> > So you do support socialized medicine. > > raunchydog wrote: > Does Mike support socialized roads, police > and fire departments, public schools as well > as VA hospitals? > Maybe, but I doubt it. Socialized medicine infers that there is universal and free health care paid for by the federal government. Police and fire departments are supported by state income tax.
But Medicare is not a free service - certain deductibles, premiums and co-pays are required for hospital care and entitlement is subject to prior eligible employment criteria. in order to get VA care you have to serve in the military. A better term for the current health insurance reform plan would be "mandatory health insurance paid for with income taxation". In a socialist state there are no taxes and no personal income.