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The reason healthcare costs are so expensive is because when a person with limited means gets a $120 hospital bill for having a bandaid changed, he's probably going to default on it. That means that the hospital is going to be left holding the bag, so in an effort to mitigate costs, they'll charge the next guy $125, and so forth. It's a vicious cycle.
Trust me when I say this: 4 years of even the comparatively minimal healthcare that you guys are going to get is going to do wonders for your medical costs.
When my mother was very young is when the concept of socialized healthcare started spreading around Canada, thanks to Tommy Douglas. My grandparents were *horrified* by the concept. However, seeing it all these years later, knowing how much it has helped both individuals and society as a whole here in Canada, they think it's madness not to have some form of national healthcare program, and they're very conservative people.
I think restricting corporations or anyone around environmental issues is also wrong. If a company owns the land, I think they can use it how they want as long as it doesn't risk other people's safety with a basic set of laws, not complicated ones that no one understands. It's property rights. If the public disagrees, there will be outcry and the company will naturally cave.
That's funny, but Australia a far left country? We don't have gay marriage even with prominent a front bench politician being gay. Also, my home state elected the most conservative Premiere for fifteen years (as in conservative enough to be a modern Republican).
But I guess, compared to US politics, anyone from the centre leftwards must seem a bit radical.![]()
This makes absolutely no sense. While companies and individuals may own titles and leases to land, they don't just have free reign to do whatever they want on it. When BP ignored regulations and safety concerns, would you let them off the hook when their pipe explodes and causes billions worth of dollars in damage to the environment and lost revenue from businesses that were affected?
What about when pollution from coal plants cause tens of thousands of deaths each year? Should we just let them do what they want?
What about when PG&E's cooling stations in Hinkley, California contaminated the town's water supply and caused cancer in many of the residents?
We are all part of the environment in which we live, and everyone's actions affect it. That's why we need regulations to curb that impact. You say we need a basic set of laws, not ones that nobody understands. So please tell me what you think is so complicated about the ones we have.
Please re-read my post, because that's not what I said. I said you need a basic set of laws for public safety, so that is not what I'm implying.
Well you said companies should be allowed to do what they want with their property so in a way it is. Currently the laws in place are arguable for the public's safety. I assume, given your position, that you feel it should be less so who draws this line and decides when a company is polluting too much? Some people don't think protecting the environment has anything to do with public safety, they'd be wrong, but they exist.
There is no way for it not to be complicated because as you pointed out there are a ton of scenarios/industries. Simple simply isn't possible. Companies care about profit above all else, whether that means ignoring laws, cutting corners or trying to do the bare minimum involving regulations. If we lowered regulations, most companies would just pollute more as it is generally cheaper than being green. (not always the case albeit)
It isn't hard to get work done, companies simply feel like it is a waste of their money to be good citizens. It is all about the money.
The thing that excites me most is that US identity seems to be changing. The whole 'merica fuck yeah' thing is being toned down and the whole 'what those clever bastards in Europe have been doing looks like a good idea' is being toned up. Nice one 'merica![]()
He didnt say anything about socialism.
Stealth, how dare you not read between the lines of what I said. I was CLEARLY saying I fully support socialism and that's why I hate America.
In all seriousness, I support Social Democracy, but I recognise the values in modern Conservatism and as if he runs, I will probably support Chris Christie for 2016.
What if I told you that it was the force of capitalism what made England what it is today?
But you did dislike capitalist, imperialist America, right?