[Safe-Keeper]

Makes sense to me on a basic level - many countries already have TV channels and TV broadcasting paid for by the government, why not the Internet networks? Certainly just as important a service.

Then again, I know nothing about the state of the Finnish economy, so I can't make an informed decision about this particular case. There could be a thousand things worthier of government money for all I know.

OMG EVIL SOCIALISM RUN!!!!!!!!!

You just summed up the other side quite nicely.

Empirical data over ideology, I say. But then again, I actually live in, and benefit from, a country with a socialist government, rather than getting my factoids from FAUX News, so I guess I do have a bit of an unfair advantage there.

An acquaintance of mine is a British veterinarian, and she was simply dumbstruck by the sheer amounts of transparent lies (well, transparent to her, as she was a medical professional) on universal health care the right has been flooding the channels with in the US lately. Apparently they've figured that loud noises, scare-mongering and name-calling would work better than facts.

Then again, I can hardly blame them for that either; it got them their war in Iraq.

Honestly its funny seeing the very responses in this topic. Enjoy paying hand over fist for current US broadband that much?

That's the most hilarious part of the right-wing phobia of UHC - they're afraid they're going to have to pay more. Someone needs to tell them that the American State is currently the government in the world that spends the most money on its health care - and yet accomplishes little of what the Scandinavian nations and the UK gets done for far less.

I watched a documentary called Sick Around America some time back. It told the story of a girl who developed lupus, only to find that her insurance company dumped her (yes, in the US, for some strange reason, insurance companies can suddenly 'fire' you as a patient, meaning that even those with insurance aren't guaranteed coverage) and she couldn't afford treatment. She grew sicker and sicker until her life was finally in immediate danger, at which point the Government was legally obliged to cover her treatment, and ended up covering 600,000 USD worth of treatment - until she died anyway.

Had she been a poor slave of the United Scandinavian Socilist Republics, the evil Politburo's health insurance would've paid for her treatment while it was still economically manageable to do so - when she first contracted the disease.

But no, let's wait until she gets to the point of no return and we have to spend half a million dollars to stave off the inevitable. Otherwise we'd be socialists.

This is what happens when blind ideology gets in the way of rational thoughts, empiricism, and common sense.

Do you honestly think your government can make better choices for you, then you can make for yourself? Do you think government truly knows what your needs are, in order to spend your money wisely on your behalf?

That sounded awfully like ideology to me. Also looks like quite the strawman.

Do us all a favor and stay off the socialist US highway. Or socialist roads etc..

There exist nations in the third world in which there is little to no government money wasted on ambulances, fire trucks, roads, or police. You want a road to drive on, you pay for it. You want protection from fire, get a firm grip on those boot straps and start a charity. Police protection? Aw, c'mon, we all know the State can't be trusted with such things, rent yourself some private security guards and your neighbourhood will be home free. Not the State's fault you're poor.

Sounds like a dream come true for Sea Demon, August, Steamwake and their ilk. Strangely, I don't see any of them packing their stuff to move there.

But hey, there's good news down the road. Mr. Obama just axed the Government-run MissileCare system, and the F-22 Raptor. That's two less useless socialist things for the State to waste your stolen money on.