Good metaphor Wiley. Government health care IS a prison that changes citizens into subjects. If only I could be the bureaucrat that decides when it’s YOUR time to die. By then it will be too late for you to learn that lesson.
I always maintained that if I’d killed my ex when he abandoned his three kids and me I’d be out by now and would have had my kids taken care of by the state. Not as good as a real Mom perhaps, but at least they would have got dental care. With no support paid the choice for me was easy; food or dental ?, food always won. I’m still paying and they’ve moved out years ago (except for one). Cashed in my pensions, sold all my jewellry years ago and now still paying off debt.
Happy New Year, Wiley. Your strips are like Rorschach Tests for your readers, and you always know the buttons to push to keep the pot stirred – and we need that to keep our minds sharp. :) You rock!
i believe Wiley’s comment is more aimed at the idea that our worst criminals get free health care while our best citizens get to go without to be covered. I suggest anything else is misreading.
rg must be taking advantage of medical marijuana when he writes. We’ve had federal health care for several decades now and they don’t decide when older folks die. Private insurance companies have practiced that for years by not covering certain surgeries or cancer treatments because they are too costly or “not covered” or by financing nursing home death traps. Please stop repeating long disproven lies. I’ve worked in the health industry and know.
Health insurance companies do NOT provide health care, they only stand between health care providers and those who need it, demanding a profit. There are certain things that society collectively needs to provide for everyone, including fire and police protection, national defense, roads, water, sewers, education, and yes, prisons. Just imagine if we each had to buy private policies to be covered for these. Is health care no less vital? Just because there is a “government plan” doesn’t mean that you can’t buy extra security, private schools, additional health care, etc. if you wish.
To collectively provide the American people with vital basic services is not unconstitutional. In fact, quite the opposite: the Constitution fundamentally exists to organize and provide the very things that society collectively needs, by establishing a government to do so. Is this “socialism?” Call it what you will, but to deny the people these vital, basic services, just to protect the corporate profits of an industry that actually provides nothing but riches to their shareholders, is selective anarchy, extortion, and plutocracy.
I wish that you would take the health insurance industries’ annual profits, and divide that figure by the estimated 40,000+ deaths suffered by Americans each year from lack of health insurance, and see how much money the industry made from each “kill.” Pray that you or your child doesn’t come down with a cancer or other disease, for which there is no plan to pay for. Then ask yourself if you want your money to actually pay for health care, or to be spent buying air time for a parasite industry to tell you why their profits are more important than the lives of you and your children, and to grease the palms of politicians to keep it that way. Then think again if you are really a constitutional scholar, or merely a tool of the health insurance industry.
I believe the point of Wiley’s cartoon here is the irony in that, while we recognize a need to provide health care to the least-respected of people in our society, we don’t see a need to provide it for everyone else.
Health care varies inside, about as much as outside.
Insurance has to collect enough premiums to pay claims plus profit for investors. How is this not a Ponzi scheme?
@zoidamachine
I agree 100% and wish more people thought the same way.
It is interesting to note that the newly elected GOP side is clamoring to get it done away with or de-fund it so there “cash in pocket-I am coming to DC lobbies harder”.
Of course they say there are a few things to like, but its really a sham. I will be interesting the next two years what happens in DC. I am not holding my breath for any “cooperation” but for two years of more fighting and “ca-ta-wallering GOP” statements. The New Speaker has already announced he does not like the word “cooperation or phases like that.”
freeholder 1. more “private” prisons are showing up, and they’re very good at letting murderers escape, as in Arizona, and running up costs yet profits for “operators” as in Texas.
I”ve put people in prison, and known a lot of prison workers and inmates: making the comparison to paying into an insurance plan- like medicare or SS- run by the “government” to being a “prisoner” is like claiming an eagle with a nest and egg, is like a turkey being carved on the dinner table.
As “screwed up” as the government programs I have available are- they’re still more efficient- as in cheaper and with better care, than most “private” providers. The real secret to “single payer” is merely having a larger pool of contributors, to spread the costs out, and reduce “overhead”- like excessive profits to CEOs and “administrators” of “private” plans.
Anyone who’s ever been in jail for any period of time, or in prison would never think those “three hots and a cot” are better than a moment of freedom- especially if they may never see another.
I’m no fan of Obama but you twits are always b+tching about someone trying to help you get to a point where you can make a choice for yourselves and your own wellbeing, but, at the same time, you blindly follow guys like the last administration waving the flag while protecting corporate interests and spreading democracy at the point of a gun
You’d rather build debt for war and let health go down the drain?
Jaroca, the galling thing is that the twits believe lies, pass them on, and make up their own, along similar lines of hate. They hate all things that are not them…They hate their fellow Americans. They want to” take the country back” from us. The last time Americans hated their fellow Americans that much, a lot of people died in a civil war. You may have read something about it.
comicgos almost 14 years ago
Almost makes going to prison WORTH IT!
rayannina almost 14 years ago
Hey, three hots and a cot, right?
Bittermelon of Truth almost 14 years ago
Well of course he’s gonna need free health care. He has to attack someone from time to time if he wants to stay in the state pen!
Coyoty Premium Member almost 14 years ago
With all the injuries you’ll get from the other inmates, you’ll need it.
pbarnrob almost 14 years ago
If he’s in California, he may want to rethink that…
cdward almost 14 years ago
If you think it’s so great in prison, try it. The folks I know who work at them, however, make it sound a little less attractive.
Allison Nunn Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Ummm lack of freedom, other men attacking you (for various desires…), no privacy, bland food (and no choice in it) to name just a few things…..
kilioopu almost 14 years ago
I used to work with someone who had prevoiusly worked in a prison because she said it was a way to meet men.
mikie136 almost 14 years ago
Everyone needs to Flag all spammers
cptvdo1 almost 14 years ago
Good metaphor Wiley. Government health care IS a prison that changes citizens into subjects. If only I could be the bureaucrat that decides when it’s YOUR time to die. By then it will be too late for you to learn that lesson.
MatureCanadian almost 14 years ago
I always maintained that if I’d killed my ex when he abandoned his three kids and me I’d be out by now and would have had my kids taken care of by the state. Not as good as a real Mom perhaps, but at least they would have got dental care. With no support paid the choice for me was easy; food or dental ?, food always won. I’m still paying and they’ve moved out years ago (except for one). Cashed in my pensions, sold all my jewellry years ago and now still paying off debt.
Thanks for the reality check Wiley.
aerwalt almost 14 years ago
Happy New Year All !!
Dry and Dusty Premium Member almost 14 years ago
* @ sayhowURfeelingB4URgone* Re yesterday, thanks!
Nelly55 almost 14 years ago
Happy New Year Wiley!
I hope 2011 is a great as 2010 for Non Sequitur
peter0423 almost 14 years ago
Happy New Year, Wiley. Your strips are like Rorschach Tests for your readers, and you always know the buttons to push to keep the pot stirred – and we need that to keep our minds sharp. :) You rock!
freeholder1 almost 14 years ago
i believe Wiley’s comment is more aimed at the idea that our worst criminals get free health care while our best citizens get to go without to be covered. I suggest anything else is misreading.
freeholder1 almost 14 years ago
rg must be taking advantage of medical marijuana when he writes. We’ve had federal health care for several decades now and they don’t decide when older folks die. Private insurance companies have practiced that for years by not covering certain surgeries or cancer treatments because they are too costly or “not covered” or by financing nursing home death traps. Please stop repeating long disproven lies. I’ve worked in the health industry and know.
zoidamachine almost 14 years ago
Health insurance companies do NOT provide health care, they only stand between health care providers and those who need it, demanding a profit. There are certain things that society collectively needs to provide for everyone, including fire and police protection, national defense, roads, water, sewers, education, and yes, prisons. Just imagine if we each had to buy private policies to be covered for these. Is health care no less vital? Just because there is a “government plan” doesn’t mean that you can’t buy extra security, private schools, additional health care, etc. if you wish.
To collectively provide the American people with vital basic services is not unconstitutional. In fact, quite the opposite: the Constitution fundamentally exists to organize and provide the very things that society collectively needs, by establishing a government to do so. Is this “socialism?” Call it what you will, but to deny the people these vital, basic services, just to protect the corporate profits of an industry that actually provides nothing but riches to their shareholders, is selective anarchy, extortion, and plutocracy.
I wish that you would take the health insurance industries’ annual profits, and divide that figure by the estimated 40,000+ deaths suffered by Americans each year from lack of health insurance, and see how much money the industry made from each “kill.” Pray that you or your child doesn’t come down with a cancer or other disease, for which there is no plan to pay for. Then ask yourself if you want your money to actually pay for health care, or to be spent buying air time for a parasite industry to tell you why their profits are more important than the lives of you and your children, and to grease the palms of politicians to keep it that way. Then think again if you are really a constitutional scholar, or merely a tool of the health insurance industry.
I believe the point of Wiley’s cartoon here is the irony in that, while we recognize a need to provide health care to the least-respected of people in our society, we don’t see a need to provide it for everyone else.
Jaroca2 almost 14 years ago
zoidmachine & all…….
Thank you Captains Obvious.!!!
you prove the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words…………
ChukLitl Premium Member almost 14 years ago
Health care varies inside, about as much as outside. Insurance has to collect enough premiums to pay claims plus profit for investors. How is this not a Ponzi scheme?
jflake10 Premium Member almost 14 years ago
@zoidamachine I agree 100% and wish more people thought the same way. It is interesting to note that the newly elected GOP side is clamoring to get it done away with or de-fund it so there “cash in pocket-I am coming to DC lobbies harder”. Of course they say there are a few things to like, but its really a sham. I will be interesting the next two years what happens in DC. I am not holding my breath for any “cooperation” but for two years of more fighting and “ca-ta-wallering GOP” statements. The New Speaker has already announced he does not like the word “cooperation or phases like that.”
Paul Johnson almost 14 years ago
Hey, Government health care the right can get behind - build more prisons
freeholder1 almost 14 years ago
Adding to Chuk: a lot more private prisons are springing up and they are particularly careful about not providing any services worth mentioning.
Dtroutma almost 14 years ago
freeholder 1. more “private” prisons are showing up, and they’re very good at letting murderers escape, as in Arizona, and running up costs yet profits for “operators” as in Texas.
I”ve put people in prison, and known a lot of prison workers and inmates: making the comparison to paying into an insurance plan- like medicare or SS- run by the “government” to being a “prisoner” is like claiming an eagle with a nest and egg, is like a turkey being carved on the dinner table.
As “screwed up” as the government programs I have available are- they’re still more efficient- as in cheaper and with better care, than most “private” providers. The real secret to “single payer” is merely having a larger pool of contributors, to spread the costs out, and reduce “overhead”- like excessive profits to CEOs and “administrators” of “private” plans.
Anyone who’s ever been in jail for any period of time, or in prison would never think those “three hots and a cot” are better than a moment of freedom- especially if they may never see another.
momazilla almost 14 years ago
In jail, it’s lights out at 10 o’clock. No new year for them. For the rest of you: HAPPY NEW YEAR Y”ALL
lin4869 almost 14 years ago
HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! (Thanks for your thought-provoking work, Wiley!)
aldridgeg almost 14 years ago
With exactly the same quality of caring treatment that we can expect from ObamaCare.
Creniere almost 14 years ago
They get reading lamps now?? Dayummm….
Jaroca2 almost 14 years ago
aldridgeg,
I’m no fan of Obama but you twits are always b+tching about someone trying to help you get to a point where you can make a choice for yourselves and your own wellbeing, but, at the same time, you blindly follow guys like the last administration waving the flag while protecting corporate interests and spreading democracy at the point of a gun
You’d rather build debt for war and let health go down the drain?
What’s up with that?
Varnes almost 14 years ago
Jaroca, the galling thing is that the twits believe lies, pass them on, and make up their own, along similar lines of hate. They hate all things that are not them…They hate their fellow Americans. They want to” take the country back” from us. The last time Americans hated their fellow Americans that much, a lot of people died in a civil war. You may have read something about it.
pouncingtiger almost 14 years ago
Reminder: The prisoners at GITMO got free health care.
lindz.coop Premium Member almost 14 years ago
I only need to do something that will get me 2 years – any suggestions?
It need only be said that all other industrialized nations provide health care for their citizens. What’s the matter with us?