Rich people are happy to pay for wars, prisons, and a police state; but not for health of citizenry

[lostnfound]

Isn't health infrastructure a way to "provide for the common defense"?
Our civilization can be under threat from contagious diseases, as much as from foreign invaders, and if we want a strong defense, it's helpful to have a healthy citizenry.

[CrispyQ]

1. Why wouldn't you want the people you share the public space with to be as healthy as possible?

I've used the self-interest argument with some of the rwnj in my circle, but it still doesn't resonate with them.

[exboyfil]

2. Who says they want to pay for it?

How much wealth is really taxed to pay for those aircraft carriers? The situation will be even worse once the inheritance tax is gutted (nothing like being able to move your basis up to current market value and not paying any taxes at all).

[malaise]

3. No

They invest in wars, prisons and a police state - then take all the profits. Always follow the money

[lostnfound]

5. Profit margins

That's true... There's no concentrated profit margin in social security or Medicare. That's what they mean by "I pay taxes for these programs and get nothing out of them".

[malaise]

6. Cool

[ColemanMaskell]

4. It's not about money or defense. It's about authoritarianism. (Rooted in patriarchal outlook.)

You'll get nowhere towards understanding it using logic and rationality. It is fundamentally irrational. You ever notice how some people don't feel comfortable as a passenger in a car; they can only be comfortable when they're driving the car; it makes them feel like they're in control. It has nothing to do with who the other driver is or whether they might be a safer or better driver. It's emotional. They need to feel in control. Same feeling motivates authoritarianism. Doesn't matter that it doesn't work well in the long run. It makes them feel better in the short run. All the supposed arguments they present about money and so on are just BS to hide the real motivation.

Apparently, from what I've read, the authoritarian mindset comes from a patriarchal viewpoint, where a family is ruled by a single strong ruler, typically the father, who gives orders and demands obedience. The progressive mindset, in contrast, develops from a family style that centers around nurturing and mutual care of family members, shared responsibility, consensus decisions as much as possible. And the view of family life is projected onto the broader view of society in general. Or so I've read

[Oneironaut]

7. Because good healthcare is "their thing."

They want a distinct separation between them and others. It's irrational egotism.

Part of it is complacency too. "The roads and bridges are standing now, so why do we need to maintain them?"

There is also the punishment mindset - "They made themselves poor, so they should suffer!"