The person who got sick went to the doctor, and then received their bill. Then that single person paid the whole damn thing.

Just like any service or good, whether a hair-cut, getting your shoes shined, etc, someone does it and someone else receives it. The person providing the service gets paid by the person. Thats how it always was and medicine wasn't any different until a few decades ago the government decided that it wanted its people healthy so it would help pay part of it.

Now, I am not suggesting we go back to those old days by any means. However, at least be mindful of the fact that its still a service person A provides person B with, and person C (taxpayers) subsidizing the transaction is a novelty, and not something you should think of as an entitlement. At least met the government halfway on this (literally?, or whatever the rate is). Hell, at least pay 20% of the cost.

So hey, you want a single-payer medicine, vote Libertarian. Namely someone who makes Ron Paul look like Ralph Nadar.

public healthcare is a wise policy. When the reality is that economic facts deprive significant segments of society access to medical care, government is wise to fill the gap. Public health is and should be everyone's problem. Have you ever heard of infectious disease?

keyotic:

public healthcare is a wise policy. When the reality is that economic facts deprive significant segments of society access to medical care, government is wise to fill the gap. Public health is and should be everyone's problem. Have you ever heard of infectious disease?

Infectious disease? Come on, it's up to people to take personal responsibility to not get sick! I don't know about you, but I walk around all day in one of those plastic CDC biohazard suits all the time. Just because you seem to value "not looking like an idiot" more than "total hermetic separation from germs" doesn't mean I should have to pay for it when your vanity makes you contract, I dunno, lupus or something...

infectious disease...yes, most people in this country are vaccinated against all sorts of infectious diseases, and most of those were eradicated..i would be more worried about the millions of illegal immigrants coming here that have NO vaccinations and carry a host of new problems.....

I'm starting to become concerned that, the way this thread is going, my joke about taking personal responsibility for not getting sick is going to be mistaken for earnest in a thread that has so quickly spun from socialized medicine and the free market (feel the magic! Boo entitlements!) to illegal immigrants so quickly...

Yikes.

Blue, if you can imagine a situation for which them dang furriners aren't to blame, you obviously are out of touch.

Ah, but Falcon, that's where you're wrong. It's not ALWAYS the dang fur'ners that's to blame...

Sometimes it's Bill Clinton's junk.

education system too.

I believe that there is a big push going on to eradicate public education on the grounds that the wealthy do not benefit from public education even though they pay for it.

Do you know of any other countries that are thriving in this era without a population that is educated? Do you know of any other countries in this era that is prospering and does not attend to it's sick?

I never got why the movement conservatives in America are so bent on returning to medieval society. Too much D&D in their youth?

no, as the original post said, personal responsibility..the world does NOT owe you a living..or me. she may have said it tongue in cheek, but the premise was correct. i need nothing from you.

I paid for that with my taxes. Find your own road.

no shit, who doesnt...i want you to pay for my home, food, car etc..because i am ENTITLED to them...pay your way, i will pay mine.

If you took any tax deductions on your house loan - and I know you did - then I did pay for your house.

No matter how you slice it, you live in a society and that society pays for your welfare. To try to worm your way out of contributing your part of your social obligation is frankly immature.

You are not an only child, you need to learn to play well with others.

please spare me your inane platitudes....

You like to think that you are self supporting and somehow superior to those that depend on the government for their welfare, but the truth of the matter is that you take everything the government offers you, whether it be cheap transportation, clean water or safe food.

You were born on third base and thought you hit a triple. You're not the only one.

Where did you learn how to write? Your prose is pathetic - I'm sorry, you suck at sentence structure. What does this have to do with the message you're trying to assemble? It has everything to do with it. I suggest Strunk & White, The Elements of Style. Please read this material, and stop writing editorials.