What is the difference in government providing emergency relief and providing healthcare?

[phylny]

Is this a false equivalency? Our tax dollars pay for us to be safe from foreign attacks, safe from criminals, safe from fire, and safe during natural disasters. Why do those on the right think (generally) that can we pool our resources to save our citizens from floods, but not save us from disease?

[ck4829]

1. I've always wondered that myself

If someone from another land were to wash up on this shore and start stabbing people with a bayonet, then the government has a responsibility to stop that person.

However, change the thing killing people into bacteria or cancer, and it's OK to tell people "Not my problem", it actually doesn't make very much sense.

I really believe though, that our healthcare system in the US has less to do with treating illness and injury, and more with social control. With that frame in mind, now one can see why they call it the "greatest healthcare system in the world", because it supports the dominant narrative.

http://tpalladium.freeforums.net/thread/19/intro-evidence

[msongs]

2. because congress persons have ace health care and refuse to recognize ppl who dont? nt

[Eliot Rosewater]

3. There is only one reason we dont have single payer, rightwing middle class voters

who are easily lied to and believe those lies.

We are doing this to ourselves.

Real fucking dumb.

[BigmanPigman]

4. People get ill individually and privately while disasters are public and

involve more people in a particular and specific time frame. The media is partially to blame.

There is no sincere concern or empathy from any GOP rep unless it directly effects them, their agenda, their constituents and their bank account.

[CrispyQ]

5. What's the point of a national defense budget if you don't care for your citizens?

It's a difference of world view - the YOYOs vs the WITTs. Your On Your Own vs We're In This Together.