Obamacare

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So if you can no longer work, you no are no longer worth helping out? I'm not really trying to argue, just figure out exactly where you are coming from.
I clawed my way up from nothing, then lost it all due to someone else's mistake. Do the 10 months I spent in the hospital equate to 10 months of not earning the health care I was receiving?

If someone worked for 30 years and then became disabled and unable to take care of themselves independently, have they earned it? How about 20 years? 5?

Well friend trust me.. catastrophic circumstances happen...

I was in perfect health..and was struck with a nerve illness that made the use of my eyes and ears..impossible..

It can happen to anyone..when your number is up..

So if and when that happens you'll learn a little more about empathy..

As an empathy deficit is a common issue among people on the spectrum...

Obviously you have a difficulty there..as you cannot see the pain of other people..and the fact that they do not have have the same gifts that you have been blessed with by the lottery that is life...

Like I said l AM much stronger and smarter than you too...just a safe assumption there too..as I graduated at the top of my class and have three degrees too...

And the s**t still hit the fan...

You have no control in this life whatsoever..enjoy your illusion while you can...

The really smart folks that understand this..support a mix of social welfare and free market economy for obvious common sense reasons..

LIfe's a b***h..at times.. so ya live somewhere where there is insurance..for the rainy day...if you can...

The folks in the US..are fortunate in that way..and because of REAL heroes like Obama and Pelosi..more people are going to be fortunate to be a proud US citizen too...in a country people can be proud of for all the citizens.. disabled or not...

I'm sorry but your attitude disgusts me..
Nothing personal friend...

Do you have a purpose to your expression of contempt?


I agree. Life definitely isn't fair. Some of us have it harder than others. So what?

People shouldn't die prematurely of curable diseases just because they don't have enough money or support. As a society, we should be better than that.

I know exactly where you can go for your ideal society: Somalia.

She said she was unable to get support except through the government. You said that if a person can't get support outside of the government, then they don't have a merit to live.

Don't try to weasel your way out of the implications of your arguments. The way I see it, the most ideal country for you is Somalia.

Hey, I understand your reaction. Depravity on the level displayed by adb is revolting and infuriating, but don't stoop to personal attacks. Believe me, I know it's hard to resist, but resist anyway.

[so what]

Empathy Dude..Empathy...try it..if you ever can...
It's what makes us human...

It's cool being human 2..ya know...?
That's why ya wanna support government assistance..

To help those that cannot help themselves..and really need help from others...

Otherwise..ya ain't got empathy..simple as that..not true empathy anyway...

The kind that doesn't require tit for tat....

That stuff called altruism...that even chimpanzees have...now that science took a closer look...

Humans got it too..most of them that is...

Thank GOD..
and that's why we got health care now for the poor..cause there are still REAL humans out there..who really care..
about their brothers and sisters..who are primates too...the kind with real feelings..that is....

Being unable to work doesn't mean you are no longer worth helping out -- it just means that you need help. And that's okay.

My issue lies in the concept that people are forced to help each other. I strongly disagree with social welfare where participation is mandatory. At the same time, I'm very supportive of social welfare programs where participation is voluntary. I probably donate more than most people on this forum make.

But social welfare, whether mandatory or not, is not something you earn. It's something you are given and should be appreciated.

Let's say person A works hard and contributes $1000 to social welfare. He doesn't receive anything from social welfare system. Now, person B is disabled and can't contribute to social welfare. Instead, B takes $1000 from social welfare. Normally, person A is more than happy to help provide for person B. But if person B comes around and says "I earned that $1000", person A is going to feel resentment and hostility toward person B, since person A is who really did earn it.

If participation is voluntary, person B will need to remember that he is receiving a gift or person A will stop contributing.

We all have hardship in life. Some of us more than others, but everyone struggles. At no point have I said that I don't think people should help each other. I think they should. But I despise being forced to do so.

I can respect that position, but I disagree with it.


These snide comments don't have any productive effect on me, but if they make you feel better, please continue.

I would just like to say that in my experience, very few people who require assistance think they have earned it. Most I have known actually feel varying amounts of guilt and shame that they need to help. I know that I appreciated the unemployment I received for several months. Without it, I would have likely been homeless and helpless.

I understand your perspective of not wanting it mandatory to help others. I really do. But in my opinion, every service that this country's government gives you is mandatory via your taxes. If I dislike the military, food safety inspections, or FEMA, should I be able to opt out of paying my taxes?

Just as clarification..empathy deficits are one of the core issues of autism..and it's not to this individual's benefit in the long run that he obviously has this problem..I'm not sure what anyone here that clearly has empathy for their fellow man can can do to help him..but wish him well...

My health problems put me in a physical scenario where I could not experience the feelings of empathy I felt before I was sick..but never the less I had the logical experience of it to fall back on...

Understanding how it feels not to be able to feel empathy now..I actually have empathy for people who have this biological deficit..

Basically it's like that old saying about Jesus hanging on the cross and telling the other criminals they know not what they do...

People with empathy deficits simply have no clue about the pain of other people..until they experience that pain themselves....

There is always hope I think though..through neuroplasticity and epigenetics that people challenged in this area of empathy can gain these human attributes..

Mine came back finally after five years..the feelings that is of empathy...so perhaps they can start in some people too..who may never have experienced it...

Saying 'so what' when people have pain is a clear indicator of a lack of empathy...people with empathy simply do not do this...

In my experience, it's about 50/50. On this forum, a lot of people seem to think that they deserve assistance, which is equivalent to thinking they earned it.


In my opinion, yes, you should. I don't think any function of the state should be mandatory. We'd find out pretty quick what people really want.

I guess you don't remember posting this?




We have a government administered social safetynet for TWO REASONS (one practical, the other moral):

1) Our economy produces enough excess wealth to finance it.

2) So that the most vulnerable among us are not at the mercy of Social Darwinists and sociopaths.

I do not really "feel" empathy. I practice it, though. I have used personal experience, logic and reason to arrive at the conclusion that empathy is vital to the long-term survival of any group of people. Being empathetic towards those who have become a "burden to the system" can (in the long term) bring someone back into "productive member of society" category, rather than leaving them as a perpetual burden. Even those who cannot become "useful" members of society can still contribute in non-economic ways. And many of those who can no longer work were productive citizens for many years before they could work no more.

I am certain that without assistance when I needed it most, I would be a burden rather than a hard worker in favor of helping those less fortunate, mandatory or not.

NO people with true empathy do not feel resentment when someone has something they do not have..or did not earn when they become disabled...

They simply care for them and wish them the best..

As the worst thing in the world is obviously becoming physically or mentally incapacitated..

That's only common sense too..

Who the hell wants to be disabled..common sense..man...common sense...use it if you can...

I had all the money I could possibly wish for when I fell disabled but would have traded it all just for one second of unrelenting pain..relieved..the same pain ya get if you don't have any novocaine when your teeth are drilled but It is in your eye instead... during all waking hours...

Perhaps you need a life lesson like that..perhaps you'll get it...

Karmas a b***h..sometimes..believe it or not...

Think about it..if you can...really think about it..if you can...

Empathy dude..empathy..I know how hard that can be...

Believe me..or not...I can't prove my subjective feelings...

Only my strengths and accomplishments...

Yes there are many people who do not feel empathy that practice love with their fellow man...

Lots of folks like our combat veteran friend here..that are simply raised that way through positive religions or other structured moral guidelines..

Like some otherwise potential psychopaths..if not raised this way...

That learn a moral code..that does not require much feeling of empathy..at all..

I had too much actual feeling of empathy..which can be a problem too..but potentially more so for the individual that has this trait..and eventually for those individuals who live or work around them..when they no longer can take being around people..

That is what makes this site so interesting..there are autistic people who experience almost no feelings of empathy and those who experience too much...

Usually one will see the pull your self up by the bootstraps on one side and the other folks that want to help people with government assistance on the others side...

A most interesting phenomenon to me as a person who has experienced the extremes of both of this human phenomenon...