It often confuses me why so many in my "helping professions" are Lefties. In fact, it probably makes more sense for us all to be Libertarians at heart. Like many Maggie's people, I am sort-of Conservative-Libertarian, if that makes any sense to you.
What it means is that if people want to smoke, or to get fat and out of shape, or play with guns, or shoot animals, or watch TV or play video games all day, or do reckless or stupid things, it's fine with me as long as it doesn't cause me any personal trouble or impinge meaningfully on my family's life. Does tax-funded medical care alter that balance?
Adults make their own decisions. I don't care a whit what other people do. The main thing that bothers me, socio-politically, are those who have somehow concluded that they are my betters and believe that they have a better plan for my - and for your - life. Such people often gravitate to government careers where there is some power to be wielded. We used to term such people "cranks," but cranks have gone mainstream.
Desire for power over others is almost a sickness, or is a sort of sickness (except for parenthood). The desire for freedom for others is, I believe, a virtue. (In case you wonder, I am against the criminalization of drug use despite believing that it is a poor life plan.)
That's a fairly-consistent Maggie's Farm theme, isn't it? Experts tend to lack common sense.
Case in point: Harvard Prof advocates government coercion to deal with obesity.
How about a little government coercion to deal with intrusive, annoying, nanny state busybodies who would claim to have either a) my best interest or b) the Greater Good, in mind? The world is run by crazy people.
