Below, my defense of John and Doug's reply. I accidentally responded off list.
------ I wrote ----> > >Well Doug, "yes, sort-of, and no". > >Yes: Obviously, lots of people die every day. Obviously, lots of those people are disadvantaged in terms of access to health care. Obviously, given the best health care in the world they would still die, just at an older age (sometimes a lot older, sometimes a little older). > >Sort of: There is also a huge homed population in the country from which members die every day due to lack of health care. Many who die for lack of proper health care are insured and don't seek treatment, or seek treatment too late. Many without insurance could certainly get health insurance by tightening their belts. > >No: Lots of people without heath insurance still receive health care. Some from generous organizations designed for that purpose, some in emergency rooms or other places that are obligated to treat them. Some small part of those emergency costs are covered by still other generous organizations. Many homeless and otherwise disadvantaged people live perfectly normal length lives. > >By the way, one thing I really do like about your message is that it was not subtle in terms of the value judgment. I shows clearly how much of the debate is a clash of ideals rather than facts or figures. On principle, I just don't believe it is horrible that some people get unlimited access to modern medical care and others don't. Often I am asked if I would feel the same way if, for example, my daughter was sick and could not be treated. While I can only speak hypothetically, and hope I never have to experience, I think I would cry a lot, be emotionally devastated, and perhaps even be mad at the world. But I don't think I would feel that she (or I) had been denied something she was entitled to. If I saw a rich guy's daughter getting the treatment I needed, I probably would feel worse about myself and my situation. I would cry more, be devastated more, etc., but still not feel that I was wronged in a fundamental way. I am comfortable with that inequality. > >Eric > >P.S. Note the overuse of ambiguous terms like "many" to make a certain-to-be-true, but not certain-to-be-important, set of claims. >> >------ Doug's Reply ---> > > > >I am, admittedly, cranky. > > >It was, undeniably, a stupid question. > > >That does not necessarily justify my flame of a response: sorry for the heat. > > >--Doug >
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