We don't pay premiums for police, fire, roads, schools. Why premiums for health care?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

it is a basic human necessity, right?

[Morning Dew]

1. Sure.

And you don't choose to get sick, or get robbed, or have your house burn.

Good question.

[Fleshdancer]

2. how sad is it that the majority of us don't think of asking this question?

It makes sense and yet most of us don't ask it. I'm guilty of this...and I'm uninsured so I feel like a complete idiot right now. ;)

[Skittles]

10. look at how many DUers are defending mandates on private insurance

the very fuckers that have fucked up healthcare in America - it is a fucking DISGRACE

[depakid]

3. Not only a basic human necessity, but one with similar efficiencies to public utilities

or public services that "free" market fundamentalists (and also the corrupt) members of BOTH parties would prefer to sell off and privatize if they could.

[tkmorris]

4. I bet you WILL though, and soon.

The entire concept of the "public good" is one that pro-corporatists abhor, and in case you haven't noticed they are taking over our government. Especially in an environment like now, where state and smaller governments are starved of funds, watch for them to find ways to take these services off the books.

[TheDebbieDee]

7. I think they'll call it "privatization."

[tkmorris]

11. Exactly so

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. Sure you do. Largely in the form of property tax.

[TheDebbieDee]

6. Paying annual dues for permits for police and fire department

services may be coming to a town near you soon.

Some communities have been so cash starved by tax cuts that we may all be getting invoices after receiving services from the fire department or having that pothole in the street at the end of your driveway filled in.

I think that during the last big brush fire in California, only the homeowners that could afford it got a private contractor to douse their homes with some flame retardant stuff.

[Richard Steele]

8. Be patient The age of Corporate Feudalism is just getting started. nm

[elleng]

9. We DO pay 'premiums' for those services you list;

our taxes are used to pay for salaries and maintenance of necessary facilities, from which we all benefit, collectively. As to health care, we make use of it individually, for different types and at much different rates.

[johnaries]

12. Exactly. And most of those "premiums" go to private corporations.

Private contractors are hired to build and maintain the roads. All of the equipment used by police, firemen, and educators are made by private companies. And the buildings themselves are built by private contractors.

[Cleobulus]

14. Fuck, it isn't equivalent at all, if you want a comparison...

Think about if all roads were privatized into privately owned toll roads, then it would be equivalent.

[Cleobulus]

13. Oh fuck, not this bullshit again, premiums do NOT equal taxes! n/t

[eridani]

15. We make use of roads and fire departments at far different rates too n/t

[Vinca]

16. They're paid for by taxation . . . as health care should be.

I don't know any Fire Chiefs making 7 or 8 figure salaries.

[KharmaTrain]

17. You Pay Social Security, No?

That's a mandate...deducted from your paycheck that you may not even see if you don't live to 65.

Why premiums? Cause medical care still costs a ton of money. It's estimated a month-long stay in a hospital, which many will find themselves in an end-of-life situation can cost upwards of $100,000 or more. We can discuss why these costs are so high, but as it stands we're looking at billions being spent as our country ages and more need health services...especially those who are poor or have no coverage...and how is this going to be paid? Add to a defecit that is strangling this economy? A mandated system creates the pool of money to move forward...and it still may not be enough. Taxing the rich won't do it all, either. This country is flat broke...and there's more need than money to go around...thus the need for a mandate.

Even under the so coveted single payer, you'll be paying a premium...there is no free lunch.