How to give up your socialized government benefits

Yesterday my wife told me about a great web site she'd heard mentioned on the Thom Hartmann program (which originates from KPOJ in nearby Portland, Oregon -- on America's proudly left coast).

It's Stop My Benefits, where the people who are ranting about Obamacare, socialized medicine, and government taking over our freedoms can sign a form asking that their participation in distasteful programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Veteran's benefits, and Social Security be stopped.

Excellent idea. As the site says: 

It has been apparent that some people think that “government-run, socialized” healthcare programs are bad.  There has even been discussions where people don’t “want the government to take over their Medicare”.  These people fail to understand that Medicare is a form of socialized, government-run healthcare program already.  And it appears that the people who are complaining about the government “taking over healthcare” also love their Medicare and Medicaid.

So it gets down to this.  Either put up or shut up.  If a person wants to complain about “government-run, socialized” healthcare programs, there is a choice that they can make on their own.

By filling out the form (either print or online) on their own, people who disagree with such programs can indeed do everyone else a favor and give up their coverage.  If someone is horrified about “government-run, socialized” healthcare programs, there is now the chance to end the benefits.

 
Thom Hartmann recommended handing out the form at Tea Party events so all the government-haters could demonstrate their commitment to no longer sucking on the taxpayer teat.

Of course, this form needs to be expanded.

Right-wingers also should have an opportunity to decline protection from our socialistic police and fire departments, and to promise that none of their children will ever attend a socialistic public school or check books out of a socialistic public library.

They also would want to promise to never use our taxpayer-constructed public roads, which is going to cut down on attendance at Tea Party rallies, since everybody will have to travel off-road to them.

Comments

[Bill]

My letter to the government seems appropriate to repeat in light of Blogger Brian's most recent post:

Dear Government,

I have every confidence you will be able to manage health care efficiently as evidenced by your past successes:

The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775. You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.

Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.

Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.

War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they still remain poor while wanting still more money.

Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke.

Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.

The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.

California, Arizona, Oregon and many other states are bankrupt or nearly so.

Infrastructure is crumbling everywhere and there is no money to pay for it.

Schools and police departments are strapped for funds and are laying people off.

The federal debt and budget deficit are completely out of control and unmanagable.

Why should I worry that government can successfully manage healthcare?

[Dan]

I would love to opt out of these bloated government programs...and since I won't be taking anything from them...I don't particularly feel obligated to put anything in.

Oh...you mean you still want my tax dollars, but you just want me to shut up and stop complaining? You mean the systems would collapse if people who gain no aggregate benefit were to not carry the burden for the rest?

Yeah...you are a good little socialist, Brian. Keep up the witty posts.

[Aj]

I agree Brian. And let's not forget the library, post office, fire department and police department to all those who have a problem with socialism

[Dan]

I have plenty of books, and I can buy those I want to read, or trade with others. My choice, my responsibility. I can defend myself and my home...the cops are only for solving the crimes anyway, not big on prevention. Don't use the post office. As for fire...I'll pay for that. I don't have the capacity to extinguish a housefire. Then again...if I didn't have to pay all those damn taxes, I could probably afford the equipment to do it.

[Willie R.]

You cannot opt out of government programs. They are involuntary.

[Mort]

Opt out, that does not work for Brian, someone else has to pay for him. You only get to opt out for benifits, ao no benifit just keep paying. I drive on the road, but I pay gas tax for that benifit, but that is my choice to pay gas tax, I could be one of those idiot's riding down the middle of a narrow road on a bicycle and not pay gas tax. I can opt out of healthcare, but I still must pay or be fined. Next will be a tax on bicycles or Prius POS, but brian will say that's not fair, why Brian?