I'm safe on board.. (Roger Ebert supports socialism)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 8/21/2009 | Roger Ebert

[Tolsti2]

Having read through some 600 comments about universal health care, I now realize I took the wrong approach in my previous blog entry. I discussed the Obama health plan in political, literal, logical terms. Most of my readers replied in the same vein. The comments, as always, have been helpful, informative and for the most part civil. My mistake was writing from the pragmatic side. I should have followed my heart and gone with a more emotional approach. I believe universal health care is, quite simply, right.

[a fool in paradise]

Rog likely has less than 5 years of life left. Blunt but true. THIS WON’T AFFECT HIM ONE BIT.

STFU, Rog.

[a fool in paradise]

I cannot enjoy health coverage and turn to my neighbor and tell him he doesn't deserve it.

I can't earn $1million+ and tell my "neighbor" (who only earns $750,000 a year) that he should man up and pay for his kids' insurance instead of fitting the family with bluetooths, ipods, I-phones, mobile-wifi, incar DVD players, cable, T1 internet, netflix, cigarette packs, etc. etc.

Priotitize.

[a fool in paradise]

In a democracy, we set out together to do what we believe is good for the commonwealth. That means voluntarily subjecting ourselves to the rule of law, taxation, military service, the guaranteeing of rights to minorities, and so on. That is a cheap price to pay.

The members of the Obama administration are known tax cheats. You are a CHUMP, Rog.

[a fool in paradise]

As I've read through of those comments (and I've posted all but two I received), one thing jumped from the page at me: The unusually high number of comments from other countries.

WTF? Other countries get to insist that the US taxpayer be beholden to a Socialized medical system?

STFU. I pay my taxes and want MY freedoms.

[Tolsti2]

I don’t believe he’s gay. In fact he’s married.

[RichInOC]

Rog, you say that now. Somehow, I’m doubtful you will be that sanguine if the new regime decides you’re ready to go before you do.

[a fool in paradise]

, as well as the overall feeling that the REST of the world does not think socialism is a bad word.

It's not that everyone around the world (even in Socialist nations) is a Socialist.

It's that the Damned Socialist Party won't let anyone NOT live under Socialism.

[a fool in paradise]

By making mental health care and medication available to those who need it (and who are often unemployable), it avoids the American system where many such people are abandoned to the streets or to the care of their overtaxed families.

Hey Rog, medication DOESN'T fix those with mental problems. It makes it easier for them to cope but it is not a CURE. It only treats the symptoms. If someone is criminally insane, a socipath or psychopath, they should be institutionalized or locked up at home.

These rampage killers seem often to be on pills of some sort. We are told that they were "functional" but clearly they malfunctioned.

If they could only leave the home on the watch of a legal guardian, they would be unable to buy guns, etc.

But it's easier to inconvenience the entire nation rather than those who brought someone into this world.

[a fool in paradise]

>>¶ It is "socialism."

Again, yes. The word socialism, however, has lost its usefulness in this debate. It has been tainted, perhaps forever, by the malevolent Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who succeeded somehow in linking it with the godless Commies. America is the only nation in the free world in which "socialism" is generally thought of in negative terms. The only nation in which that word, in and of itself, is thought to bring the discussion to a close.

America is the last best hope of this world. So goes America, so goes the world. The socialists know this and lick their chops.

[a fool in paradise]

Good health is a responsibility of the individual, not the state. One reader wrote that he doesn't smoke, drinks in moderation, watches his diet, and exercises regularly. I applaud him. Statistically, this promises him an extended life span. I have never smoked, haven't had a drink in 30 years, and walked an average of 10,000 steps a day for the five years before I underwent my first cancer surgery. A doctor once told me: "If you never get any other disease, sooner or later you will die of cancer."

Yeah but you sure whored it up according to Russ Meyer.

[a fool in paradise]

True enough, I've earned some nice money in my life--all by paycheck, which is no way to get really rich.

LIE.

He was the screenwriter on a 20th Century Fox hit film, "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" as well as several other Russ Meyer films. He's authored a number of books. Those are paid "by the hour" or salary work. Those are sold product and if he didn't get a cut then he needs a better agent.

[a fool in paradise]

¶ Federal Death panels would decide who lives or dies. This, very frankly, is a lie. The nearest thing we have to a death panel in the United States is an insurance company claims adjuster.

Actually POTUS opposed protecting the life of children who survive abortion attempts and are born alive. He didn't want to challenge the doctors' skills and the mothers' decisions. Those kids died gasping for air (unaided) in closets for 8 hours or more.

[a fool in paradise]

Roger Ebert closes by quoting the Bible. Has this socialist rat ever been biblical in his life? He worked on softcore and hardcore films (there are penetration shots in Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens), Summer Lovers is among his top 10 guilty pleasures.

But beyond the whoring and porn association, has he EVER been an advocate for Christ?

NOW he wants to bring it up as he is in his autumn years and Obama’s medical plan (a reworking of Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy’s medical plans) is up for a vote?

[Gay State Conservative]

So the fat,worthless turd gives HusseinCare "two thumbs up". I assume that that's because he knows that there'll always be a helicopter available to take *him* to the nearest world class hospital if he ever has a problem (as happened with Teddy).It's just us little people...the great unwashed...who'll have to wait 2 years for a hip replacement...18 months for a heart operation...6 months to see a cancer specialist.

Like they do in Canada.....

[a fool in paradise]

From the comments:

“As a Christian, I find it hard to reconcile these hard-line views of ‘every man for himself’ when Jesus was the ultimate socialist.”

Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar.

There is NO charity in forced taxation.

The “separation of church and state” people are again trying to pull one over on those who cling to religion. The God Gap is very real, the Left does not embrace the messages of Jesus Christ. They are only quoting (or misquoting) Him for political gain.

And there is someone else who cited the Declaration of independence but ignored the notion of LIBERTY.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liberty
Liberty
-freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control.
-freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.
-freedom from captivity, confinement, or physical restraint:

[MinuteGal]

Just wait till it dawns on Ebert that charities like the American Cancer Society will wither away once socialized Obamacare is the law of the land.

Neither the debt-ridden government, the targeted rich, the drowning middle-class or the lobotomized poor will be able to donate a penny to charities because no government entity, private organization or individual taxpayer will have the discretionary money to give away anymore.

Leni

[a fool in paradise]

Old Rog is saying that knee replacement really is semi-ELECTIVE surgery. You don’t REALLY need a new hip. ESPECIALLY if you are just gonna die anyway.

[a fool in paradise]

Beyond that, the administration is working to take away tax deductions for charitable donations.

Your dollars won’t go as far.

Which gets more people dependent on government options.

[nikos1121]

Are you sure about that? I’m from Chicago and it seems to me that it was kind of understood going back to when he was teamed with Siskel.

[a fool in paradise]

He whored around a bit when he was working on X rated films with Roger Ebert.

Russ brags that he hooked him up with some woman who gave him head in his swimming pool and then brags that he even cooked Roger breakfast while Rog was banging the girl in Russ’ bed.

He also introduced Roger to a black escort whom he cast in Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens. Roger reportedly looked over her profile and said “I’ll have everything except the s**t and the pi**.”

I’ve seen nothing to suggest that Roger is gay. Just a hardcore liberal.