Soylent Greenbacks: David Brooks Wants People to Die for Debt Reduction

[Canuckistanian]

To help solve the debt crisis, the best thing I can do is die. Maybe not right now, but certainly before I put too much strain on the public purse—and since I'm 74, that means pretty soon. If I should be lucky enough to contract a fatal disease, I can do the right thing by eschewing expensive medical care that might extend my life. If that doesn’t happen, and I enter a slow and costly decline, then in the interests of the greater good I should take the Hemingway solution.

That's pretty much the message of David Brooks' column in today’s New York Times. "This fiscal crisis is about many things," he writes, "but one of them is our inability to face death—our willingness to spend our nation into bankruptcy to extend life for a few more sickly months."

Here's how Brooks comes by his position: To begin with, he says: "The fiscal crisis is driven largely by health care costs." Never mind two futile wars and 10 years of tax relief for millionaires.


More:
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/07/soylent-greenbacks-david-brooks-wants-some-people-die-debt-reduction

[peacebird]

1. Words fail me.....

:yoiks: :yoiks:

[Moostache]

9. David Brooks = Death Panel supporter - confirmed. (n/t)

[July16th-20th]

12. Yes.

I read the article, and "death panels" came immediately to mind.

[dkf]

2. 50% of a person's entire medical expenses are spent in the last 2 months of their lives.

Does it make sense to do so much when a person is obviously at the end of their life? We need a way to achieve a pain free and dignified passing that recognizes the situation and refrains from excess.

[fredamae]

4. ...and in those two months

What is the quality of life for Most..do they wish to endure their suffering? It's a personal choice. In Oregon we have the DWDA (death with dignity act).

The "christian conservatives" and feds have tried to take it away...
Oregonians wish to Keep it. We passed it into law, it's ours and Anybody who disagrees can simply Choose not to utilize this law. Period.
No one else can measure nor judge the misery, agony and suffering of another.
brooks is an asshole for suggesting this for money---but it should be available for Anyone who Chooses.

[dkf]

5. Well what if that gives another person who isn't terminal more funds to fight their battles?

There is a greater good argument to this too you know.

[fredamae]

7. If an individual makes the ultimate choice

that would be the assumed outcome, but this, again is a personal decision and I would Never accept it being forced. Especially "for the money"..and you know..that if this was ever mandated it would start out with those who are in last stage terminal disease and suffering, then congress would take the issue up again, a couple sessions down the road on behalf of the Insurance Corps and jack it up just a tad..like once the Dr states nothing will help/cure---Nope, it's a "Pandora's box" that should Never be anything more than an individual making their Own personal choices.

Anything else can and likely would Escalate just so more money can be funneled upward to the wealthy and corps---it only makes sense when we look at the way the Greed works. I doubt the money would really be left in reserve for those who follow.

[Hoyt]

18. Agree. This is an issue we will have to deal with some day. Euthanasia would be one solution.

I would love to have that choice if the doc tells me I've got a terminal illness that is going to be very painful and make life very difficult for my family.

[hobbit709]

19. same old one note song.

[Scottybeamer70]

3. I suggest that he

be the first volunteer to show us how it is done!

[Mimosa]

6. What an ugly creep is Brooks.

Yes, there's the Republican health care plan: die soon.

[Puget Progressive]

16. This what I hate about David Brooks

He will write this outrageous crap in his column but when he appears on PBS's "The News Hour" he tones down his rhetoric and tries to make himself out as Mr. Everyman pundit. Glenn Greenwald has written in detail about this right-wing apologist. It is also telling that PBS would continue to have this POS on their flagship news program as a regular political analyst.

[Mrs. Ted Nancy]

8. Alan Grayson was right

"If you get sick in America, this is what the Republicans want you to do: If you get sick America, the Republican health care plan is this: Die quickly," he said. "That's right, the Republicans want you to die quickly if you get sick."


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5353632-503544.html

[Lorien]

10. +1. nt

[go west young man]

11. +1000

[roma1]

14. Alan Grayson was right

It was a good one liner at the time. Alan Grayson was also right to co-sponsor auditing the Fed. Debt has gotten us in trouble big time.

Another discussion forum has solutions that many wont accept to the debt downgrade. "Print Greenbacks". It worked for Lincoln and got us through the Civil War. JFK tried a form of that too with $1 and $5 bills before he died. Hmm.. maybe something in common there?

[Demeter]

13. The Death Not Faced Is The Zombie Banks

Take them off life support, wind them up, give the shareholders haircuts and fire the banksters. Then put them in jail for fraud and perjury.

[blkmusclmachine]

15. What a maroon

n/t

[shanti]

17. a cold piece of work

that david brooks is....shameful. :(

[SusanaMontana41]

20. My goodness. Remember the good ol' days, when "die quicker" was subtext for the GOP?

You know, the good ol' days of a year ago?

"Karma, karma, baby."