Fact: We already have a Public Insurance run by the Federal Government, and many Repubs Swear by it

[berni_mccoy]

In fact, they believe so strongly in this federally provided insurance that they trust their hard-earned money with it. That's right. It's the FDIC. Ask a republican where they keep their cash? Under the mattress or in a savings account or cd? Most will answer they keep it in a bank backed by the FDIC and to not do so is crazy (I'm not counting the repubs that use offshore tax-haven banks... those republicans are criminals and could care less about healthcare anyway).

So, if they argue that the federal government can't run any program, especially an insurance program, properly, ask them why, then, have they been trusting their money to a socialized program like FDIC?

[Oregone]

1. Except the FDIC may go bankrupt soon.

Hey, with Failed Bank Friday being such a successful weekly holiday, Id think they'd be getting close to blowing through their reserves.

[berni_mccoy]

4. The FDIC can't go bankrupt.

They takeover banks they consider insolvent and take forceful corrective action.

If the FDIC's reserves of premium payments are overwhelmed by too many bank claims, the U.S. backs the rest. Technically, it can't go bankrupt unless the U.S. goes bankrupt.

And if the U.S. goes bankrupt, they'll do what they always do:
1. tell creditor countries they aren't going to pay up
2. print more money

Both of which will tank the dollar. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[Oregone]

5. Well, if they start drawing funding from the US Gov when their premium reserve go dry

That is considered a big ugly failure to the right-wing, and I guess, as good as bankrupt. Im just saying that it might not be the best argument in this day and age.

In normal times, the FDIC is an excellent socialized insurance entity. These are not normal times. Normally large risk pools prevent insurance agencies from being over-run.

[Wapsie B]

2. That or the fact that once they qualify for Medicare I doubt if any of them refuse it.

They can groan and bitch about it not always paying for a lot, but gee, who's fault is that? When you "defund" social programs in this country this is what happens.

[SCantiGOP]

3. arguing with a co-worker

He kept going on about 'socialized' medicine. I asked him if he came to work on the socialized road system. He got very confused.

[Oregone]

6. Its also important to draw a distinction betwen socialized insurance and socialized medicine

Socialized insurance is still pay-per-service from private and public health care providers alike. It wouldn't change the map at all, in terms of actual care right away. If anyone had a favorite doctor, they would still be working for the same people (or themselves) and still available to treat them the same (if not better, because no agency exists to deny care)