It's not the same argument, as they still need the health care. They have a choice to go private or not but that's different again.
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Health is not run through the department of social welfare. It is available to anyone that needs it whether or not they can afford to pay. I imagine the administration to run it on that basis would be a nightmare so we have gone to universal healthcare and universal education. I think wealthy people can get a better standard of care and education through private health insurance and private schools.
The other thing about healthcare is that some of us may not need it and others may require treatment that is unaffordable for even the middle class, so it is more like an insurance policy that we hope we don't ever have to rely on.
We have universal national superannuation as well but this could be means tested, in fact National brought in the national super surcharge many years ago when they were being responsible and immediately got voted out as Labour must have seen an easy way to buy votes of selfish people.
National Superannuation is so expensive as well. According to the table in the link Welfare spending was 26% of govt spending a bit less than health and education combined.
https://www.interest.co.nz/public-po...spending-plans
Of the welfare spending 45% is on national superannuation if this chart is correct, if you take out the wage subsidy (massive waste of money) which no longer exists it is 51%
https://figure.nz/chart/2eIStXKBWssxMIze
I don't begrudge my tax dollars paying to help someone live comfortably in old age and the increased healthcare costs that a lot of old people have. Also I don't begrudge tax dollars to help someone fight cancer or get a quadruple bypass.
I do hate paying taxes to fund overseas jaunts and flash cars. Possibly it could be used to entrench the wealth divide as it allows wealthier parents some extra funds to help their kids into a house. These are things that I don't like paying tax for. I also don't like paying tax for lazy bludgers who can't be bothered getting a job or solo mums who have multiple kids to multiple partners.
Mind you on my income I am hopefully a net contributor but who knows. Hopefully I will be a bigger contributor in the near future, provided I don't survive a heartattack and require surgery.
Unhinged Far Left 'Stuff' cartoonist Sharon Murdoch continues her incessant daily attacks -
https://twitter.com/domesticanimal/s...75523932950706
Got to watch the telly tonite …..meant to be exciting
TONIGHT AT 6PM - @ThreeNewZealand: #Newshub Political Editor @JennaLynchNZ says the face of the election is "changing in more ways than one" ahead of releasing dramatic poll results bit.ly/3drq6rY
Greens down as environmentalists realise Shaw is a fake and Marama a blatant racist.
Most environmentalists have not woken up yet to what a racist and fake party the Greens really are, so here’s hoping indeed!
Case in point - 20+ age children of good friend voted Greens last 2 elections due to their concern about climate change. Had a debate with them and only after showing them the racist comments by Marama did they realised what the party now represents! They may not vote at all this election so disillusioned are they.