Reply #9: You Forgot Healthcare [View All]

[Ravenseye]

How can America's poor even begin to think about healthcare without Medicare and Medicaid?

Decent insurance for a family runs upwards of 800-900 dollars. Cheaper 'emergency' alternatives can be had in various forms around 400-500 dollars a month. Of course those don't protect you against huge disastrous health situations.

Still two poor working adults in this country making minimum wage in full time jobs would bring in probably around 600-700 dollars a month after taxes, if they're lucky. So two would put their total monthly take for their family at around 1300 dollars a month.

There are plenty of parts of the country where that won't even cover rent, forget about health care. Good thing they picked up that 20 year old color television at the flea market for 20 bucks though, and the old small microwave for 10. Of course they got there in their beater car that cost them 500 bucks. On their way there though they prayed it wouldn't break down on the way back, otherwise they'd probably have to abandon the televion.

But sure, they're living better than the poor in some other random country.

When did it become an argument of the right in this country to say 'hey it's better here than in Cambodia, so people shouldn't complain.' ?