Pajamas Media » The Logic of Liberty: Whose Responsibility Is Your Health?

Pajamas Media » The Logic of Liberty: Whose Responsibility Is Your Health?: "I recently had an (imagined) conversation with my friend Julius, who calls himself a socialist. We met for coffee late on Christmas Eve and spoke about the Senate’s vote. Remember: it is not too late to contact your Congressperson to limit the worst excesses of the coming health care bill.

Julius: It’s a day of celebration!

Me: I thought you hated Christmas.

Julius: Don’t be a putz; you know what I’m talking about. The Senate has finally recognized our rights. It’s time to party!

M: A right, eh? So what responsibility is induced by that right?

J: Oh, I’m too happy to be bothered by your technical questions. But I’ll play along because you have such a sad face. It will be my Christmas present to you. Besides, the answer is easy: The responsibility is clearly the government’s.

M: So it’s “easy,” is it? Aren’t you the one who is always deriding others for their “simple” views of “complex” issues? Anyway, it isn’t nearly as easy as you think.

J: My, aren’t you the sour one. However, I remain cheerful. Our government has finally joined the international community in recognizing the rights of its citizens to health insurance.

M: Who, then, is the government?

J: The president, our wise Senate, and so on. I told you it was easy.

M: So you claim that just the president and members of Congress, and presumably its attached bureaucracy, is the government?

J: Of course.

M: Then the full responsibility for providing health insurance falls to this small group of people?

J: In a manner of speaking.

M: What manner? Surely, you aren’t claiming that these few people will pay the health care expenses out of their own pockets.

J: Of course not. They will administer the costs; that’s what I meant.

M: I assumed that’s what you meant, but I want to know where those funds are coming from. You claim it is the government’s responsibility, but then you say the members of the government won’t actually be the ones paying. So it appears the actual responsibility lies elsewhere. Where?

J: Come on, don’t be so obtuse. You know that the money will come from taxes.

M: And the taxes will be paid by me and you, and other citizens?

J: Yes."

continue reading