Frederick summarizes:
===========
there was my personal
decision to be born in a modern industrial and "civilized" country
that lacks a civilized health care system. I don't know, a
single-payer, national health plan sounds like the more sensible,
manageable, efficient and affordable system.
================

Frederick, I get the impression from Scott's posts that he has no
responsibilities for anyone other than himself. I suspect he can't even
begin to comprehend what it might be like putting children through
school and worrying about their health.

Many years ago, when I was in my early twenties, and well before I had
kids, I used to spout such nonsense too. I used to read Ayn Rand and
pontificate at length about personal responsibility, and "tough ****"
on those who can't fend for themselves, and "who asked you to have
kids" and everyone should pay their own way and blah, blah, blah.....

AND THEN I GREW UP!

And then I realised that we're all in this together and that we are all
interdependent. That we are only as strong as our weakest link (BTW, I
understand that's a basic tenet of military tactics -- how very
socialist!). I learned to make connections: perhaps if my neighbors
kids were well educated and healthy, I wouldn't have to worry about
them vandalizing the neighborhood. Perhaps if my neighbors could all go
to the doctor as required, I would have less to fear from contagious
diseases.

CONNECTIONS. I wish Scott could make the connections. Geez he must live
in a sad and lonely, heartless world!

Cheers,
Wilf