Stewart corners poor Bill Kristol...

[Hoss]

A thing of beauty to watch...

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-july-27-2009/bill-kristol-extended-interview

The excerpt I find the best:

    Stewart: Why no health care, Why no health care reform for Americans because the military fighting for us, gave it up. Why do you hate America?

    Stewart: Why not? Why shouldn't the government provide some sort of care to the 50 million that are uninsured?

    Kristol: No, well the military has a different health system than the rest of Americans.

    Stewart: It's a public system, no?

    Kristol: Yea, they don't have an option they're all in the military.

    Stewart: Why don't we go with that?

    Kristol: (Stupid look comes across his face.) I don't know. Is military health care what you really...first of all it's really expensive, they deserve it, the military...

    Stewart: But people in public do not?

    Kristol: No, the American public do not deserve the same...

    Stewart: Are you saying Americans shouldn't have access to the same plan health care that we give the soldiers?

    Kristol: Yes, to our soldiers? Absolutely.

    Stewart: Really?

    Kristol: I think the one thing if you become a soldier...

    Stewart: So you just said, Bill Kristol just said that the government can run a first class health care system.

    Kristol: Sure it can.

    Stewart: A government run health care system is better than the private health care system. You just said that...

    Kristol: I don't know if it's better.

    Stewart: No, you just said it was better.

    Kristol: I didn't say it was better all around.

    Stewart: No, you said it was better. You said it's the best, it's a little more expensive, but it's better. I just want to write this down. The government runs the best health care...

    Stewart: I understand that so what you are suggesting is that the government could run the best health care system for Americans, but it's a little too costly so we should have the shitty insurance companies health care.

    Kristol: I'm suggesting our soldiers deserve better health care...

    Stewart: They deserve the best. They have the best government run health care money can buy.

So what's the deal?  American's who serve in the military deserve to live (read that as get better medical care) more than that person who doesn't?  Hmm.  Seems a little hypocritical, don't you think?  I think at the end of the day, we ALL deserve it.  I'm not diminishing what those in our Armed Forces do, but seriously.

Expecting the condescending 'I-served-in-the-military-and-you-didn't' post from Gweed (only after someone else responds to it so he doesn't respond directly to my post).

[Cats Cats Cats]

He starts to say that nobody would want Military Health Care but catches himself, huh?

[cannon_fodder]

Interesting point.  I'm curious to see actual number on what it costs to provide health care to soldiers (and Senators for that matter).  However, I'd also argue that in the case of soldiers the military largely gets to control their overall health status (diet, exercise routine, sleep pattern) and can dictate what procedures are done and when.  Not too mention the vast majority of soldiers are between 18 and 30. 

Also worth noting that it is part of their payment package.  At $1347 a month medical care, room and board are kinda part of the show for working for the government.  Most people earn more than that not working for the government.  Not to mention the you-break-it you-buy-it concept.

So while there are some obvious gaps in the argument, it would be interesting to see stats on what it costs to provide health care for troops (and other governmental plans as comparison).

[Red Arrow]

Most civilian jobs do not include getting shot at as part of the job description.  Some of those repairs can be very costly.