http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35835370/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/
Think of an economy where people could be an artist or a photographer or a writer without worrying about keeping their day job in order to have health insurance.
I know, you kinda have to read that two or three times to get your head around what she said. Go ahead and re-read it... I'll wait.
Finished? Good. Now let's discuss it.
We can aim at that if we want to, but the consequences of doing so will be felt. As I've said before in other contexts, if you subsidize something then you get more of it. In this case, if we subsidize those who don't WANT to hold down a day job, then we will get fewer people doing it.
Why would we consciously set up a system that would punish achievers and reward deadbeats? If that happens, rest assured we will get far fewer achievers and many more deadbeats. And that is NOT a good thing.
In my opinion, health care can only get MORE expensive under ObamaCare. First, because of all the additional money that the government will spend under the new law. Second, citizens will spend more money on health insurance as ObamaCare causes premiums to rise. Third, portions of the law punish medical innovation, and that ALSO will put quite a crimp in our health care system.
The results, if ever fully implemented, will be not good.
So you think writers, artists and photographers are deadbeats?
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot.
No, absolutely not... and if that's what you got from my post then you need to read it more closely.
ReplyDeleteI do think that anybody who expects others to take care of their healthcare costs, as well as possibly their rent, food, etc... yes, those people are deadbeats. If you are expecting other people who don't even know you to pay your expenses, then you are a deadbeat.
The people Pelosi was referring to are deadbeats. They are artists or writers (and so forth) who can't make a living through their art, won't or can't keep a day job to make a living, and expect handouts from taxpayers to support their lifestyle. Yes, those people are deadbeats.
On the other hand, I know an artist in Atlanta who is NOT a deadbeat. He holds down a day job, does work on the side designing and maintaining websites, and does his real artwork on his own time. He is a man who does his best to meet his own responsibilities and support his family, and doesn't expect others to pay his way.
HE is not a deadbeat.
There is no reason why a talented artist of ANY kind should be unable to hold down a day job. Companies need graphic designers for logos, advertisement art, etc. Website designers have a lot of competition, but there's also a lot of business. Photographers can work for journals, newspapers, photo studios, be wedding photographers...The list goes on and on.
ReplyDeleteWhy did Pelosi choose to single out the artists, I wonder. Could it be that SHE thinks we're deadbeats?
I think liberal politicians usually buy into the whole schtick that pursuing art isn't and shouldn't be economically viable. That's the whole idea behind government subsidizing artists through the National Endowment of the Arts, right?
ReplyDeleteWhereas I agree with you, there are LOTS of openings for artists, be they photographers, painters, sculptors, writers, or actors... and those who refuse to earn their own way are deadbeats.
But most are not.