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November 17, 2007
At Least We Learned Winslow's Parents Are Alive - And Now Homeless
Yup. Best darn system in the world. Unless you listen to the World Health Organization.
Don't get me wrong - I do think that the U.S. provides some of the best healthcare in the world. We've got great doctors and our technology is top notch. But what good is it if you go into debt the rest of your life if you don't have insurance and suffer some kind of injury or illness?
Today's PC finally brings that up, but after such a confusing an unfunny week it's hardly enough to salvage things. And Stantis tries to have it both ways - he spent part the week criticizing universal healthcare (huge lines, tons of paperwork, lazy doctors) - only after saying we already have that - then today says that while we have the "best darn health system in the world" but also points out that nobody but the drug and insurance companies are saying it's perfect.
Altogether now: what?
Here's a little tip for you, Mr. Stantis: learn how to use the English language. Then take your time to figure out your position on an issue, and use that newfound linguistic ability and state your position clearly and concisely. Something you have yet to do in this comic strip.
Here's where I stand: I think our health CARE is top notch. I think our health SYSTEM is an abomination due to out of control costs.
Here's where you seem to stand: You think our health care is top notch. And you think our health system is the best in the world. But only the insurance and drug companies think it's "perfect."
Do you see where the average person might have a problem understanding you when you talk about of both sides of your mouth? Or maybe you do really think that our healtcare system is awesome and paying outrageous hospital bills is just a tiny nuisance that's keeping it from being perfect. Must be nice living up in that ivory tower of yours.
In other news, Stantis apparently needs shoulder surgery again. I don't know that for a fact, but after looking at the second and third panels of today's strip it seems obvious. Especially that last one - is that supposed to be Winslow? Why is Carmen's face so tiny? And why doesn't he make her bald except for the pigtails considering how big her part has gotten?
But really it's not all bad news: if this past week's storyline accomplished anything, it showed how piss-poor the conservative argument is against universal healthcare. Thanks Stantis for clearing things right up - that you don't have a clue where you stand on the issue, and really have no place commenting on it until you do.
(PS: !Rump 8 Gig!? Where the first exclamation point is upside down? What does that even mean?)
Comments
Furnace, I agree that if this is supposed to be the conservative argument against national healthcare then it is very weak. A better argument against it is that we already have too big of a deficit from such classic Bush money-wasters as the Iraq War to start a national healthcare program that would cost billions if not trillions of dollars.
Actually, although I do not like today's private health insurance system and realize that the idea behind national healthcare is to provide it to those who can't afford it on their own, I don't think that this is the time to implement it. Yes, it is a good idea, and yes, it's about time we have a program like it, but no, we should not do it now. The United States can't afford it. The Bush administration has plunged us too deep into debt, and taxes are already going to be raised as a result of that. Universal healthcare would only make those taxes even higher.
So why Stantis says that we shouldn't have healthcare because of long lines etc. -- things we already have -- I sure don't know. And his dialogue sometimes doesn't make sense. I think the "iRump 8 Gig!" is a reference to the iPod, iPhone, or iTouch. What I don't get is how that pertains to the subject of the strip.
Posted by: Chris at November 17, 2007 10:55 AM
Well said, Furnace. This whole week was a mess of changing story lines and opinions. I think maybe instead shoulder problems, it is really Stantis himself who is stricken with Rumpacaucus Bacillae, the ass-eating virus. That would explain why everything he does is so HALF-ASSED.
(rim shot!) Thank you vey much.
Posted by: John at November 17, 2007 11:08 AM
Nice one, John.
As for moving towards a universal program, I understand that financially it might not be the best time to make the change but hopefully someone will be elected that will start taking the steps in that direction. But I have a different view on taxes - yes, they'll go up for everybody, but keep in mind people won't be paying outrageous healthcare premiums every month, so the hope is those things can come close to balancing each other out. I have no idea what the numbers might be, but logicially I'd think that if we didn't have to pay for private health insurance every month then we could put that money towards health insurance for everyone. Maybe I'm just being an idealist. My one conservative friend would probably call me a socialist (although he doesn't really know what word means). Of course he's the same guy who, when given a choice between sending his daughter to private school or public school, chose the public school "cuz it's free and it's always been that way." Yes, he's a typical Republican. And I gave up trying to explain how wrong he is about that a long time ago.
Posted by: The Furnace at November 17, 2007 11:54 AM
"But I have a different view on taxes - yes, they'll go up for everybody, but keep in mind people won't be paying outrageous healthcare premiums every month, so the hope is those things can come close to balancing each other out. I have no idea what the numbers might be, but logicially I'd think that if we didn't have to pay for private health insurance every month then we could put that money towards health insurance for everyone."
Furnace, that is a good point and I agree that they could balance out nicely. However, that does not take into account the national deficit that Bush has run up. I recently read an article saying that the INTEREST on the national debt alone is equal to about 10% of what all Americans paid in taxes this year. And because the interest is going up, it will soon be 20% of what all Americans pay in taxes. This is the interest we're talking about here, not the debt itself.
As for the healthcare program, I don't know any current numbers right now (the candidates don't want to mention that if they are supporting healthcare like Hillary and Obama are, after all), but I remember reading back during the '04 election that it would cost billions.
So I think that it's a good idea to use the taxes to pay for the healthcare of the less fortunate, sure -- but we'd only be plunging ourselves deeper into debt to pay for it. And would that be a wise decision?
Also, now that Winslow's parents are homeless, maybe next week Stantis will focus on the issue of homelessness (specifically, the homelessness of a lot of US veterans has been in the news).
And on a lighter note, that's a good one John!
Posted by: Chris at November 17, 2007 12:29 PM
Just a nitpick: I believe that was an "iRump 8 Gig"; apparently Apple also makes asses . . .
Posted by: ReFlex76 at November 17, 2007 06:07 PM
