[meyer]

I say, only in a welfare state--where government handouts are considered entitlements--can the lack of a handout be viewed as a "penalty".

It's not a "handout" if one has paid for it - it would be more properly considered as a return on investment, though forced payment probably doesn't fall under the heading of investment either. Who is more deserving of the money that the government has confiscated from part of the constituency - those that actually paid the money or those that are looking for a free ride?

[Sandy]

It's not a "handout" if one has paid for it

It's subsidized. Medicare is currently costing taxpayers over $350 billion a year. Premiums "paid for it" amount to about 1/10 that amount. That's a handout.