Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I was just thinking that people on the political left (especially environmentalists) are often quick to point out that people overuse freeways because they do not pay any direct cost to use them, and I concur.
Yet I'm willing to bet many of these same people think it's inhumane that people should have to pay out of pocket for health care....But the same incentive structure is there. When people don't bear any of the direct cost of something, they won't care about the cost and will overuse whatever good or service they're getting.
In some form, I think the average person needs some kind of incentive system to keep health care costs low for both the short and the long term. Unfortunately, I'm getting the feeling that isn't what we're going to get with any health care legislation that passes.
Yes, I do have a thought. We DO have freeways, and everyone gets to use them, and they are a general benefit to the quality of American life. People who don't drive on them still get the benefit, because they contribute to the distribution of the goods we consume, and the consumers pay the cost of them, since road use taxes are built into the retail price of transported goods.
Just as people who don't directly use universal health care still get the benefit of life in a society that has a generally healthy and productive population.
You do pay to use Freeways both through Federal and State income taxes, and also every time you gas up your car, through gas taxes.
Just like you pay for health insurance through premiums (or possibly taxes in the future) and every time you visit by way of a copay.
Drive a more fuel-efficient car and you'll generally pay less. Live a healthier lifestyle and viola! Same thing.
But the difference between freeways and toll roads is that people are reminded of the cost every time they use toll roads and have a direct incentive to minimize their use. They're reminded every time they use the road that driving has a cost that goes beyond gas and insurance. When people aren't reminded of that constantly, they forget and overuse the resource, whether it be health care or roads.
My point was sorta that people who fall on the liberal end of the political spectrum get this when it comes to the car culture (tax gasoline more, pay for parking, promote toll road use) but seem to ignore these same economic principles in regard to health care.
I'm disregarding your question because I just walked in to clarify that all roads are charged, toll roads and so called "free ways". The taxpayers are given the bill when a new road is going to be built and everyone has to pay for it weather they will use it or not. In some instances, the state have been charging a tax for a road that was finished decades ago and the price for it had long ago been paid in full. Yet they remained charging the taxpayers. That is clearly a rip off to all taxpayers.
I have never heard anyone on the political left say that.
Ever.
At some point, these statements become inane.
I am sure that you have a lot of documentation where people on the political left say that. It would be wonderful if you could post that. Preferably this documentation should come from someone who has learned the difference between left and right.
I guess that means a big NO!, you don't have any data.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
