I've got your death panel right here...

We shouldn't have publicly funded health care.

Why?

Because, if we do, the government will need to manage the costs paid out to recipients. This will motivate them to adopt policies that will restrict care which could save people's lives. For example, they could have end of life counseling sessions where they recommend inexpensive pain treatments rather than more expensive life-sustaining treatment.

So, because of this possibility, we should not offer publicly funded health care?

Right.

What happens to people that need health care, then?

They get it covered by private insurance companies.

What if they cannot afford private insurance?

They will get it from their employer.

What if their employer doesn't offer it?

They will have to buy it themselves.

No... we already asserted they couldn't afford private insurance.

Oh, well they will pay for medical costs out of pocket, then.

The main purpose of insurance is to cover medical costs you cannot afford out of pocket, or at even at all. Yes, some plans offer more than that, but the primary service is to address the affordability problem by spreading the cost around. So, we are talking about expenses, which by definition, this person cannot pay for out of pocket - and in many cases could not pay for without completely losing everything in terms of their home, house, etc. Also, many medical situations make a person unable to work, further decreasing their ability to pay. How will they pay for the medical care then?

Um... well... you see because the taxpayers aren't paying for a public option...

You cannot use that because it hasn't happened yet, and we are talking about a realistic hypothetical example that happens now. If the taxpayer burden for public health care has not been imposed yet you cannot suddenly give all that money to our person needing care at this moment.

Well, I mean, isn't that their fault for not getting a better job?

Let's ignore the culpability of this individual for the moment. We'll get back to it.

Do you promise, because I really wanted to...

I know you did. I promise. But let's ask the question, what is going to happen to them?

I guess they just don't get the medical care they need.

Correct. Then what happens?

Well, I guess it depends on what they have.

Okay, so if you had Leukemia, what would probably happen if you didn't get treatment.

You would die.

Okay. So, a likely result is death, correct?

Yes.

All right, and this death happened because why?

The Leukemia.

Well, yes, you are correct, but why wasn't the Leukemia treated?

Really, isn't that their fault for not getting a better job?

Hold on. We aren't talking about culpability of the individual yet. I know you want to talk about that, but I promised we would get back to it. So, why didn't the Leukemia get treated?

Because the person didn't have the money.

Okay, and why didn't they have the money?

Well, their job... you see... and...

Okay, I know what you want to say. We will get to that. But, when they didn't have enough money on their own, did the government give them the money?

No.

Right. And would it be correct to say that the government didn't give them the money because, as policy, the government doesn't have a public health plan?

Yes.

So, in effect, this was a decision. This decision was that people are on their own to provide for their own medical insurance. If they cannot, the government will not help. Is it fair to say that this decision was driven by cost reasons?

Yes! Yes! Oh... yeah, now you get it!! You see, taxpayers people cannot be expected to pay for the health care of others who cannot afford it!!

Right. So cost reasons.

Oh, I am so glad we agree on that point! Now you are getting it!

I am glad too. Now, what was wrong with death panels? Why wouldn't they offer treatment to peopled needing health care?

It was because they would be motivated to control costs... um...

Yes?

Well...

You said "Motivated to control costs...", in other words because of cost reasons, correct?

Hey, um...

So, in effect, the decision not to provide publicly funded health care is really providing the same functional purpose as a death panel. It is making decisions, as a matter of policy, and independent of the decisions that a doctor and a patient make together in the best interests of the patient, what medicine to provide and what not to provide. All of these decisions are motivated purely by cost interests. So, by matter of definition, we have a death panel in place right now. Please remind me, is a death panel a good thing, or a bad thing?

Hey, wait - but this person... it's their fault! They should have worked harder, studied harder, got a better job, saved more money instead of spending it all on beer and donuts and getting a big fat ass and making me, a responsible taxpayer, cover their expenses.

Ah. You talk as if you know this person very well. Do you?

Well, no, but come on, look at most people, see how they behave! They don't deserve it! They're all a bunch of whiners.

Oh, statistics! You want to work with statistics!

Yes! I mean, it isn't morally right to have a bunch of lazy bums sap money from people who work hard.

Okay, so we should use statistics to determine who deserves health care.

Yes, let's be scientific.

Guess who else uses statistics to decide who deserves health care.

Rush Limbaugh?

I don't know. But I know who else. A death panel.

Hubba... wha?

A death panel looks at demographics, behavior, cost of success of procedure and other factors and decides who gets treatment and who does not. You seem pretty ready to whip out statistics right now. How do you feel about a death panel telling you that you are a good person or a bad person, or that you deserve to die because the medical condition you have is something you brought on yourself.

I would be really upset... but...

So, if we have defacto implemented a death panel by not providing public health care, and if the proponents are justifying this decision, as you just did, by suggesting that people cannot afford medical coverage because of something they brought on themselves and therefore do not deserve it, well, it seems that the death panel is indeed doing that very thing. How does this make you feel.

You're a Liberal!

I am confused. Is that an actual response to the question?

Communist! You are a socialist pinko.

No, I don't think that was an actual answer. I think that was a personal attack. Our conversation is still incomplete without your answer...

You're a Nazi! You want to suck the pocket books of the people dry!!!!

Now you are confused. The Nazi movement was anti-Communist, so accusing me of being both doesn't really make sense.

His birth certificate is a fake!!!!

Okay, now you are just getting weird.