The Adversary Never Sleeps: politics from Outer Darkness

[_moksha]

They are always telling us at Church that the adversary wants to tempt us. What better way than to offer us a political philosophy which emphasizes the personal greed of the individual rather than social justice for all?

[_subgenius]

render unto Caesar....

[_richardMdBorn]

They are always telling us at Church that the adversary wants to tempt us. What better way than to offer us a political philosophy which emphasizes the personal greed of the individual rather than social justice for all?

.

Consulting Adam Smith and C. S. Lewis:

Smith

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.

Lewis

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval
of their own conscience.

ObamaCare - screwing the Middle Class out of healthcare while pretending to protect them.

[_Quasimodo]

They are always telling us at Church that the adversary wants to tempt us. What better way than to offer us a political philosophy which emphasizes the personal greed of the individual rather than social justice for all?

.

Consulting Adam Smith and C. S. Lewis:

Smith

It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.

Lewis

Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated, but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval
of their own conscience.

ObamaCare - screwing the Middle Class out of healthcare while pretending to protect them.

Why would anyone care what someone surmises might be what Adam Smith (an eighteenth century economist) and C.S. Lewis (an Oxford professor of medieval studies) would say about National Health Care?

It probably never crossed Smith's mind in the 1700's.

Anything that Lewis said about history might be worth a read. I've read his fiction and I think it is far overshadowed by his good friend Tolkien's work. I think his single greatest accomplishment was becoming Tolkien's friend.

I find Lewis' philosophy and fictional writings a little banal.

[_richardMdBorn]

Why would anyone care what someone surmises might be what Adam Smith (an eighteenth century economist) and C.S. Lewis (an Oxford professor of medieval studies) would say about National Health Care?

It probably never crossed Smith's mind in the 1700's.

Anything that Lewis said about history might be worth a read. I've read his fiction and I think it is far overshadowed by his good friend Tolkien's work. I think his single greatest accomplishment was becoming Tolkien's friend.

I find Lewis' philosophy and fictional writings a little banal.

Healthcare today suffers the problem that it is too socialist in nature. Prices are difficult to determine. Obamacare makes it worse. I would prefer to rely on the self interest of my doctor rather than the supposed benevolence of IPAB. Many lies were told by Obama and others during the Health Care debate. I'm sure that they think they were doing it for our own good.

[_Quasimodo]

Healthcare today suffers the problem that it is too socialist in nature. Prices are difficult to determine. Obamacare makes it worse. I would prefer to rely on the self interest of my doctor rather than the supposed benevolence of IPAB. Many lies were told by Obama and others during the Health Care debate. I'm sure that they think they were doing it for our own good.

At the moment, there is very little or no socialism in U.S. health care. I've work in and tangentially with health care for more than thirty years.

If you don't care that thousands of people die needlessly every year because they don't have health insurance (I've seen it) then I guess your opinion works.

If you care about people (other than yourself) some sort of national healthcare is needed.

[_richardMdBorn]

Healthcare today suffers the problem that it is too socialist in nature. Prices are difficult to determine. Obamacare makes it worse. I would prefer to rely on the self interest of my doctor rather than the supposed benevolence of IPAB. Many lies were told by Obama and others during the Health Care debate. I'm sure that they think they were doing it for our own good.

At the moment, there is very little or no socialism in U.S. health care. I've work in and tangentially with health care for more than thirty years.

If you don't care that thousands of people die needlessly every year because they don't have health insurance (I've seen it) then I guess your opinion works.

If you care about people (other than yourself) some sort of national healthcare is needed.

So people know exactly what treatments cost? I think the problem with healthcare is that we don't have enough IRS agents. I'm so glad that Obamacare solves that by hiring 16,500 more. I can see health care improving by the minute. And making life more difficult for doctors will solve the problem of too many people by greatly increasing wait times. Obamacare is like the Soviet Union's 1936 Constitution. It gives lots of theoretical rights. Finding a doctor and actually getting healthcare will be the problem. But you've got a policy!
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/ ... ark-steyn#

[_Albion]

Do you have an answer to the problems of healthcare in America or do you just have a distaste for the efforts of others to try to solve those problems? I don't know if the Affordable Healthcare Act will solver the many problems that exist but I don't hear many alternative solutions being put forward.

[_richardMdBorn]

Do you have an answer to the problems of healthcare in America or do you just have a distaste for the efforts of others to try to solve those problems? I don't know if the Affordable Healthcare Act will solver the many problems that exist but I don't hear many alternative solutions being put forward.

I would push tort reform and the ability of companies to write policies in multiple states without needing approval from each state. Also, I would encourage people to buy high deductible policies. People who are spending their own money tend to make wiser (and cheaper) decisions. I am a property and casualty actuary (FCAS).

[_Quasimodo]

Do you have an answer to the problems of healthcare in America or do you just have a distaste for the efforts of others to try to solve those problems? I don't know if the Affordable Healthcare Act will solver the many problems that exist but I don't hear many alternative solutions being put forward.

I would push tort reform and the ability of companies to write policies in multiple states without needing approval from each state. Also, I would encourage people to buy high deductible policies. People who are spending their own money tend to make wiser (and cheaper) decisions. I am a property and casualty actuary (FCAS).

And your solution for the millions that can't afford medical insurance even with large deductibles? Who are not provided with insurance by their employers?

I have two actuaries in my extended family. One (brother-in-law) you would have heard of if I mentioned his name. We chat about this a lot. Neither would agree with you.