Why do we value life less than property?

We need national healthcare, not insurance. It amazes me that this country puts more value in property than in human life.

If your home is on fire, the fire department doesn't first ask to see your proof of insurance. They just do all they can to save your home. The service is paid for with our taxes. If the house burns down, then your insurance will pay to cover loss.

If your car is stolen, the police department doesn't require proof of insurance in order to investigate the crime and arrest the criminal. The service is paid for with our taxes. If the car is not returned, then your insurance will pay to cover the loss.

But, if you are sick and do not qualify for public services such as Medicare, you must have a health insurance policy or you will be denied service or need to pay for all expenses out of pocket. The service of investigating illness and protecting human life is not provided for all with our taxes. Now in the case of the loss of life, your life insurance will pay out to your beneficiaries.

In all three of these cases, if you want to recoup money after a loss, you must have insurance. But only in the case of human life do you need insurance in order to receive protection and assistance. An insurance company does not approve whether a firman can extinguish a burning home or a policeman can apprehend a criminal stealing a car, but they do intervene when a doctor is making medical care decisions.

Why do we value the services of firemen and policemen more than medical doctors? Why is it acceptable to some to pay firemen and policemen with our taxes, but it is deemed as "socialism" to do the same with our medical professionals? Why do we value life less than property in this country?

We need a strong public healthcare option. I do not need an insurance agent between me and my doctor.

Failing Grades

These are all false and incorrect statements made by right-wing conservative television and radio hosts.

This salute to education (or lack of, in this case) comes to you from Media Matters:

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Not the most well-written book, but a very powerful story well worth reading and telling. Find out more about the Central Asia Institute and how to provide support at: https://www.ikat.org/

Quarantine Fox News Channel

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www.iconomaniacs.com

New Date

iconomaniacs

On Friday I launched a visual art and culture podcast along with fellow art history professor Denise Johnson. We really had a lot of fun making it and hope to make it a weekly offering. You can listen to the first episode of iconomaniacs at www.iconomaniacs.com.

Iconomaniacs: a podcast for the love of art. Join two intrepid art historians as they do what they do best - gab about visual art and culture in an irreverent, but insightful and (hopefully) interesting banter in less than an hour.