Do people 'deserve' universal health care?

[lucy]

Well, it's more or less agreed upon that governments need money (of course there's much debate about how much and how to get it and even more about how to spend it, tho. And those debates are necessary.)

If you can't agree with that, well, then you're living in the wrong world. Sorry, can't help you there.

[Thorne]

Well, it's more or less agreed upon that governments need money (of course there's much debate about how much and how to get it and even more about how to spend it, tho. And those debates are necessary.)

If you can't agree with that, well, then you're living in the wrong world. Sorry, can't help you there.

I agree, governments need money. And, while taxing isn't the only way to get it, it's better than outright looting. Not much better, but....

What I would like to see is for the taxpayer to get more say about how that money is spent. Sure, some has to go to defense. And some has to go to government salaries. And there are all kinds of other necessary areas where the money absolutely has to go. But there are also a lot of expenditures which are both unnecessary and undesirable, at least by the average tax payer. I certainly don't want to see my tax dollars being used to bribe foreign officials, regardless of who they are.

So why can't they include an optional questionnaire in the income tax statements we must file, and let the taxpayer distribute that discretionary portion of his tax dollars? So I can, for example, have more of my tax money go to parts of the budget which I deem more important, rather than to paying some so-called artist for pissing on a canvas. Or instead of paying some unwed junkie mother of four an allowance so she can buy another rock of crack. Or instead of giving money to a corporation which didn't have the brains to handle its own finances, and will likely not be able to handle its finances after getting the money.

Perhaps then we'll see more money going to what's really important. And if you think universal health care is important, then you could allocate more of your tax dollars to that.

Sorry for going off on a rant. I don't want to hijack this thread.