prison has crappy health care. Why didn’t he steal enough to buy really kick ass health care and then go to jail? I suppose if you can find a doctor who will accept large amounts of cash in payment, no questions asked, that might work. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/38 "2011-06-22T20:50:55Z")
You know, I really hate those illegal alcoholic aliens from Xemulon 4 that come here and wreck the environment and then start revolts in China. Why yes, I’ve been reading too many Pit threads today, why do you ask? ---
**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, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/39 "2011-06-22T21:29:48Z")
> [@Wilson](#): > > You know, I really hate those illegal alcoholic aliens from Xemulon 4 that come here and wreck the environment and then start revolts in China. > > Why yes, I’ve been reading too many Pit threads today, why do you ask? They start fires in Arizona to hide the bodies they decapitate and their [cattle](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=560113) [mutes](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=560523) too! CMC fnord! Why yes, I’ve been reading too many threads everyday and I can’t get them out of my fucking brain, why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412/40 "2011-06-22T21:38:14Z")
> [@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? Um, we have food stamps, so your argument is overreaching. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-robs-bank-for-1-just-so-he-can-get-health-care-in-jail/586412.md?page=3)