http://valuesconnection.thehastingscenter.org/2009/11/06/why-freedom-is-the-key-to-health-care-reform/ The Values and Health Reform Connection is an open conversation, a group blog, and a nonpartisan effort to spark a rich discourse on fundamental values in health reform. It is hosted by the Hastings Center, with Health Affairs as media sponsor. Sun, 31 Jul 2011 20:21:11 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://valuesconnection.thehastingscenter.org/2009/11/06/why-freedom-is-the-key-to-health-care-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Rob Roschewsk Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:52:01 +0000 http://valuesconnection.thehastingscenter.org/?p=280#comment-174 The problem with your argument is you assume everyone in our country is as educated, informed and as practical as yourself. In a country obsessed with reality TV, video games and junk food that has led to obesity becoming an national epidemic do you really think the majority of Americans are responsible enough to make all of these health care choices themselves? For example we have known for decades the effects of smoking, yet with government regulation, education and exorbitant taxes people still choose to harm their bodies by smoking. How can we expect people as such to make sane health care choices? Your utopia of absolute freedom sounds like a race to the bottom. Comprehensive health care in our country should be a basic right just the way primary education is. If you don't like the basics, you always have the freedom to use your disposable income to purchase more. The problem with your argument is you assume everyone in our country is as educated, informed and as practical as yourself. In a country obsessed with reality TV, video games and junk food that has led to obesity becoming an national epidemic do you really think the majority of Americans are responsible enough to make all of these health care choices themselves? For example we have known for decades the effects of smoking, yet with government regulation, education and exorbitant taxes people still choose to harm their bodies by smoking. How can we expect people as such to make sane health care choices? Your utopia of absolute freedom sounds like a race to the bottom. Comprehensive health care in our country should be a basic right just the way primary education is. If you don’t like the basics, you always have the freedom to use your disposable income to purchase more.

]]> http://valuesconnection.thehastingscenter.org/2009/11/06/why-freedom-is-the-key-to-health-care-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-159 John Eley Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:21:10 +0000 http://valuesconnection.thehastingscenter.org/?p=280#comment-159 Thank you for this eloquent defense of freedom. I encourage you to take on Bruce Jennings in this debate as he is using a distorted concept of liberty to promote equality via a redistribution of wealth. I have done what I can to challenge him directly in the section of the blog on liberty and I hope that you will do so as well. I think that your post needs to be a direct comment to Jennings' essay on liberty. I thank you in advance for doing this. Thank you for this eloquent defense of freedom. I encourage you to take on Bruce Jennings in this debate as he is using a distorted concept of liberty to promote equality via a redistribution of wealth. I have done what I can to challenge him directly in the section of the blog on liberty and I hope that you will do so as well. I think that your post needs to be a direct comment to Jennings’ essay on liberty. I thank you in advance for doing this.

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