PM Series: Question 11

[RR1997]

The right to individual autonomy is important, even if it threatens collective security: Usually Agree

The government should penalize organizations that practice outsourcing: Agree (critical issue)

Giving faith-based charities the same government resources as secular organizations is a good idea: Disagree (not critical)

We should increase foreign aid to countries struggling with poverty: Agree (not critical)

We should increase funding for education: Agree (critical issue)

Heterosexual couples should receive higher marital recognition than same-sex couples: Disagree (critical issue)

Overall, free trade hurts more than it helps: Disagree (critical issue)

We should reduce the number of government programs substantially: Disagree (critical issue)

Abortion should be illegal or very heavily restricted: Disagree (critical issue)

The government should fund museums, theaters, and other cultural institutions that are unable to survive independently: Agree (not critical)

My opinion:
EDIT: changed my opinion to usually agree (crit. issue)

[Cassius]

Lean agree (though of course, only for those who are actually poor).

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Usually agree. Critical issue.

You gotta have a heart. I mean, doesn't this question just describe Medicaid? It's an important program and should probably be expanded. Finding the money is another issue, but looking out for each other when it comes to the most basic thing (going to the doctor) is something government should be in the business of doing.

I don't think this is a controversial one.

[Miles]

Usually agree, though I think this question is too vague.

[Maxwell]

Usually Disagree, with the exception of the mentally handicapped.

[Goldwater]

Usually Disagree

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

Agree/Critical.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

So basically we are blaming people for being poor and relegating them to death for it if they get sick. My goodness.

[Grumpier Than Thou]

Agree (Critical)

[Maxwell]

So basically we are blaming people for being poor and relegating them to death for it if they get sick. My goodness.

I think Government should help those who can't help themselves, and that's how I define it. Poverty, as sad a situation as that is, is something that can be turned around.

[Deus Naturae]

Disagree/Critical.

For some reason I always read this as "health care" so I didn't put it as critical but now that I realize it says "insurance" I'm even more strongly opposed to this. Health "insurance" is one of the biggest scams ever...it makes zero sense to pay for events you KNOW are going to happen with insurance. The whole point of insurance is to cover your ass for unexpected catastrophes you can't predict, which is why the first health insurance plans only covered catastrophic health events. Paying for routine procedures like check-ups with health insurance is like paying for an oil change or a tire replacement with car insurance. Sadly, our insurance market had evolved like this to due to a tax code that incentivized giving employees very expansive plans and by Federal promotion of things like HMO's. Obamacare is going to lock us into this system permanently by mandating that all plans cover more than just catastrophic health events. If people actually payed for routine procedures out of pocket rather than through insurance, they could actually compare prices between providers and there would actually be competition in medical care. Unfortunately, government has created a system of pseudo-insurance where a few insurance cartels pay for everything and nobody knows how much they're actually being charged, so there's no competition and costs continue to rise.

[TDAS04]

Agree, critical.  In a country as wealthy as the US, there is no excuse for denying lifesaving treatment to someone who needs it.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Agree/Critical.

[Wake Me Up When The Hard Border Ends]

Usually Disagree

[ElectionsGuy]

Usually Disagree

[IceSpear]

So basically we are blaming people for being poor and relegating them to death for it if they get sick. My goodness.

[H. Ross Peron]

Agree/Critical.

[Rockefeller GOP]

Usually agree, though I think this question is too vague.

This except I'm closer to neutral.

[dead0man]

agree/crit


Nobody should go broke trying to stay healthy.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Agree. It is the only issue in which I am fairly left leaning, and I agree fully with Hagrid. I would prefer a national healthcare system be funded by a sales tax, and that doctors be obliged to report undocumented patients to further discourage illegal immigration.

[TNF]

Agree / Critical

All forms of medical care should be totally free of charge.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

So basically we are blaming people for being poor and relegating them to death for it if they get sick. My goodness.

It may be green soon, but I reject what you're inferring here. I know many elected Republicans aren't in love with Medicaid, but few want to completely eliminate it.

I mean, my girl Susana went through with the Medicaid expansion, so... yeah.

[Flake]

Agree/Critical.

[Rockefeller GOP]

So basically we are blaming people for being poor and relegating them to death for it if they get sick. My goodness.

It may be green soon, but I reject what you're inferring here. I know many elected Republicans aren't in love with Medicaid, but few want to completely eliminate it.

I mean, my girl Susana went through with the Medicaid expansion, so... yeah.

Keep it blue.  Don't let extremists drive you out of a party YOU feel you belong in.  It's better for the GOP and the country for a party to have a wide range of ideologies.

[muon2]

I don't know if the wording of the question was intentional, but there is a difference between subsidizing health insurance and subsidizing health care. Medicaid/Medicare are subsidized health care where the government pays the health care providers directly. The ACA includes a provision for subsidized insurance, whereby the government helps those outside of Medicaid pay for insurance and the insurance company then pays the health care providers. They may seem like the same thing in terms of end results, but there really are quite substantial differences from the cost and benefit management side.