# More Republican brilliance: body parts are like tires. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622 "2011-01-06T16:24:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [January 7, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/21 "2011-01-07T04:02:14Z")
My body parts get kicked a lot. Does that count? ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/22 "2011-01-07T04:17:04Z")
Damned Republicans and their desire to have better medicine! How dare someone predict that one day we may be able to grow new body parts to replace old and diseased ones! What’s next? Republicans hoping for some kind of new future alternative energy? The bastards. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/23 "2011-01-07T04:28:48Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Damned Republicans and their desire to have better medicine! How dare someone predict that one day we may be able to grow new body parts to replace old and diseased ones! > > What’s next? Republicans hoping for some kind of new future alternative energy? The bastards. Good one - I see what you did there 😉 ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/24 "2011-01-07T04:37:02Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > How long, do you figure, before we read about some guy selling a kidney in order to get chemo for his child without insurance? Don’t be stupid. If the kid just shows up at the emergency room he will get a new kidney. Or the father can barter a chicken with the doctor. You liberals make me sick. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/25 "2011-01-07T04:46:21Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > Don’t be stupid. If the kid just shows up at the emergency room he will get a new kidney. Or the father can barter a chicken with the doctor. You liberals make me sick. The kid’ll go to the emergency room, get a kidney, and sell it to pay for his chemo? That sounds so roundabout … they don’t do chemo in the ER?! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/26 "2011-01-07T04:55:00Z")
In context, he appears to have been using that as an argument to support “means testing,” i.e., cutting the Medicare and SS benefits of high-income households . . . which, by itself, doesn’t sound like a bad idea, on its face under present circumstances, without reference to any potential improvements in organ-transplant or organ-substitution technology. Nice to hear such a **redistributive** idea coming from a Pub! A still better one would be making the SS payroll tax income-progressive, like the income tax. The kids who work at McDonald’s get to keep their whole paychecks. No, “Who is FICA?! . . . And who said they could take my money?!” Let’s do both! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/27 "2011-01-07T04:58:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Will be. Not are. And they will be. Almost certainly within the normal lifespan of a 20-something. What are you anticipating here? Organ cloning? Synthetic organs? New money-making opportunity for migrant workers? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/28 "2011-01-07T05:18:59Z")
I don’t want to live a long life. I’m happy living an average lifespan of the 75-ish mark. What would I do with myself for another three decades beyond that? ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/29 "2011-01-07T05:38:20Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I don’t want to live a long life. I’m happy living an average lifespan of the 75-ish mark. What would I do with myself for another three decades beyond that? Supposing you were vibrant, healthy, and materially cared for during those remaining years? Heck, I see no reason to shuffle off into oblivion simply because I’ve hit some numeric age – there’s always something else to learn, something else to appreciate. I can’t imagine having done _everything_ by 75. Of course, there is the practical issue of how to afford care for the elderly (who, let’s face it, won’t be in a condition to work until 100 any time soon). I must admit that I rather liked President Obama’s “death panel” idea; it’s that kind of foresight that inspired me to vote for him in both the primary and the general. I understand it’s rather like what they do in the Nordic countries, you know, anyone reaching the age of 70 is ground up into mulch and spread around spruce trees or fed to anemic babies. I think the “death panel” opens up to reveal the button on the incinerator? Something like that. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/30 "2011-01-07T06:19:53Z")
Ideology Republicans against Money Republicans. Ideo-Pub wants Social Security to die! die! die! but can’t get near it, too popular. Looking to make it tougher, leaner, less warm. Money Republicans want to kill SS someday, but not real soon. First, its important to protect it by shifting it to private accounts, invested in a vigorous stock market, where trained professionals can pass it back and forth, back and forth, each taking a _tiny_ little bite every time… Money against ideology. Wonder who will win? Boy, that’s a tough one…ponder, ponder… ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/31 "2011-01-07T14:04:16Z")
It’s funny, but the OP hasn’t returned to the thread to acknowledge that his ire might have been misplaced. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/32 "2011-01-07T14:45:59Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > It’s funny, but the OP hasn’t returned to the thread to acknowledge that his ire might have been misplaced. Yes. I’m genuinely curious about what he’s getting at; there seems to be nothing remotely objectionable about the quoted statement. Surely there’s some nuance I’m missing? Was it the political context? The suggestion that body parts may become mere commodities? The possibility of artificially long lifespans? The comparison of body parts to inflated circular tubes fashioned of rubber, fitted over wheels for reduced wear and greater traction? Come on, throw us a bone! ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/33 "2011-01-07T16:37:54Z")
Jesus, I hope it won’t be like replacing tires. I just had to replace tires on my truck and they manged to find over $1000 of suspension work that had to be done on top of it! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/34 "2011-01-07T16:44:31Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > What are you anticipating here? Organ cloning? Synthetic organs? New money-making opportunity for migrant workers? Organ cloning. And the context was more about extending the retirement age, I think. Not about means testing of Medicare. It’s a little hard to tell, because they edited the interview, but if you read it closely, he skips from talking about means testing to extending the retirement age. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/35 "2011-01-07T16:45:07Z")
What if they threw in a lube job? ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/36 "2011-01-07T22:29:46Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Yes. I’m genuinely curious about what he’s getting at; there seems to be nothing remotely objectionable about the quoted statement. Surely there’s some nuance I’m missing? Was it the political context? The suggestion that body parts may become mere commodities? The possibility of artificially long lifespans? The comparison of body parts to inflated circular tubes fashioned of rubber, fitted over wheels for reduced wear and greater traction? > > Come on, throw us a bone! I assume the downside of this would be if he were saying “let’s raise the retirement age to 80 by 2050, don’t worry by then everyone will live to be 100 by then”, basing current policy on optimistic predictions based on speculative technology. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/37 "2011-01-07T22:41:57Z")
Can we just throw you a Boehner? ---
**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:** [January 7, 2011, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/38 "2011-01-07T22:50:34Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I assume the downside of this would be if he were saying “let’s raise the retirement age to 80 by 2050, don’t worry by then everyone will live to be 100 by then”, basing current policy on optimistic predictions based on speculative technology. From the OP’s badly quoted cite, > [@](#): > > … Clearly, retirement age, over time. What you’re saying to these younger people is – who, by the way, I think, barring disasters, are going to live to possibly old ages, as we have always thought of it…. They will live to be more than 100, because, again, barring accidents or something, or war, well over. They should. They’ll be replacing body parts like we do tires. If you ask a young person who’s paying any attention to this, “How old do you expect to be, and how long would you like to be a vital working person?” they’re not going to find this offensive. Thirty years from now, you might work at 68, 70, 72…. Even if we can “replace body parts like we do tires” it ain’t gonna cost the same as a tire change. But I’m sure Mr. Daniels provide us with a plan to make sure everyone, in the wonderful future that awaits us, that has to work 'til they’re falling apart will be able to afford these “tire changes”, right? (Of course we will get to the hospital in flying cars and the doctor will have a jet pack and there’ll be robot nurses and . . .). CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/39 "2011-01-07T23:36:15Z")
“Your emergency call is important to us, so please stay on the line. If you are having a heart attack, say “myocardial infarction” or press 81857226…” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622/40 "2011-01-07T23:51:29Z")
I wanna replace my car tires with body parts. I think it would be cool to have a car with cheetah legs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-republican-brilliance-body-parts-are-like-tires/566622.md?page=3)