tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048405844159177205.post8928598368782543359..comments2023-10-24T09:02:49.903-05:00Comments on The Dimming Torch: Independence DayMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13856294228614073546noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048405844159177205.post-26166324919271030142009-07-06T09:48:31.217-05:002009-07-06T09:48:31.217-05:00It is all about Corporatocracy and not about capit...It is all about Corporatocracy and not about capitalism; it's all about greed and not about the health of the nation; it's all about Wall Street and note, not one SOB has been charged with fiduciary misconduct. The irony is that corporations thump their collective chests and say they are "proud corporate citizens" when, in fact, they go out of their way to seek another tit at the welfare trough and slip off shore to avoid paying taxes.Alice Pattersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14505219960256113462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048405844159177205.post-2574688440058995372009-07-05T16:09:57.303-05:002009-07-05T16:09:57.303-05:00I think you have put your finger on the pulse of t...I think you have put your finger on the pulse of the issue. What is liberty? I don't see how a Public option limits freedom. I do see how private insurance does. Private insurance decides who gets covered and who does not. To increase profits, they must deny care whenever they can get away with it. This means we are NOT free to get full health care coverage.<br /><br />I suppose the choice left under private health care is simply consumer choice: I can buy this product, rather than that product. <br /><br />But my "liberty" means only that I am "free" to be abused by massive and indeed highly bureacratic health care compaines, I don't think it is much of a freedom.<br /><br />I would like to be free - or liberated - from the risk of bankruptcy from medical bills, or the fear of not being covered, or the trap of being without health care coverage. <br /><br />Freedom cannot merely me "consumer choice" which is only a limited freedom controlled and limited by the corporations, it must be freedom from that which enslaves and controls us.<br /><br />I must say, anonymous, I appreciate it your comments. I think they are very thoughtful and enjoy them. <br /><br />Thanks for commenting.Dr. Matthew Wionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06250689234468638382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048405844159177205.post-49287227438895042012009-07-05T15:59:01.209-05:002009-07-05T15:59:01.209-05:00What I would suggest you contrast, then, is your &...What I would suggest you contrast, then, is your "quest for liberty" - which I whole-heartedly agree with, by the way - with your ideas for bigger government. Take for instance, health care. Mandating coverage or creating a giant public option creates security, at the expense of liberty. As a philosopher you know better than I the idea of the exchange of security for liberty in western philisophical thought over the past 2000 years. You may simply define "liberty" as the right to health. I'm not so sure I'd be as liberal in my definition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048405844159177205.post-56283602789059198822009-07-05T00:27:59.251-05:002009-07-05T00:27:59.251-05:00Perhaps that is Fascinating. But I don't want ...Perhaps that is Fascinating. But I don't want to go back to that time or that place or all those particularly "standards." What I want "back" is the spirit of freedom, the desire for a government of the people, the quest for liberty. This, and not their views on slavery and women - for example - are what I'd like to win back.Dr. Matthew Wionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06250689234468638382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5048405844159177205.post-61804060961666028102009-07-05T00:18:16.230-05:002009-07-05T00:18:16.230-05:00"win it back" - this is fascinating to m..."win it back" - this is fascinating to me, since what you would likely be moving "back" to is a time that does not hold up to your fairly liberal standards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com