Honest Question- Who do we help and when?

[Rocket]

I am not trying to make a political point or argument here, but I am hoping for a good discussion on the following:

This forum is strongly against nationalized health care, the bank bailout (although many banks have already paid back), helping GM, etc. The main argument is that the government should not be in the business of running these programs. Fair points.

Sean is in California, detailing the terrible plight of the farmers and the fact that CA is not allowing irrigation, whether it is the smelt (stupid reason) or the lack of resources. Farm subsidies is huge government business and has been for a long time.

My question I guess is where we draw the line on "helping" people, and overreaching. If we protect farmers with the idea they are providing the food we eat, why shouldn't we also be interested in having a healthcare system that is equally important to the average American?

[mpodlesny]

nobody is saying that the healthcare system doesn't need some tweaking....what people dont want is the government running the healthcare, just like we dont want the government becoming farmers.

[Thanatos144]

I am not trying to make a political point or argument here, but I am hoping for a good discussion on the following:

This forum is strongly against nationalized health care, the bank bailout (although many banks have already paid back), helping GM, etc. The main argument is that the government should not be in the business of running these programs. Fair points.

Sean is in California, detailing the terrible plight of the farmers and the fact that CA is not allowing irrigation, whether it is the smelt (stupid reason) or the lack of resources. Farm subsidies is huge government business and has been for a long time.

My question I guess is where we draw the line on "helping" people, and overreaching. If we protect farmers with the idea they are providing the food we eat, why shouldn't we also be interested in having a healthcare system that is equally important to the average American?

priorities is what it is about. Farmers feed us. Food is more important than if you can get that new SUV or electric car.

[Rocket]

I totally agree. I didn't suggest putting GM against the farmers, but healthcare is about equal

[Thanatos144]

I totally agree. I didn't suggest putting GM against the farmers, but healthcare is about equal

No it isn't. I haven't had insurance in months. Let me tell you something making me a criminal is not gonna make everything better.

[Rocket]

I also agree with you that giving people a fine does nothing to fix our problems. But, health insurance and costs aren't going to be fixed with the open market- it can't and won't happen. While we don't need government run healthcare, we do need their help in reform, as do our CA farmers

[johnrocks]

Let the free markets decide. Farm subsidies don't help the small family farms, it helps the corporate farmers and it doesn't do anything to put more food on the table, look at the fruits that aren't subsidized and countries who no longer subsidize,their production actually went up.

[Thanatos144]

Let the free markets decide. Farm subsidies don't help the small family farms, it helps the corporate farmers and it doesn't do anything to put more food on the table, look at the fruits that aren't subsidized and countries who no longer subsidize,their production actually went up.

Are you sure you don't live in San Fransisco?

[midwestbelle]

Farm subsidies are not welfare to farmers. They are in place in at least an attempt to control the market prices for various commodities. So these are economic decisions, not "Help."
As far as who or whom to help, the Government in supporting the general welfare needs to assist in providing something that we can not for ourselves, at least that is my definition.
Healthcare is not one of those.

[UK Glenmont]

Farm subsidies don't help the small family farms, .

i dont know, back in the 80's my friends dad was getting paid to NOT milk his cows.

he pretty much retired and cashed his government checks.

he had 200 head of holsteins.