# To my friend on FaceBook who has been spewing anti-healthcare-reform messages for the past 6 months **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 4, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277 "2009-11-04T14:13:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/41 "2009-11-04T22:30:03Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Why are you assuming that the fundraisers are for cancer treatments? I see nothing in th OP that says they have no insurance. Of course, the out-of-pocket expenses are bound to be crazy-expensive, but why do we assume they are for the whole thing? > > In my experience (and I’ve participated in many of these, and, frankly, too many in my immediate family), they are to help pick up costs in addition to the medical treatment, things like replacing a paycheck that may be stopped while the parents take off work, costs for lodging near the hospital, transportation, meals eaten out of the house, things like that. And those kind of fundraisers can make a huge dent in those expenses. > > And, I applaud the family for at least trying to so something. Many people would just throw up their hands - I would have spaghetti dinners for the rest of my life in order to pay my expenses, if need be. You’re right. We did assume no insurance in this instance, and that may not be accurate. However, maybe it IS accurate. If not for this family, then for many, many families who are battling serious illness without insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/42 "2009-11-04T22:32:11Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > Is it just me, or do conservatives seem to have no clue that some of this crap is offensive (or at least controversial). I would never consider casually sending out treatises supporting gay marriage to a list of family member or old high school acquaintance. I’d know that it is something that many of them disagree with, and that my mail to a general audience won’t sway them. But I get all kinds of crap with the latest Fox trumped-up news hysteria du jour. Like to paint with a broad brush there, eh? I’m a conservative, and do not post those types of things, specifically because I assume most people don’t particularly care about my political positions. Seriously, the amount of Obama knob-slobbing vs. Right Wing blather I see on Facebook is ridiculously slanted toward the Left. It seems that when a Lefty posts their latest “Save the Children/Environment/Poor/Downtrodden” petition, it’s no big deal, because it’s the correct position, and all of the “GWB Eats a Dick” parody videos are nothing but hilarious. But anything from the other side? It’s the WORST THING EVAR! ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/43 "2009-11-04T22:32:56Z")
> [@Sinaijon](#): > > My neighbor was in tears afterward. Not from the hardship though, but from gratitude at the show of support from the community. Yeah, your neighbor was grateful. Aren’t most people who have to resort to begging grateful when someone helps them at their most desperate? The only reason your neighbor needed such a show of support is because their kid was in dire straights and they couldn’t afford to get them out of it by themselves. And so I’m sure that if your neighbor could back in time and choose between 1) having the opportunity of feeling yummy gratitude warm the cockles of their heart because people gave them handouts and 2) the comfort in knowing that their kid was going to receive care regardless of the turnout at their 50th spaghetti dinner of the month, they’d choose the later. What sane person wouldn’t? > [@](#): > > But for my neighbor, the personal support from the community meant much more than a statement mailed at the end of the month would. Sure okay. Whatever you say. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/44 "2009-11-04T22:33:20Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Yeah, you’d pretty much _have_ to have spaghetti dinners for the rest of your life, if that’s how you intended to pay your expenses. Whatever works. I would rather not ask total strangers to pay for me. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/45 "2009-11-04T22:53:14Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Whatever works. I would rather not ask total strangers to pay for me. YMMV. I don’t get this, are you suggesting that the spaghetti dinners would be populated entirely by family and friends? $80,000 from family and friends buying your spaghetti? You’re an idiot. Unless you’re self-insured or insured through a very small cooperative, total strangers are exactly who is (or will be) paying for you. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/46 "2009-11-04T22:58:51Z")
And I’m left wondering why relying on the kindness of total strangers is completely different and somehow worse than relying on the kindness of neighbors, work acquaintances, and extended family members. Why are they more beholden to your care than a stranger? ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/47 "2009-11-04T23:04:36Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Why are you assuming that the fundraisers are for cancer treatments? I see nothing in th OP that says they have no insurance. Of course, the out-of-pocket expenses are bound to be crazy-expensive, but why do we assume they are for the whole thing? > > In my experience (and I’ve participated in many of these, and, frankly, too many in my immediate family), they are to help pick up costs in addition to the medical treatment, things like replacing a paycheck that may be stopped while the parents take off work, costs for lodging near the hospital, transportation, meals eaten out of the house, things like that. And those kind of fundraisers can make a huge dent in those expenses. > > And, I applaud the family for at least trying to so something. Many people would just throw up their hands - I would have spaghetti dinners for the rest of my life in order to pay my expenses, if need be. My sister, fully insured and an RN spent $20k out of pocket on medical expenses for her breast cancer treatments. That DIDN’T include time off work or the extra help she had around the house or daycare for the kids. She had an $8k out of pocket maximum and reached it in three seperate coverage years. She’ll get another $8k this year because she postponed reconstruction until now. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/48 "2009-11-04T23:07:28Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > And I’m left wondering why relying on the kindness of total strangers is completely different and somehow worse than relying on the kindness of neighbors, work acquaintances, and extended family members. Why are they more beholden to your care than a stranger? That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of taxes referred to as the “kindness of strangers”. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/49 "2009-11-04T23:07:56Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Seriously, the amount of Obama knob-slobbing vs. Right Wing blather I see on Facebook is ridiculously slanted toward the Left. It seems that when a Lefty posts their latest “Save the Children/Environment/Poor/Downtrodden” petition, it’s no big deal, because it’s the correct position, and all of the “GWB Eats a Dick” parody videos are nothing but hilarious. > > But anything from the other side? It’s the WORST THING EVAR! Oh, confirmation bias… where would we be without you? ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/50 "2009-11-04T23:08:01Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > My sister, fully insured and an RN spent $20k out of pocket on medical expenses for her breast cancer treatments. That DIDN’T include time off work or the extra help she had around the house or daycare for the kids. She had an $8k out of pocket maximum and reached it in three seperate coverage years. > > She’ll get another $8k this year because she postponed reconstruction until now. hope you like spaghetti\* \*this is obviously not meant to make light of your sister or your family’s terrible predicament, but to show just how dumb the idea is ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/51 "2009-11-04T23:08:13Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > And I’m left wondering why relying on the kindness of total strangers is completely different and somehow worse than relying on the kindness of neighbors, work acquaintances, and extended family members. Why are they more beholden to your care than a stranger? Because the total strangers don’t get to see you grovel? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/52 "2009-11-04T23:10:21Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of taxes referred to as the “kindness of strangers”. as opposed to what? the unjust spoils of marauders who just happen to use their ill-gotten gains to pay for, among other things, roads, hospitals, courts, police, and fire fighters. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/53 "2009-11-04T23:14:42Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Seriously, the amount of Obama knob-slobbing vs. Right Wing blather I see on Facebook is ridiculously slanted toward the Left. It seems that when a Lefty posts their latest “Save the Children/Environment/Poor/Downtrodden” petition, it’s no big deal, because it’s the correct position, and all of the “GWB Eats a Dick” parody videos are nothing but hilarious. … are you really saying that you’re against saving the children, environment, poor and downtrodden? I feel your pain, Athena. It’s tough, as a Canadian, keeping my mouth shut when random people at the dog park start going on about Obamacare. Do they really think people are dying in droves in Canada? Don’t you think we would have noticed? ETA: in case it’s unclear, I am a Canadian living in the US. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/54 "2009-11-04T23:15:29Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Whatever works. I would rather not ask total strangers to pay for me. YMMV. It won’t work. Although I have to admit, the “Let’s just throw a lot of spaghetti dinner fundraisers to pay for health care!” proposal is one of the more craptastically bad ones I’ve seen so far, so congratulations to you for that. ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/55 "2009-11-04T23:17:06Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Oh, confirmation bias… where would we be without you? Kinda my point…we all unable to see things without bias… ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/56 "2009-11-04T23:17:27Z")
> [@whole\_bean](#): > > as opposed to what? the unjust spoils of marauders who just happen to use their ill-gotten gains to pay for, among other things, roads, hospitals, courts, police, and fire fighters. That’s equally as stupid, but not more so. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/57 "2009-11-04T23:21:18Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > That’s the first time I’ve ever heard of taxes referred to as the “kindness of strangers”. Supporting healthcare for all even if it means higher taxes is closer to kindness than supporting healthcare via the dear-neighbor-won’t-you-please-pay-for-little Timmy’s-chemo-shots-by-buying-a-box-of-donuts-or-else-he’ll-die!!! route. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/58 "2009-11-04T23:27:37Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > My sister, fully insured and an RN spent $20k out of pocket on medical expenses for her breast cancer treatments. That DIDN’T include time off work or the extra help she had around the house or daycare for the kids. She had an $8k out of pocket maximum and reached it in three seperate coverage years. > > She’ll get another $8k this year because she postponed reconstruction until now. That’s horrible! I’m an RN and everywhere I’ve worked I’ve had insurance so good that everyone was green with envy. This is one profession where you have jobs waiting for you, I hope she decides to look for a better benefits package for the future. They’re out there, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/59 "2009-11-04T23:28:14Z")
> [@Sateryn76](#): > > Whatever works. I would rather not ask total strangers to pay for me. YMMV. If it makes you feel better, taxes are nothing like asking for help. Not even close. Frankly I would be mortified if I had to dump my medical emergency bills on my family. That shit’s expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277/60 "2009-11-04T23:29:09Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Supporting healthcare for all even if it means higher taxes is closer to kindness than supporting healthcare via the dear-neighbor-won’t-you-please-pay-for-little Timmy’s-chemo-shots-by-buying-a-box-of-donuts-or-else-he’ll-die!!! route. False. The former example does not take into consideration the taxes taken from those who do not support healthcare, while the latter is actually done out of a desire to do something nice. Your statement is factually incorrect. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-friend-on-facebook-who-has-been-spewing-anti-healthcare-reform-messages-for-the-past-6-months/516277.md?page=4)