STUMPTALK: Who should pay for my health care?

By Jerry McDonough / Chronicle contributor

April 28, 2008 03:43 pm

— As a moral and ethical issue, who should pay for my health care?
I have never heard this question asked by government, candidates or anyone else, for that matter, but then it seems no one speaks about ethics and morals anymore, either.
I think Warren Buffet or some of his international billionaire buddies with their international portfolios should pay. After all, many are American or have extensive holdings in America and can well afford to pay. So that gives me a moral claim on these rich guys’ assets, right? And, if they refuse to pay, then the people's federal government can put a lien on their assets until they do pay. That is only fair. After all, they have so much and I have so little by comparison. Aren’t we all in agreement here?
But, is it really in my self interest to seize rich guys’ money? Is it ethical? Most of these billionaires invest their money in industry and commerce while living quite modestly, meaning their lives won’t change much if the people’s federal government seizes some of their public assets. But what will change is wages won’t be paid and taxes won’t be collected once that money for my health care is taken out of the market place. The result is many other people’s lives will change for the worse because it won’t just be my health care these rich guys are paying for, but many people’s health care.
But, why are we only talking about billionaires, or mere millionaires? If my need is a claim, is it not therefore a lien on everyone’s assets because, after all, many workers have more than I have. What if others began in the same circumstances that I did, but they worked harder, went after a better education and saved more? Should that matter? When I receive Medicare, even the minimum wage earners will be paying for my health care. Is that fair?
Try as I might, I am unable to think of another way to parlay my needs into a claim against other people's assets, incomes or productive capacities, no matter their wealth. But if needs were claims, then the greater needs equal greater claims. Needs and claims are not a function of geography or citizenship, but one of humanity. Many people in the world live on $1 per day and, surely, they must have a greater claim on the world’s wealth. Is this why Bill Gates is giving his charity health dollars to Africa rather than to uninsured Americans? Should not the rest of us follow his example? After all, we have so much and much of the world has so little.
Again I ask, who should pay for my health care?
Maybe I should. What a novel thought. It has worked in the past.
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Stumptalk is published weekly in the Crossville Chronicle. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Chronicle publisher, editor or staff. Phil Billington serves as coordinator of this column. He may be reached at 484-2766.