[Bobcat]

VRM/Steve ... " conservative types want people to be reliant on government for their health care, and government is supposed to provide it even though we cannot afford it? "
I`m about as conservative/libertarian as you can get ... and if the government would give me back the money I and my employers have paid into the system over the years , with a nominal rate of interest for the use ( miss use ? ) of my money , I`ll gladly walk away from any and all government programs and take care of myself .
Could it be that the reason we can`t afford .................( you fill in the blank ) is because of massive government corruption , mismanagement on every program they touch , incompetence and all the freeloaders/looters on the programs who refuse to support themselves ?
You are correct in as much as we have a right to life and the pursuit of happiness ... but it is my responsibility to take care of myself... and if I can afford it , any medical care I want/need . But the problem is that the government will make that option unavailable period.