http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2763732Oh my.
Atman (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:17 AM
Original message
Why is a national catastrophic PROPERTY insurance plan okay, but health care not?
I don't get it. My wife brought up this point this morning and I can't believe it hadn't occurred to me. The Republicans think it's perfectly fine to call for a national insurance program which would force all Americans to pay into an insurance pool to protect their valuable ocean-front properties, but if we want something similar to protect the health o every American, suddenly it's SOCIALISM!
This is one of the most blatant examples of GOP hypocrisy (not to mention pandering to the Floridians, who genuinely are being hammered by the insurance companies). Why should the people of Minnesota or Kentucky have to pay to subsidize the insurance costs for people who built expensive homes on sandbars or flood plains?
I dunno.
havocmom (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:18 AM
Response to Original message
1. People just = another renewable resouce
And we know how little the powers that be think of renewable resources.
liberal N proud (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:19 AM
Response to Original message
2. Because the construction industry doesn't lobby like the Health Care companies
Simple as that.
I beg to differ.
Isn't the real-estate lobby the largest lobby in America, dwarving everybody else, including the pharmaceutical lobby, the abortion lobby, the motor vehicle lobby, the firearms lobby, &c., &c., &c.?
underpants (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:20 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. AMA
American Medical Association is heavily a Republican supporter too
I dunno.
The American Medical Association
used to be heavily Republican, but alas no more, not since the government started paying for more and more health and medical care, and physicians know who butters their bread.
One suspects most M.D.s these days, because of Lady Bountiful, tend to be Democrats.
And for the record, Pedro Picasso's wife works in medicine, and so has a vested interest in the public treasury; she needs all the paycheck she can get, because having a trophy husband who diddles and dabbles in "art" all day long, he isn't bringing home any bacon.
plcdude (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:20 AM
Response to Reply #2
5. Bingo!
Follow the Money that is all we need to know and do.
zorahopkins (287 posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:20 AM
Response to Original message
4. Property Is More Important Than Mere People
Come on.
You know the answer to your question, don't you?
For many Americans -- especially Americans in power -- property is much more important than mere people.
underpants (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:21 AM
Response to Original message
6. *POOF*
That was my mind being blown.
What an excellent point. Truly insightful. Congrats to your wife
L. Coyote (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:25 AM
Response to Original message
8. Workers are easily replaced. Property is an investment.
TomClash (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:35 AM
Response to Original message
9. Rich people get it.
papau (1000+ posts) Fri Jan-25-08 11:45 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Bingo - no reason for national flood insurance program except for rich ownership of our shores
I dunno.
I suspect the expenditure on medical care--many ailments being caused by
voluntary behavior--would immensely dwarf expenditures on recompensating for damage to property done by natural events.
I'll bet by several times over, as a matter of fact.