[MD] NHS? No thanks

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Platt]
But, the case of keeping a prisoner from being executed by the state 
is quite different from the state providing health care through 
forced taxation.

[Arlo]
Its a little more than that. The "state" is morally obliged to (and 
does) provide food and health-care to its incarcerated criminals.

[Platt]
In the former case, the state is prevented from exercising legal 
force; in the latter, it is encouraged to use that force, an always 
dangerous threat to liberty.

[Arlo]
I see no "threat to liberty" in using taxation to ensure the basic 
health-care needs of a citizenry, any more than I see a "threat" to 
use taxation to fund public lands, libraries and to keep our roads 
and waterways free.

[Platt]
I think Ben Golden's post puts all examples in accurate perspective. 
Do you agree?

[Arlo]
Sure. To me its not about examples. Its about values. And a culture 
that measures value of life by wealth is a sick culture indeed (IMHO).