Wednesday, February 17, 2010

by scott

I just don't understand the benefits of a social-welfare state. Can someone help me understand it? (random post I know, but i couldn't think of anything deep and felt it was better to post than to not post at all.)

2 comments:

  1. I can do my best. and as always, i will relate to things that i am learning right now. for instance, due to the increased technologic effectiveness of the civil war weapons and the fact that medical technology did not keep up, many soldiers had their limbs (or lower halves) amputated. So what is to be done with these men after the war is over? There ability to participate in many of the jobs of society is greatly limited (especially in the 19th century). Are they to be left to fend for themselves when they were drafted into a fight they would not have otherwise joined? I feel that it is the responsibility of the government, the same government that drafted these men into service, to take care of them when that forced service that had such devastating and debilitating effects.

    Here is another one: One of my roommates recently had to have his appendix taken out. As a relatively healthy 28 year old who is only working part time, he does not have health insurance. He was able to get covered after the surgery by MediCruz, a medical welfare org down here. Had they not covered the surgery it would have cost him $30,000! (i wanna say it was 60,000 but i'd rather not be that wrong. not to mention that 30,000 is a huge cost anyways). He is just one person who could maybe afford to pay for some insurance, maybe not, i don't really know his finances. But then you've got your families that can't afford coverage, etc etc.

    And then there's old people. But i won't get into it. I support the idea of America supporting America, supporting the people who live here, who struggle here to make ends meet and support their families. That is probably naive but i have to say, it is just as naive as the idea that you only have to work hard in this country and you'll make it.

    So after all that hot air, I will pose the opposite and appropriate question: what are the drawbacks to a social welfare state?

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  2. I'm going to think more about this and format my thoughts in a better way. I was writing a response, but it was messy and all over the place. I will get to this topic, because it is the subject between the two Americas in politics and life that we face today.

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