Fun fact: the government isn't totally inefficient

More Than Mortal · October 25, 2014, 01:03:36 PM

While I'm generally opposed to fiscal stimulus or extensive tax-and-spend policies, it's quite clear that a reasonable and intelligent policy for government expenditure can create economic growth. For instance, on every dollar spent on physical infrastructure, $1.92 is returned.

Politics seems to be heading in an increasingly polarised direction. There does exist a position where government activities can be beneficial, and austerity (which is a big thing in the U.K.) can be harmful.

/funfact

Spoiler

Discuss government expenditure, and its (de)merits.

challengerX · October 25, 2014, 01:46:38 PM

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Mr. Psychologist · October 25, 2014, 01:53:32 PM

B-b-b-b-but muh personal responsibility will cover all of a nation's infrastructural needs.

People should build roads, create powergrids and fresh water supplies all on their own. We don't need no gubament to do things like that for us.

It has it's place and it should just be used sensibly, things like HS2... Blegh.

Camnator · October 25, 2014, 04:30:47 PM

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BrenMan 94 · October 25, 2014, 05:17:49 PM

Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 25, 2014, 01:53:32 PM

We don't need no gubament to do things like that for us.

But you don't...

Dustin · October 25, 2014, 06:22:34 PM

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Camnator · October 25, 2014, 06:27:25 PM

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Mr. Psychologist · October 25, 2014, 07:03:04 PM

Quote from: BrenMan 94 on October 25, 2014, 05:17:49 PM

Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 25, 2014, 01:53:32 PM
We don't need no gubament to do things like that for us.
But you don't...

When libertarians start making MRI machines grow on trees, let me know.

Camnator · October 25, 2014, 07:04:30 PM

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Mr. Psychologist · October 25, 2014, 07:07:11 PM

Quote from: Camnator on October 25, 2014, 07:04:30 PM

Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 25, 2014, 07:03:04 PM
Quote from: BrenMan 94 on October 25, 2014, 05:17:49 PM
Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 25, 2014, 01:53:32 PM
We don't need no gubament to do things like that for us.
But you don't...

When libertarians start making MRI machines grow on trees, let me know.

The healthcare system would be far superior under libertarianism, though.

Alright, humour me then.
How would it? And how would it ensure that the poorest in society didn't simply die of treatable diseases because they can't afford healthcare?

Camnator · October 25, 2014, 07:13:06 PM

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Mr. Psychologist · October 25, 2014, 07:23:58 PM

It's nothing I haven't heard before, and it's still nothing that I would ever see working in the world we live in.
If it can be demonstrated that it works, then by all means I would accept that. But it seems like a nice idea that once again fails to account for human nature.

Just like Communism, it'll fail horribly because of the actions of the powerful and greed driven.

Camnator · October 25, 2014, 09:28:47 PM

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Kinder Graham · October 25, 2014, 09:42:52 PM

Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 25, 2014, 07:03:04 PM

Quote from: BrenMan 94 on October 25, 2014, 05:17:49 PM
Quote from: Mr Psychologist on October 25, 2014, 01:53:32 PM
We don't need no gubament to do things like that for us.
But you don't...

When libertarians start making MRI machines grow on trees, let me know.

Well, that's what the process of capitalism creates

When the first commercial computers were made available, they were only affordable for upper middle and the upper classes but look now: You can get a tablet that shits on those computers for a $100

Allowing the medical and health insurance fields to be places of capitalism will lead to the improvement and reduction of cost

Putting government in control of health care brings no good. Professionals who spend almost $100k on tuition fees won't work or will move to another country because the lack of a decent size salary (this is why you see so many damn Indian doctors). You also have a major congestion as hospitals will have to divert more personnel to complete the shit load of paperwork the government wants. You also have more and more people seeking treatment for things like a cough, causing increase wait for those who actually need services

Coming from a military family, I know first hand what happens when the government controls this shit. I've been to plenty military hospitals and had to sit for hours with a piece of metal impaled in my mouth (braces) while waiting for those with a cough and a headache to get checked out

Camnator · October 25, 2014, 10:11:58 PM

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More Than Mortal · October 25, 2014, 10:54:07 PM

Quote from: Kinder on October 25, 2014, 09:42:52 PM

When the first commercial computers were made available, they were only affordable for upper middle and the upper classes but look now: You can get a tablet that shits on those computers for a $100.

I'd just like to point out that this is the process of innovation as opposed to invention.

The government is pretty much on par with the market when it comes to invention.

Turkey · October 26, 2014, 04:26:38 AM

Quote from: Camnator on October 25, 2014, 09:28:47 PM

hemp which literally cures cancer

bruh

Camnator · October 26, 2014, 05:05:07 AM

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Turkey · October 26, 2014, 05:08:23 AM

Quote from: Camnator on October 26, 2014, 05:05:07 AM

Quote from: E̲n̲ga̲ge̲d̲T̲u̲r̲k̲e̲y on October 26, 2014, 04:26:38 AM
Quote from: Camnator on October 25, 2014, 09:28:47 PM
hemp which literally cures cancer

bruh

It does.

nuh uh

Camnator · October 26, 2014, 05:12:54 AM

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Turkey · October 26, 2014, 05:48:53 AM

I'm on board with cannabis as a treatment when it's investigated in a legitimate, peer-reviewed study on humans.

Camnator · October 26, 2014, 06:04:05 AM

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Turkey · October 26, 2014, 06:15:10 AM

A cure is far more profitable than inferior treatments. This is evidenced by the continued development of new and more efficient treatments, based on legitimate medical science and reviewed studies. The idea that a single plant can magically cure all cancer in its natural state is absurd; the articles you linked do nothing to establish a causal link between cannabis and remission, and where there's one example of cannabis being involved in a 'cure', there are hundreds more of cannabis not working that way.

Persistence that 'big pharma' is suppressing a cure and marketing ineffective treatments to cash a check is ultimately dangerous as it propagates a false reality and encourages self-treatment.

I consider myself a scientist; I like data. I like data that has a correlation statistic even more. I like data with a correlation statistic that has been reviewed by the community's peers and published in a respected medium most.

Camnator · October 26, 2014, 06:26:25 AM

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