A big problem with Sanjay Gupta's logic and that of the right

[LBJDemocrat]

Sanjay Gupta, in between many annoying exclamations of "I get it" on Larry King, attacked Michael Moore for saying single-payer health care is free. According to Gupta, it's not free because ultimately tax money needs to fund it. This argument has two major problems:

1. Taxes don't necessarily need to be raised. Closing loopholes in the tax code that the wealthy take advantage of or cutting spending on corporate welfare and other areas is an option.

2. The bigger problem with it is that cutting taxes isn't really free either. When taxes are cut, there's less money to fund government services and ultimately, the tax burden is shifted downwards.

[aquart]

1. Government is costly when there is no oversight.

Republican government practices no oversight.

Therefore Republican government is costly.

[fencesitter]

2. This "free" thing is misunderstood

It's free in the sense I can go to a doc and a hospital without paying deductables and co-pays. I don't have to pay insurance premiums. But, of course I pay for it indirectly in taxes and/or some indirect charges. So much of "corporate welfare" is given to make U.S. businesses able to compete in a global marketplace where foreign companies are not burdened by health care cost. If corporations didn't have this burden, perhaps they wouldn't need so much "welfare". Oh, and in business-speak, closing loopholes is "raising taxes".

[TankLV]

3. I don't care if it costs a fucking billion dollars a DAY!

We always find the money to pay the WAR CRIMINALS at the drop of a hat - no discussion - no limits...

I don't want to EVER fucking hear ANYTHING about "what it will cost" - EVER!

If they can fund AN ILLEGAL WAR OF CHOICE BASED ON LIES and GIVE AWAY BILLIONS TO THE WEALTHIEST, they can fucking find the money to pay for FREE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE!

GODDAMMIT!

[LiberalFighter]

4. Funding single-payer health care would cost less to employers,

to employees and possibly the government.

How? Reduced administrative costs.

Big losers? Health insurance companies. Too bad!