Chode

Lately, I haven't spent much time on any political forums because the majority of them resemble a circle jerk with about 6 guys standing around squirting out commentary that's almost uniformly devoid of critical thought and reasoned argument.

This thread is a perfect example. Browning's video starts out with the dramatic presentation of Faye Chao who makes $2300 a month (tax free by the way she says) and she doesn't have health insurance. Her rent is $475 and her utilities bring her basic expenses to $530 a month. Faye doesn't think she needs health insurance and questions why she should have to pay for healthcare anyway. Browning says she can get insurance for $96 a month.

Right out of the gate, there are a few points that should raise an eyebrow or two.
1. Just how does Faye make $2300 a month tax free?
2. Where does Faye live that she can get by with only $475 a month rent?
3. Faye could get health coverage for $96 a month
4. How does Faye's situation relate to the needs of other Americans.

As to question 1., Browning's web site doesn't offer any documentation. We just have to believe that Faye Chao makes a tax-exempt $2300 every month because Browning says so. Without evidence.

As far as Faye's rent goes, I'm thinking its pretty hard to find any kind of digs for $475 a month anywhere. Presumably, the interview wasn't filmed in Faye's apartment, because it doesn't look like a porta-potty.

Browning maintains that Faye can get health coverage from an unrevealed company, with an unrevealed level of coverage in a unrevealed state for $96. Well, that's pretty hard to argue with, since we are essentially given ZERO information to dispute.

And that brings us around to point number 4. Even if we take all of Browning's interview with Faye Chao as "real" and not just a cheap, transparent attempt to manipulate the emotions of the viewer, how is Faye's refusal to purchase insurance relevant to the issue of American's who don't have health insurance and can't qualify for programs like Medicare and Medicaid? How about "not at all".

See, many American's don't have health insurance through work, and make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, and still find it hard to pay for private insurance. Browning makes several assertions about the demographics of the uninsured, for which he presents no evidence, and some of the most dubious points would have to be his assertions about upper income groups who are uninsured. Is it just me, or do you wonder how anyone making $75 grand a year or better has no health insurance whatsoever? Again, as in all of Browning's assertions, he has no references to back his statements.

Anyway, Browning assures us that anyone who really needs treatment can just go to the Emergency Room. As though Emergency Room visits for minor ailments don't cost taxpayers a fortune. And Emergency Room visits aren't going to cover long term problems like cancer and diabetes.

And finally, drew, you make one of the most offensive and self serving remarks I ever read on this forum when you say that "There are already social programs that states and the fed provides... When I was on unemployment I was offered healthcare thru the state. I didn't use it because I have insurance thru the VA."

Hey, when you were broke and out of a job, you qualified for Medicaid (a Federally funded program) but you didn't need it because you were covered by the VA (yet another Federally funded program). So, who needs Federal health coverage, right?