Originally Posted By: King Snarf
Now, I'm genuinely curious as to people's opinion on this- what's the difference between socialized security (the police and other law enforcement agencies) and socialized medicine? Why is one good and proper and the other a sign of Communism? After all, everyone gets free police protection, but, if you're wealthy, you can splurge and get a personal body guard or private investigator. How is that any different?


Several reasons.

The police and the fire department are an emergency service. People don't have to pay for them (except through taxes). However, there are many protective services those agencies don't provide (for example, 24 security around their homes, hard wired fire alarms into dispatch and/or bodyguard services). If someone wants services beyond the taxpayer funded ones, they can contract with private agencies at their own expense. Essentially, a "wealthy" person has the freedom to chose whatever they want and can pay for while a "poor" person still receives the benefit of the basic emergency service.

Like the police and fire department, we have emergency medical care which is taxpayer funded. It includes free treatment at emergency rooms, ambulance services and public assistance. However, there are many medical services which aren't provided (for example, elective surgeries, designer eyeglass frames, cosmetic procedures). If someone wants services beyond those taxpayer funded ones, they can contract with private doctors at their own expense. Essentially, a "wealthy" person has the freedom to chose whatever they want and can pay for while a "poor" person still receives the benefit of the basic emergency service.

The idea of socialized medicine is that the government pays for all services (or at least those it deems "worthy") and effectively (either through legislative fiat or through the elimination of private competition) prevents people from having the freedom to make decisions outside the government realm.

Furthermore, the police are taxpayer funded because they are AN ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT YOU STUPID FUCK. Their whole purpose in existence is to ENFORCE GOVERNMENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS. They aren't working for individuals they are working for THE PEOPLE to see that the laws are carried out fully and fairly. Therefore it makes perfect sense for THE PEOPLE to pay their salaries.

This is different than doctors who are providing A PERSONAL, SPECIFIC, SERVICE TO AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON.