Beyond that, our health program, while not officially ‘public’ has been VERY socialized, and that has been big part of the problem.

Also, you would do well to look at our new health program. It was written by insurance company executives. Insurance companies saw their stock go up after it passed. This bill REQUIRES people to by private health insurance. It also caps payouts.

I’m afraid you have allowed yourself to believe the lies of the government.

The most important skill adults can have in these times Elle is skepticism. You can’t afford to mindlessly trust the government, or anyone else.

You say, ” all regimes, when they become large and unyieldy, are oppressive and scary. Including our own.”

I agree, but unlike you I don’t assume that just because the government says it wants to give me “free” health care means that it really wants me to have health care, or that it will be free.

None of these people are your friends Elle. They don’t have your best interest at heart. And if they are trying to “give” you anything, you should run like hell (if you can).

-Ken

I also do not fear “communism” at all. I saw the collapse of the Eastern block live and in person. I have family who lived behind the iron curtain. I have traveled extensively in China. All political regimes, when they become large and unyieldy, are oppressive and scary. Including our own. Why? Because the system has more rights than the human being. The scale is monstrous and the system has no soul or moral obligation the way a human being does. Mob mentality can afflict any system, not just the communist boogie.

The US is the only Western country NOT to have a public health program. It was inevitable and necessary. If & when we go bankrupt, it won’t be b/c of the healthcare program…our economy is a house of cards b/c of the greed of the huge industries that run everything with their lobbies and influence. Goldman Sachs is hardly significant given the company they keep.

Your post was about technology and an approaching singularity. I was trying to make the point that technology’s rapid advance may be inevitable, but I hope not, because without the soul of man, we (earth, humanity) lose alot.

The British have been regressing since the 50′s and for many of the reasons that we are now regressing socially. Attempting to play world police, living beyond their means, massive third world immigration, etc.

In fact, in all those areas, we are doing far worse than Britain.

I laud your concern for other people Elle, but if you think “Obama is trying to do something for the millions of Americans…” I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s not so.

Obama is first and foremost a creature of Goldman Sachs and Wall Street. They were the heaviest contributors to his campaign (which is why he has gone along with all their TARP schemes). And yes, even more than for McCain.

By the way, the health care bill as passed still leaves about 30 million people uninsured, even according to the Dems.

As for compassion, the problem that people like you have, and have always had, is that you think ‘compassion’ can be legislated and that somehow progress detracts from compassion.

Even if we could stop the march of human progress, we would never solve all human problems or give every one adequate care (whatever you may think that means).

This is what I was referring to in my post about “commies not heeding the lessons of history.” Go study some history. This has been addressed many many many times. You are not the first person to make these points. This is a lesson that can never be fully grasped for some reason. Why do you think communism failed?

Evil is as evil does, and communism is an evil philosophy precisely because of the evil it does, not because of whatever good intentions the rank and file may have. The people pushing various communist schemes (yes, even those who don’t think they are commies) are typically the well meaning but useful idiots whose lack of life experience, mathematical ignorance, or just plain sentimental overload, prevents them from seeing that the worst thing you can do to someone is to turn them into a supplicant of the State.

-Ken