Don’t forget how he’s gonna reduce insurance costs while making them cover bad-risk clientelle (pre-existing conditions, more types of care, etc.). People seem to imagine the “insurance fat-cats” are just sitting back, jerking off into big piles of money and charging whatever they want for insurance. Meanwhile, the people who pay for the preventive care out of pocket on a free market generally end up spending less than they would on an insurance plan that does it for them. Because doctors who don’t have to deal with insurance can charge less, and because they’re operating in a free market they have an incentive to charge less.
I’m no christian, and I realize the bible is almost nothing but a list of contradictions, but its too bad that the popularly held messiah metaphor doesn’t take on some of its more principled aspects:
Jesus asks for voluntary followers (Rev 3:20) : “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
As a christian you’re never compelled to pay a tithe (2 Corin 9): “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
You’re not entitled to welfare (2 Thes 3:10): “If a man will not work, he shall not eat”
Jesus wanted everyone to own a gun (sword) (Luke 22:36) : “He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one”
Why can’t Christians desire some of THOSE qualities in their politicians?
great hypocrisy check Ryan, and let’s not forget the verse that most applies to this comic, which is “give a man a fish and he eats for a day, *teach* a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime”.
of course alotta liberals aren’t religionists (and neither am i), but that doesn’t detract from the wisdom that’s to be found in some of the verses.
I could swear the “teach a man to fish” thing is not a verse in any book, let alone the bible… I think it is a translation of a chinese proverb… still good stuff though.
I get the feeling from reading the comments here that quite a few of you are Randroids, Ron Paul minarchists, and other sorts of uniquely Amerikan individualists. I am an unreconstructed anarchist to the tips of my toes, but I also happen to be a voluntary socialist. I will cheerfully pull more than my share of the weight so that others, who might not be capable of pulling quite as strongly, can still eat. And quite frankly, if you don’t feel the same way, I don’t want to live in your community.
To quote Errico Malatesta:
“Individualism is, in theory, a kind of Anarchy without cooperation. It is therefore no better than a lie, because liberty is not possible without Solidarity, without cooperation. The criticism which Individualists pass on government is merely the wish to deprive it of certain functions, to hand them over virtually to the capitalists. But it cannot attack those repressive functions which form the essence of government, for without an armed force the proprietary system could not be upheld.” — Errico Malatesta
You darest make fun of THE Obama? Blasphemer!
I haven’t heard such outrageous claims since those stupid Chuck Norris jokes stopped going around.
Don’t forget how he’s gonna reduce insurance costs while making them cover bad-risk clientelle (pre-existing conditions, more types of care, etc.). People seem to imagine the “insurance fat-cats” are just sitting back, jerking off into big piles of money and charging whatever they want for insurance. Meanwhile, the people who pay for the preventive care out of pocket on a free market generally end up spending less than they would on an insurance plan that does it for them. Because doctors who don’t have to deal with insurance can charge less, and because they’re operating in a free market they have an incentive to charge less.
LOL, this is pretty funny… I feel honored for inspiring a little bit of it.
I’m no christian, and I realize the bible is almost nothing but a list of contradictions, but its too bad that the popularly held messiah metaphor doesn’t take on some of its more principled aspects:
Jesus asks for voluntary followers (Rev 3:20) : “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
As a christian you’re never compelled to pay a tithe (2 Corin 9): “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
You’re not entitled to welfare (2 Thes 3:10): “If a man will not work, he shall not eat”
Jesus wanted everyone to own a gun (sword) (Luke 22:36) : “He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one”
Why can’t Christians desire some of THOSE qualities in their politicians?
great hypocrisy check Ryan, and let’s not forget the verse that most applies to this comic, which is “give a man a fish and he eats for a day, *teach* a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime”.
of course alotta liberals aren’t religionists (and neither am i), but that doesn’t detract from the wisdom that’s to be found in some of the verses.
I could swear the “teach a man to fish” thing is not a verse in any book, let alone the bible… I think it is a translation of a chinese proverb… still good stuff though.
There’s that other proverb that I think I like better.
Build a man a fire and he’ll stay warm for a night.
Set a man on fire and he’ll stay warm for the rest of his life.
Come to think of it, if Jesus was so keen, why didn’t he pass out fish sandwiches?
That messiah sure is a crafty guy!
No, the original Chinese proverb translates as,
“Build a man a fire and he’s warm for an hour.
Set a man on fire, and he’s warm for the rest of his life.”
I get the feeling from reading the comments here that quite a few of you are Randroids, Ron Paul minarchists, and other sorts of uniquely Amerikan individualists. I am an unreconstructed anarchist to the tips of my toes, but I also happen to be a voluntary socialist. I will cheerfully pull more than my share of the weight so that others, who might not be capable of pulling quite as strongly, can still eat. And quite frankly, if you don’t feel the same way, I don’t want to live in your community.
To quote Errico Malatesta:
“Individualism is, in theory, a kind of Anarchy without cooperation. It is therefore no better than a lie, because liberty is not possible without Solidarity, without cooperation. The criticism which Individualists pass on government is merely the wish to deprive it of certain functions, to hand them over virtually to the capitalists. But it cannot attack those repressive functions which form the essence of government, for without an armed force the proprietary system could not be upheld.” — Errico Malatesta