Posted on 11/14/2013 9:44:04 AM PST by C19fan
But Johnny would scoff at that idea. He would surely argue that his life of study and achievement entitled him to the rewards of his personal sacrifice and perseverance. And he would still argue that others (who he personally looks down upon) should not be rewarded for their own behaviors and choices.
“well, everyone except the ruling class - we have to be free to do as we will because fettering us with those same rules would be detrimental to society...”
The desire to over-rationalize life according to an imaginary standard of equality gives rise to lunatic irrationalism of this sort.
How is it a "fair price" if they're already sick? It's nothing but income transfer from the well. This isn't insurance, it's welfare.
I read a lot of Vonnegut years ago, I don’t think I ever read Player Piano. I never read Harrison Bergeron either, I don’t think.
The ones I remember best are Cat’s Cradle (which I really liked, I think I might have read it more than once, very rare for me) and Slaughterhouse Five which I suppose is considered his masterpiece, but my recollection is that I found it very uneven.
Heavens NO!They’re The DemonRat Constituency!!!!!!!!!!!!
So genes are discriminatory?
So they're now saying that some genetic combinations ARE preferable or better than others?
So when we apply that notion to, oh say, violent crime rates... *ahem*
"Slaughterhouse Five" is very imaginative also in its concept of time.
His books are quite funny as well.
“Ice-nine in “Cat’s Cradle” is one of the all-time great sci-fi creations.”
Yes, although I’m not a big sci fi person. I also love the concepts of people being cosmically linked in a “durprass” (just 2 people) or a “karass” (a larger group). That seemed quite true to me.
Another thing I liked about him was that he was the first author I read (and this was in later books I think) who’d describe a character as “white” instead of just having that be assumed.
Eh, I hope that doesn’t make me sound like a lib myself, which I never was; but I did grow up in multi-culti NYC and we’d always describe people as “a white guy” (or a black guy, or a spanish guy, or a chinese guy, NYC was not as multi-culti as it is now)
This meme of the ‘genetic lottery’ is not a new idea.
Guess who coined it?
Warren Buffet. He gave a speech at a legislative breakfast, and the theme was that Buffet had won the ‘Ovary Lottery’, as he called it.
He laid it out:
“I was born white, in the US, to rich parents . . .”
the punch line was - “I’ve done what I’ve done NOT because I’m good, but because I was completely lucky, and as such, I’m ready to have the sh!t taxed out of me.”
I got this account from a former US Senator that was sitting in the room while Buffett gave the speech.
Nothing like having ‘fairness’ imposed on you. Paging Harrison Bergeron.
Interesting point. I never thought of it before, but now that you mention it, I see it.
How about if I pay an arm AND a leg?
I am a genetic lottery winner. Despite multiple health issues in my family tree, including some that I know are serious personal risks, I have kept my health good. I eat moderately and from scratch most of the time. I exercise very seriously six days a week. I don’t smoke (anything) or use drugs. I drink moderately. And, presumably by coi9cidence, my health issues have been minimal. It’s amazing how many people who make healthy choices have won the genetic lottery.
BTTT!
I just don't think there is much more crazy to go.
More "divide and conquer" class-type warfare from the extremist left-wing li(e)berals.
As we're now seeing reported all over the place, those 12,000,000 people (NOT a trivial amount!) aren't just paying "more" ... they're paying 2x, 3x, 4x more for coverage they do not need!
Now let's talk about those with pre-existing conditions such as myself: No, we're NOT being subsidized by the "healthy" - we're also paying 3x - 5x more in premiums PLUS having our deductibles doubled and are also paying MORE for the medications we need.
Add to that the fact that the Obamacare legislation has reduced by 50% the amount that can be put away pre-tax to pay for ongoing medical expenses - yet another TAX INCREASE on those with chronic or long-term health conditions.
Anyone who thinks Obamacare is a "good deal" for those with chronic health conditions is kidding themselves. I fully sympathize with those who are healthy and are watching their premiums skyrocket for no other reason than Obama and his left-wing radical extremists want to "redistribute the wealth" here. It's wrong.
Personally I'm happy paying for my own coverage and paying for what I need & use, don't need the "subsidies" (I don't qualify for them anyway.) The folks I see this bullshit "law" hurting the most are the younger generations who are "subsidizing" (read that: having what little wealth they can create for themselves STOLEN) the older generation.
"Obamacare" is yet another ponzi scheme like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, etc.. It's a productivity killer, economy killer, soul-killer and with its embedded eugenics practice (read that: DEATH PANELS) it's a population killer.
Death panels of a sort, even if you're not sick.
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