Originally Posted by Amputate Your Head

I think the right has been crying about socialism off & on for a long time.

Interestingly, I recently had a die hard republican in my home a month ago who did their usual thing... raised his fist, shook his head and said, "It's Socialism!" about the topic of the health care issue. He could not however, explain his position on it beyond that word. He had no foundation, principles, stance, take-on-it, opinion or otherwise that made any sense whatsoever. This person is also retired, receiving Medicare & Social Security. He saw no hypocrisy at all in collecting from the socialist pool. He only has issues with paying into it.

His argument was, "We don't need to give all these people health care, they can go to the ER."

I asked, when they have no insurance and can't pay for it, what happens?

He said, "It's free, you don't have to pay."

Free indeed. More like, they bill you until they send you to collections, destroying your credit and possibly landing you in bankruptcy, OR.... we, the masses PAY for it. And how is that any different (read: better) than simply providing everyone with health care to begin with.

Anyway.... there was much more dialog of course, but you get the jist. The person was utterly without a compelling debate of any kind, but was militant about that word: "Socialism!" because it had been drilled into his head over and over and over by the crazed right propaganda machine.