More Doug Stanhope
Doug is always a great guest because, like Pete, you never quite know what he’s going to say. There’s a ton of great, hilarious political (and non-political) Stanhope humor on the Web. Here are some links:
Doug Stanhope thinks your taxes shouldn’t have to pay for his inevitable lung cancer.
Tons of Stanhope clips on YouTube
Update: Doug and Pete got into it over such issues as health care as a right, corporations and the free market, affirmative action, overpopulation, and so many other topics. I’m a big Stanhope fan, but I was really glad we got to go after him on the libertarian stances, about which he could not have been a better sport, which is the sign of a truly decent person, whatever the views. The phone lines were lit up the whole time, so if you didn’t get through, let’s hear it right now and here.
Wow, you have got to get Steve from Boston back on the show! That guy was incredible. I bet you could get at least a full hour of unforgettable radio from that guy. Plus, the things he was angry about are things EVERYBODY is angry about.
Seriously, get him into the studio or get him on the line for a show just for what he wants to rant about. That would rock!
It seems weird giving Stanhope second billing to a caller because Doug is hilarious. Couldn’t tell if he was being serious or playing up a dysfunctional libritarian for comic effect or to just have something for you guys to argue about, but it was a funny and flinchy hour.
If you missed it, the instantly beloved Steve from Boston said he doesn’t mind paying taxes so long as they get spent on public goods like roads, hospitals, school, fire departments, police, etc — but he’s none too keen on big corporations gouging us for their own profits, which doesn’t exactly come back to us. The whole Pete’s Big Mouth team instantly loved Steve’s passion and identified with his outrage. Steve from Boston, if you’re out there, do call back in soon with your accent and outrage in full swing!
I feel like Pete did the other day when the guy called in saying they should send gay people to another continent (like Antarctica!) I’m unsure whether or not to take Stanhope’s remarks serious from earlier today… Some of the things he said were so preposterous to me that I can’t help but think in the back of my mind that it had to a bit. Eugenics? Are you serious!?
Hey!… Wait… yeeaah… yes! I just had an idea! If somebody comes to a hospital in Stanhopia (if they don’t get denied before they actually show up) and they don’t have insurance or other ability to pay… all is not lost! This is a perfect opportunity for an evaluation.
If this person can’t provide payment for their medical needs, they’re probably one of those undesirables. What a great turn of events! Since you’ve got ‘em there you could go ahead and take some garden shears to their nuts, or pull their uterus out w/ a clothes hanger. (wouldn’t want to use any hospital equipment on someone who can’t cover your overhead) Unless! You wanted to do some medical experiments or let students practice procedures on them so that you’ll be better prepared to aid the good people of Stanhopia (like Al Parinello) who’s financial situation gives them the “right” to proper healthcare.
Or, if you’re havin’ a bad day… just toss ‘em in a gas chamber or have ‘em take an acid shower, maybe stuff those nuts you cut off in their mouth and hang ‘em from a tree in the parking lot. It’ll take your edge right off. I mean, it’s not like they’re “real” people. Just don’t forget to wear your WWHD bracelet to work as a reminder… What Would Hitler Do?
Eugenics hyperbole aside, Doug is right on the money about the idea of nationalized health care. Like everything else, health care is not free. It has to be provided by and paid for by real people. Saying that everyone has an innate right to it is to say that “society” owes it to each of us. But society is just made up of all us individuals. So, we all are owed it and all owe it at the same time. We have no responsibility personally, but total responsibility collectively. This nonsensical idea takes you down the path of socialism, which always leads to the detrimement of all involved. I urge everyone who gets this to log onto www.WeTheFree.org and sign the Petition Against Socialized Medicine. The Social Security debacle we’re facing is nothing compared to that socialized medicine would create. Those of us that believe in liberty, personal responsibility and the free market must make our voices heard on this issue.
James, I wonder how you would respond to Pete’s comparison to fire departments. Do we not all have the “right” to expect that, in the unlikely and tragic case of a fire, the fire department will come and put it out for us? If so, why does that not extend to health care?
On the matter of “socialized medicine,” do you really know anyone who is proposing such a thing? Even Canada’s single-payer healthcare is not “socialized” medicine. Under socialism, the whole healthcare system would be socially owned (by the state or the public). That means the doctor would work for the state, the pharmaceutical companies would be owned by the state, etc, in addition to state-run “insurance.” I think even that idea should be explored seriously, but nothing like that is being seriously proposed. Single-payer just means there is one insurer, and it is a government agency. The attempt to malign such a mild system as “socialist” is totally dishonest.
Doug and Pete had a great argument about health care- while it may not be a right to have health care, it is the responsibility of the government to provide health care for its population. Nevertheless, we the people, the responsible ones, are the ones who must carry the weight. Insurance is a tricky deal; not sure where I heard this, but someone out there said: insurance is a product that the government requires citizens to have, therefore we pay every month even though we may not use it; we are penalized when we need to use it and the monthly price escalates when we do. I don’t have the answers as to how we need to have health care for all the kids and adults without it, but something needs to be done quick.
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I don’t mind paying for health care. But I believe all children under 18 and enrolled full time in college should get access to full coverage insurance. Why? Because theres too many irresponsible parents who don’t care, and its not the kids fault mommy and daddy bumped uglies and forgot the consequenses. Also I’d much rather help pay for health care for all, or just the fore mentioned. Its the paying for the lazy prick on welfare who needs to hop of their fat asses and get to work, that I don’t care to pitch in for. Don’t get me wrong, those on disabilty who are covered under my dime are acceptable.
Poker Card Game…
Serious poker is no more about gambling than rock climbing is about taking risks….