so now that the government can mandate that we buy something . . .

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Somebody just broke the record for 100 miles on an indoor track in just under 12 hours. I am intruiged by the mental strength (idiocy?) required to run those distances, or times on an indoor track....One day I'll find out for myself.

[kelpdiver 2]

SkyDekker

Somebody just broke the record for 100 miles on an indoor track in just under 12 hours. I am intruiged by the mental strength (idiocy?) required to run those distances, or times on an indoor track....One day I'll find out for myself.

400m track, or the even shorter ones common to indoor? I really really hate lap courses, and this is at least 400 laps. On the plus side, you get consistent short interval splits so if you just focus your mind on the next 108 second lap (and let someone else count the laps), you can get through the first couple hours before going insane...

[Stumpy 284]

Holy crap - how bored would you have to be....

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Quote

On the plus side, you get consistent short interval splits so if you just focus your mind on the next 108 second lap (and let someone else count the laps), you can get through the first couple hours before going insane...

It was a 400meter track at least...and that is exactly what he did...just focused on lap times, every single lap...

[davjohns 1]

SkyDekker

Lastly, the guy has an incredible body and should be forced to eat many cheeseburgers.

You think I have an incredible body? How YOU doin?

Actually, the question was just for discussion purposes. If people are not taking care of their health and ignoring medical advice...then what? If people engage in risky behavior that is more likely to result in costly injuries...then what?

We have 'sin taxes' on alcohol and tobacco. Why not high risk activities? Why not on refusing medical advice?

I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet..

But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Quote

Actually, the question was just for discussion purposes. If people are not taking care of their health and ignoring medical advice...then what? If people engage in risky behavior that is more likely to result in costly injuries...then what?

Some risky behaviour is captured under increased insurance premiums. Your other examples put an increased burden on the health care system as a whole. In the end, all users pay for that.

Hence, there is no doubt in my mind that prevention and education have to be big parts of any (macro level) health care system. Personally I like that in many places in the US caloric information is displayed on menus. It educates and helps to make somewhat better decisions when eating out (assuming they are somewhat correct).

[DaVinci 0]

tkhayes

1. car insurance
http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/frfaqgen.html

Quote

I am registering a vehicle for the first time in Florida. Is automobile insurance mandatory?

Yes. If you own a vehicle with at least four wheels and are registering it, you must have Florida insurance.

I rest my case

You still failed:

1. You are free to take a bus and then you do not have to have car insurance.

2. You can drive all day long on your own property and not need car insurance.

So, would you support making EVERYONE over the age of 16 buy car insurance even if they didn't have a car?

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

I know of no such condition

What other things do you think the govt should require people to buy?

Because this door has been opened.

[kallend 2,027]

DaVinci

***1. car insurance
http://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/frfaqgen.html

Quote

I am registering a vehicle for the first time in Florida. Is automobile insurance mandatory?

Yes. If you own a vehicle with at least four wheels and are registering it, you must have Florida insurance.

I rest my case

You still failed:

1. You are free to take a bus and then you do not have to have car insurance.



Irrelevant. You are just using the bus company's insurance as a proxy for your own vehicle insurance. You are still insured and the cost is rolled into the fare. Ditto with planes, trains and taxis.

Quote

2. You can drive all day long on your own property and not need car insurance.

I'd be OK with people who never ever leave their own property not having health insurance too.

Quote

So, would you support making EVERYONE over the age of 16 buy car insurance even if they didn't have a car?

Irrelevant, see items 1 and 2.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

Irrelevant. You are just using the bus company's insurance as a proxy for your own vehicle insurance. You are still insured and the cost is rolled into the fare. Ditto with planes, trains and taxis.

Nope, you could also buy medication. The fact is that you do not have to buy automobile insurance just because you exist. Plus, you could just walk.

Quote

I'd be OK with people who never ever leave their own property not having health insurance too.

I doubt this very much.

Quote

"So, would you support making EVERYONE over the age of 16 buy car insurance even if they didn't have a car?"

Irrelevant, see items 1 and 2.

No you just can't answer it, so you claim it is not relevant.

[kelpdiver 2]

DaVinci

Quote

Irrelevant. You are just using the bus company's insurance as a proxy for your own vehicle insurance. You are still insured and the cost is rolled into the fare. Ditto with planes, trains and taxis.

Nope, you could also buy medication. The fact is that you do not have to buy automobile insurance just because you exist. Plus, you could just walk.

Not everyone owns a car. They don't need liability insurance.

But everyone receives medical care. Too often, the ones that claim they are healthy and don't need it do exactly that, but then can't pay for it.

Now in lieu of insurance, I see no problem with people posting bonds the same way you can skip out on car insurance in California. 100k would be a suitable amount. Maybe even 50. Realistically, this would be used by less than 1 in 1000, however.

[turtlespeed 221]

asinine.

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[tkhayes 348]

Quote

You still failed:

1. You are free to take a bus and then you do not have to have car insurance.

2. You can drive all day long on your own property and not need car insurance.

So, would you support making EVERYONE over the age of 16 buy car insurance even if they didn't have a car?

1. you are free to find a job where you employer pays 100% of your health insurance and then you do not have to buy it.

2. you are free to have no job, be poor and then qualify for Medicaid and not have to pay for it.

Your extreme unrealistic, non-nonsensical example
vs.
My extreme unrealistic, non-nonsensical example

[DanG 1]

Quote

So, would you support making EVERYONE over the age of 16 buy car insurance even if they didn't have a car?

Every over the age of 16 may not have a car, but I'm pretty sure they all have a body.

- Dan G

[Kennedy 0]

DanG

Quote

So, would you support making EVERYONE over the age of 16 buy car insurance even if they didn't have a car?

Every over the age of 16 may not have a car, but I'm pretty sure they all have a body.

So your thought process is "if you gave something, the government can make you but more things, whether you want to or not." Is that it?

Do you support any limits whatsoever on government's power to interfere in private life?

witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

[DanG 1]

Quote

So your thought process is "if you gave something, the government can make you but more things, whether you want to or not." Is that it?

I'm going to assume some typos in the above. I think you meant, "if you have something, the government can make you buy more things whether you want to or not."

Yes, in a limited sense. If you have something that will require your neighbors to suffer some harm, then the government can make you shoulder some of the burden of that harm. So if you have a coal smokestack, the government can make you buy a scrubber for it. On the other hand, if you have something that you use and enjoy and it doesn't impact society, then of course the government has no interest in regulating it.

I just thought of an interesting parallel. Many conservatives (and some liberals, too) argue that the government has the right to regulate what drugs you put into your body in the privacy of your own home. Their argument is that drug users are a burden to society through crime, lost work, sickness, etc. How is that any different from the argument that the government can regulate health insurance because people without it are a burden to society?

- Dan G

[rehmwa 2]

DanG

I just thought of an interesting parallel. Many conservatives (and some liberals, too) argue that the government has the right to regulate what drugs you put into your body in the privacy of your own home. Their argument is that drug users are a burden to society through crime, lost work, sickness, etc. How is that any different from the argument that the government can regulate health insurance because people without it are a burden to society?

it's interesting because the usual subjects trade arguments both ways? (in fact, most of the people here will be hypocritical on the wrong side of your example, so be careful - in fact, they want their drugs AND they want someone else to pay for the treatment when they overdose........)

once again, the true libertarian is the only one that's consistent in philosophy rather than just political

don't trust liberals, don't trust conservatives

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

1. you are free to find a job where you employer pays 100% of your health insurance and then you do not have to buy it.

This comment explains a lot about you. It seems you do not understand compensation very well.

BTW, have you started paying for insurance for YOUR employees yet?

Quote

2. you are free to have no job, be poor and then qualify for Medicaid and not have to pay for it.

Which is what it seems you want to happen to everyone.

Quote

Your extreme unrealistic, non-nonsensical example

Ah yes, can't defeat the logic so you make fun of it.

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

very over the age of 16 may not have a car, but I'm pretty sure they all have a body.

Having a body does not equal needing medical care. I didn't need medical care till after my military service.

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

Not everyone owns a car. They don't need liability insurance.

There are lots of 20-30 years olds that do not need insurance. They even have a term for them "Invincibles".

[rushmc 23]

DaVinci

BTW, have you started paying for insurance for YOUR employees yet?

A small business owner was inteviewed last week on the radio. His business is in New York. He has 9 employees. Health insurance was part of his (the owners) compensation package. It cost him $325 per month

Under Obamacare his rate raised to $950 per month with higher deductables and co pays

BUT, here is a part of the law I did not know about

Obamacare requires any size business owner, who get heath insurance for himself, from his busines, to offer it to all employees AND pay half of the premium
He says he will have to lay off at least 5 o his 9 if he goes this route

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[DanG 1]

Quote

Having a body does not equal needing medical care.

Yes it does. Or at least it equals the potential to need medical care. In the same way, having a car doesn't mean you'll be in accident, but it means you might be, so you need insurance. Again, the insurance protects not only you, but society at large.

Quote

I didn't need medical care till after my military service.

Sure you did, you just got it from Uncle Sam for free.

- Dan G

[quade 4]

DaVinci

I didn't need medical care till after my military service.

If that is true, which I find statistically unlikely, then you've led a truly blessed life.

You're telling me you were born at home, never had a vaccination, never had a childhood disease, never had a broken bone or sprain or anything that required a trip to a doctor? Really?

I'm not saying it's not possible, but it is statistically unlikely.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[GeorgiaDon 362]

DaVinci

Quote

Not everyone owns a car. They don't need liability insurance.

There are lots of 20-30 years olds that do not need insurance. They even have a term for them "Invincibles".

I'm curious how they can know for certain that they will never be injured in an accident, or be exposed to an infectious disease, or discover that they have some sort of a congenital condition. Or could it just possibly be that they have "other priorities", and plan to fuck over the doctors, nurses, hospitals, and people like me who actually pay for insurance, and stick us with the bill, should they ever need medical care?

Don

_____________________________________
Tolerance is the cost we must pay for our adventure in liberty. (Dworkin, 1996)
“Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire.” (Yeats)

[DaVinci 0]

Quote

having a car doesn't mean you'll be in accident, but it means you might be, so you need insurance.

You do not need insurance to own a car. You do not need insurance to drive the car on your own property. You only need insurance if your actions might hurt others on the open road.

Quote

Sure you did, you just got it from Uncle Sam for free

No, even before I was in the military I did not need expensive medical care.