General discussion & info about South Walton, Florida.

All About SoWal

Advertise or find a business, discuss business.

Business & Services

Jobs

Festivals, classes, gatherings, activities.

Events & Music

Food & Dining

Marketplace

property, realtors, builders, development, infrastructure ...

Real Estate

Long Term Rentals

Vacation Rentals

SoWal Lounge

kkddbb

Banned

this is a joke, right? are you really coupling all that list as if it were all related? 

the modern day dnc is borderline socialist so im not sure where your coming from. its certainly not the same dnc it used to be thats for sure.

this is a joke, right? are you really coupling all that list as if it were all related? 
 
the modern day dnc is borderline socialist so im not sure where your coming from. its certainly not the same dnc it used to be thats for sure.

Just Curious

Beach Fanatic

I think that was one of the dumbest things I have ever read on SoWal.

MommaMia

Beach Lover

[b]I agree[/b]

I agree. . . it is dumb -- Perhaps the point?

I agree 
 
I agree. . . it is dumb -- Perhaps the point?

Lake View Too

SoWal Insider

The point is many of the services our government provides could be called socialism. Social Security, Medicare and the VA administration are three examples of socialized health care. We have to stop thinking that "Socialism" is this huge boogie man and face the reality that if our health care is dominated by profit-driven corporations we are totally disposable sheep. Just as military defense is a justified function of government, the health and well-being of the citizens of a country should be a  justified function of government. We are the only major country in the world that has a profit-driven health care system. It is morally wrong. Period.

The point is many of the services our government provides could be called socialism. Social Security, Medicare and the VA administration are three examples of socialized health care. We have to stop thinking that &quot;Socialism&quot; is this huge boogie man and face the reality that if our health care is dominated by profit-driven corporations we are totally disposable sheep. Just as military defense is a justified function of government, the health and well-being of the citizens of a country should be a  justified function of government. We are the only major country in the world that has a profit-driven health care system. It is morally wrong. Period.

i always laugh when i hear people try and paint pro-profit corps as the boogie man. our health care system problems are largely not because of profits. profits mean investment. investments keep the economy moving. no profits do nothing of the sort. but what do i know, im only a profitable company. my profits are used to better our company and we put alot of money back into the system and put people to work. the left has driven this pro-profit as being evil and unfortunately some actually believe it. this nation wouldnt be what it is if it wasnt for profit.

I forgot to point out one more thing. The initial $800,000,000,000 bailout that was given to the big investment banks (remember, the rich people whose investments run our economy) well, this $800,000,000,000 bailout was SOCIALISM and it was proposed by a Republican administration, was passed by a Republican Senate and was signed into law by a Republican President. So I guess this kind of show that profit-driven capitalism doesn't quite work out so well when you factor in stupidity and greed.

I forgot to point out one more thing. The initial $800,000,000,000 bailout that was given to the big investment banks (remember, the rich people whose investments run our economy) well, this $800,000,000,000 bailout was SOCIALISM and it was proposed by a Republican administration, was passed by a Republican Senate and was signed into law by a Republican President. So I guess this kind of show that profit-driven capitalism doesn&#039;t quite work out so well when you factor in stupidity and greed.

Matt J

SWGB

[quote="kkddbb, post: 612777"]i always laugh when i hear people try and paint pro-profit corps as the boogie man. our health care system problems are largely not because of profits. profits mean investment. investments keep the economy moving. no profits do nothing of the sort. but what do i know, im only a profitable company. my profits are used to better our company and we put alot of money back into the system and put people to work. the left has driven this pro-profit as being evil and unfortunately some actually believe it. this nation wouldnt be what it is if it wasnt for profit.[/quote]

Put down the broad brush and try something smaller.  No one is saying that all pro-profit corporations are bad.  Let me see if I can simplify this enough for you.

What we are trying to convey is the following:

Businesses who do nothing more than receive money from customers, and then pay their doctors with it shouldn't be able to not pay just because their profit margin dropped below 30% are morally and ethically wrong.

The whole point is to take out the unnecessary middle man.  It amazes me that people who preach about conservatism have no problem with the current system.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="kkddbb">i always laugh when i hear people try and paint pro-profit corps as the boogie man. our health care system problems are largely not because of profits. profits mean investment. investments keep the economy moving. no profits do nothing of the sort. but what do i know, im only a profitable company. my profits are used to better our company and we put alot of money back into the system and put people to work. the left has driven this pro-profit as being evil and unfortunately some actually believe it. this nation wouldnt be what it is if it wasnt for profit.</blockquote> 
Put down the broad brush and try something smaller. No one is saying that all pro-profit corporations are bad. Let me see if I can simplify this enough for you. 
 
What we are trying to convey is the following: 
 
Businesses who do nothing more than receive money from customers, and then pay their doctors with it shouldn&#039;t be able to not pay just because their profit margin dropped below 30% are morally and ethically wrong. 
 
The whole point is to take out the unnecessary middle man. It amazes me that people who preach about conservatism have no problem with the current system.

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert

[quote="Lake View Too, post: 612772"]The point is many of the services our government provides could be called socialism. Social Security, Medicare and the VA administration are three examples of socialized health care. We have to stop thinking that "Socialism" is this huge boogie man and face the reality[B] that if our health care is dominated by profit-driven corporations we are totally disposable sheep. Just as military defense is a justified function of government, the health and well-being of the citizens of a country should be a  justified function of government.[/B] We are the only major country in the world that has a profit-driven health care system. It is morally wrong. Period.[/quote]

and how much money do you think our federal gov't should spend on research and development of medications?

One way to help reduce health care costs would be simple enough -- open up the competition so that insurance companies could cross state lines. Currently they cannot. More open competition in the free-market reduces prices, not government control.  You may think that people will get cheaper health care if the gov't runs it, but you will pay more in taxes to cover the costs, and it won't be cheaper, unless the gov't threatens the non-payers with jail time and or hefty fines, and that just aint right. Doing so would basically be no different than a poor thug holding a gun to your head and demanding you hand over his share of your money.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Lake View Too">The point is many of the services our government provides could be called socialism. Social Security, Medicare and the VA administration are three examples of socialized health care. We have to stop thinking that &quot;Socialism&quot; is this huge boogie man and face the reality that if our health care is dominated by profit-driven corporations we are totally disposable sheep. Just as military defense is a justified function of government, the health and well-being of the citizens of a country should be a justified function of government. We are the only major country in the world that has a profit-driven health care system. It is morally wrong. Period.</blockquote> 
and how much money do you think our federal gov&#039;t should spend on research and development of medications? 
 
One way to help reduce health care costs would be simple enough -- open up the competition so that insurance companies could cross state lines. Currently they cannot. More open competition in the free-market reduces prices, not government control. You may think that people will get cheaper health care if the gov&#039;t runs it, but you will pay more in taxes to cover the costs, and it won&#039;t be cheaper, unless the gov&#039;t threatens the non-payers with jail time and or hefty fines, and that just aint right. Doing so would basically be no different than a poor thug holding a gun to your head and demanding you hand over his share of your money.

lakeview, don't confuse "Republican" with people who care. It is just another form of politician who are in for the power and money. Ronald Reagan was quite different than Richard Nixon, so enough with the lumping.  When you have a bunch of liberals changing to the Republican Party just so they can vote for the worst possible candidate, you get people like McCain, whom so many think of as the true representation of the Republican Party. It is all just politics. Leave that crap out, and think about the real consequences of legislation, and we will have a better gov't.

lakeview, don&#039;t confuse &quot;Republican&quot; with people who care. It is just another form of politician who are in for the power and money. Ronald Reagan was quite different than Richard Nixon, so enough with the lumping.  When you have a bunch of liberals changing to the Republican Party just so they can vote for the worst possible candidate, you get people like McCain, whom so many think of as the true representation of the Republican Party. It is all just politics. Leave that crap out, and think about the real consequences of legislation, and we will have a better gov&#039;t.

The point of this thread is that there are some services that the government should be providing, and  I'd rather have them administering a form of socialized health care  than a form of corporation bail-out.

The point of this thread is that there are some services that the government should be providing, and  I&#039;d rather have them administering a form of socialized health care  than a form of corporation bail-out.

30ashopper

[quote="MamaBear, post: 612655"]The next time you hear someone claim they don't want a "socialist government," send this [URL="http://www.waltondemocrats.org/node/886"]Socialist-Free Purity Pledge[/URL] and ask them to sign it. :roll:[/quote]
 
The angry left strikes again! :lol:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="MamaBear">The next time you hear someone claim they don&#039;t want a &quot;socialist government,&quot; send this <a href="http://www.waltondemocrats.org/node/886" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Socialist-Free Purity Pledge</a> and ask them to sign it. :roll:</blockquote> 
The angry left strikes again! :lol:

Linda

[B][/B][quote="Smiling JOe, post: 612797"]and how much money do you think our federal gov't should spend on research and development of medications?

[B]One way to help reduce health care costs would be simple enough -- open up the competition so that insurance companies could cross state lines. [/B]Currently they cannot. More open competition in the free-market reduces prices, not government control.  You may think that people will get cheaper health care if the gov't runs it, but you will pay more in taxes to cover the costs, and it won't be cheaper, unless the gov't threatens the non-payers with jail time and or hefty fines, and that just aint right. Doing so would basically be no different than a poor thug holding a gun to your head and demanding you hand over his share of your money.[/quote]


This has got to happen.  The Dems keep saying they are for competition and choice yet continue to ignore this one :pissed:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Smiling JOe">and how much money do you think our federal gov&#039;t should spend on research and development of medications? 
 
One way to help reduce health care costs would be simple enough -- open up the competition so that insurance companies could cross state lines. Currently they cannot. More open competition in the free-market reduces prices, not government control. You may think that people will get cheaper health care if the gov&#039;t runs it, but you will pay more in taxes to cover the costs, and it won&#039;t be cheaper, unless the gov&#039;t threatens the non-payers with jail time and or hefty fines, and that just aint right. Doing so would basically be no different than a poor thug holding a gun to your head and demanding you hand over his share of your money.</blockquote> 
 
This has got to happen. The Dems keep saying they are for competition and choice yet continue to ignore this one :pissed:

[quote="Lake View Too, post: 612800"]The point of this thread is that there are some services that the government should be providing, and  I'd rather have them administering a form of socialized health care  than a form of corporation bail-out.[/quote]

I don't know anyone, other than politicians, who is in favor of govt bailout of private businesses.   

I believe it is important to give incentive (possible wealth) to creative and industrious people who are willing to risk their own money and time, regardless of the industry. That incentive is what brings innovation and efficiency. It also brings wealth, and can also bring lower costs to the public. Eliminating that via heavy taxes or gov't operation, will take away competition and stifle innovation, creativity, and efficiency, as well as increase real costs, and taxes, while giving gov't expanding powers, and limiting freedoms of all kinds. 

Do we have a moral obligation to help people less fortunate than ourselves? I think so.  However, I don't think the gov't should force me to do so with the threat of jail time or fines.  I should be able to choose how I am best able to help people less fortunate than myself. The gov't would rather simply force me to throw money at the issue, so they can pay other people to help. Why not cut out the middle man, and let me offer assistance in my own way, to the charities I best relate to, or to the people who have impacted my life? I know what is best for me, not the gov't.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Lake View Too">The point of this thread is that there are some services that the government should be providing, and I&#039;d rather have them administering a form of socialized health care than a form of corporation bail-out.</blockquote> 
I don&#039;t know anyone, other than politicians, who is in favor of govt bailout of private businesses. 
 
I believe it is important to give incentive (possible wealth) to creative and industrious people who are willing to risk their own money and time, regardless of the industry. That incentive is what brings innovation and efficiency. It also brings wealth, and can also bring lower costs to the public. Eliminating that via heavy taxes or gov&#039;t operation, will take away competition and stifle innovation, creativity, and efficiency, as well as increase real costs, and taxes, while giving gov&#039;t expanding powers, and limiting freedoms of all kinds. 
 
Do we have a moral obligation to help people less fortunate than ourselves? I think so. However, I don&#039;t think the gov&#039;t should force me to do so with the threat of jail time or fines. I should be able to choose how I am best able to help people less fortunate than myself. The gov&#039;t would rather simply force me to throw money at the issue, so they can pay other people to help. Why not cut out the middle man, and let me offer assistance in my own way, to the charities I best relate to, or to the people who have impacted my life? I know what is best for me, not the gov&#039;t.

Lynnie

I think our government is a proponent of capitalism
 
 
and, socialism.
 
We just need a balance injected.

I think our government is a proponent of capitalism 
 
 
and, socialism. 
 
We just need a balance injected.

[quote="Smiling JOe, post: 612954"]I don't know anyone, other than politicians, who is in favor of govt bailout of private businesses.   

I believe it is important to give incentive (possible wealth) to creative and industrious people who are willing to risk their own money and time, regardless of the industry. That incentive is what brings innovation and efficiency. It also brings wealth, and can also bring lower costs to the public. Eliminating that via heavy taxes or gov't operation, will take away competition and stifle innovation, creativity, and efficiency, as well as increase real costs, and taxes, while giving gov't expanding powers, and limiting freedoms of all kinds. 

Do we have a moral obligation to help people less fortunate than ourselves? I think so.  However, I don't think the gov't should force me to do so with the threat of jail time or fines.  I should be able to choose how I am best able to help people less fortunate than myself. The gov't would rather simply force me to throw money at the issue, so they can pay other people to help. Why not cut out the middle man, and let me offer assistance in my own way, to the charities I best relate to, or to the people who have impacted my life? I know what is best for me, not the gov't.[/quote]

Once again SJ you've lumped health insurance and drug companies into one.

The only thing that could be stifled at an insurance company again is denial of service and higher premiums.

Drug companies are responsible for many new breakthroughs, but they're never going to fess up and admit they readily use government to fund these breakthroughs on a regular basis.  i.e. Universities equipment, eager grad students, and somewhat limited liability for testing.

As for medical procedure breakthroughs, show me one that resulted from health insurance companies other than 24 hour hospital stays for new mothers?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Smiling JOe">I don&#039;t know anyone, other than politicians, who is in favor of govt bailout of private businesses. 
 
I believe it is important to give incentive (possible wealth) to creative and industrious people who are willing to risk their own money and time, regardless of the industry. That incentive is what brings innovation and efficiency. It also brings wealth, and can also bring lower costs to the public. Eliminating that via heavy taxes or gov&#039;t operation, will take away competition and stifle innovation, creativity, and efficiency, as well as increase real costs, and taxes, while giving gov&#039;t expanding powers, and limiting freedoms of all kinds. 
 
Do we have a moral obligation to help people less fortunate than ourselves? I think so. However, I don&#039;t think the gov&#039;t should force me to do so with the threat of jail time or fines. I should be able to choose how I am best able to help people less fortunate than myself. The gov&#039;t would rather simply force me to throw money at the issue, so they can pay other people to help. Why not cut out the middle man, and let me offer assistance in my own way, to the charities I best relate to, or to the people who have impacted my life? I know what is best for me, not the gov&#039;t.</blockquote> 
Once again SJ you&#039;ve lumped health insurance and drug companies into one. 
 
The only thing that could be stifled at an insurance company again is denial of service and higher premiums. 
 
Drug companies are responsible for many new breakthroughs, but they&#039;re never going to fess up and admit they readily use government to fund these breakthroughs on a regular basis. i.e. Universities equipment, eager grad students, and somewhat limited liability for testing. 
 
As for medical procedure breakthroughs, show me one that resulted from health insurance companies other than 24 hour hospital stays for new mothers?

Didn't do it, SWGB. There are billions being spent by private industry to improve health technology, having absolutely nothing to do with drug companies.

Didn&#039;t do it, SWGB. There are billions being spent by private industry to improve health technology, having absolutely nothing to do with drug companies.

idlewind

[quote="Lynnie, post: 613006"]I think our government is a proponent of capitalism
 
 
and, socialism.
 
We just need a balance injected.[/quote]
 
 
The balance is found in what exactly is government supposed to do.  The rights we are promised is Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.  It is hard to have these rights in a community where criminal run rampant, fires rage unfought and the injured have to means to be transported to the hospital- thus police firemen and ambulances are legitimate functions of government.  This is just one example.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Lynnie">I think our government is a proponent of capitalism 
 
 
and, socialism. 
 
We just need a balance injected.</blockquote> 
 
The balance is found in what exactly is government supposed to do. The rights we are promised is Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It is hard to have these rights in a community where criminal run rampant, fires rage unfought and the injured have to means to be transported to the hospital- thus police firemen and ambulances are legitimate functions of government. This is just one example.

fisher

[quote="SWGB, post: 613051"]Once again SJ you've lumped health insurance and drug companies into one.

The only thing that could be stifled at an insurance company again is denial of service and higher premiums.

Drug companies are responsible for many new breakthroughs, but they're never going to fess up and admit they readily use government to fund these breakthroughs on a regular basis.  i.e. Universities equipment, eager grad students, and somewhat limited liability for testing.

As for medical procedure breakthroughs, show me one that resulted from health insurance companies other than 24 hour hospital stays for new mothers?[/quote]

If you think the insurance companies are tough on denying/reducing services, wait till you get a governmental unit telling you which procedures you can have and which you cannot.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="SWGB">Once again SJ you&#039;ve lumped health insurance and drug companies into one. 
 
The only thing that could be stifled at an insurance company again is denial of service and higher premiums. 
 
Drug companies are responsible for many new breakthroughs, but they&#039;re never going to fess up and admit they readily use government to fund these breakthroughs on a regular basis. i.e. Universities equipment, eager grad students, and somewhat limited liability for testing. 
 
As for medical procedure breakthroughs, show me one that resulted from health insurance companies other than 24 hour hospital stays for new mothers?</blockquote> 
If you think the insurance companies are tough on denying/reducing services, wait till you get a governmental unit telling you which procedures you can have and which you cannot.

[b]Government health services are often TOO lenient[/b]

[quote="fisher, post: 613525"]If you think the insurance companies are tough on denying/reducing services, wait till you get a governmental unit telling you which procedures you can have and which you cannot.[/quote]
 
 
I've heard your claim that a governmental unit will withhold more services than current insurance companies. On what do you base that supposition? Currently, medicare is in trouble partly because it pays for almost anything a doctor prescribes -- including procedures that may or may not be helpful. As a medicare recipient -- I can give you facts to support that claim. 
 
[I]Given some of the outrageous and often wasteful ways the private corporate world manages its business,[/I] perhaps the tired old line that "bureaucrats can't run anything" should go out the window with all the other cliches. Just a thought.

Government health services are often TOO lenient 
 
<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="fisher">If you think the insurance companies are tough on denying/reducing services, wait till you get a governmental unit telling you which procedures you can have and which you cannot.</blockquote> 
 
I&#039;ve heard your claim that a governmental unit will withhold more services than current insurance companies. On what do you base that supposition? Currently, medicare is in trouble partly because it pays for almost anything a doctor prescribes -- including procedures that may or may not be helpful. As a medicare recipient -- I can give you facts to support that claim. 
 
Given some of the outrageous and often wasteful ways the private corporate world manages its business, perhaps the tired old line that &quot;bureaucrats can&#039;t run anything&quot; should go out the window with all the other cliches. Just a thought.

The next time you hear someone claim they don't want a "socialist government," send this [URL="http://www.waltondemocrats.org/node/886"]Socialist-Free Purity Pledge[/URL] and ask them to sign it. :roll:

The next time you hear someone claim they don&#039;t want a &quot;socialist government,&quot; send this <a href="http://www.waltondemocrats.org/node/886" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Socialist-Free Purity Pledge</a> and ask them to sign it. :roll:

Sign the Socialist-Free Purity Pledge

Grayton BeachCam

Dune Allen BeachCam

Seagrove Beach SkyCam

Inlet BeachCam

Miramar BeachCam Majestic Sun

Santa Rosa BeachCam

Walton County Fair

Queens of the Tiles: Mahjong at Ovide

Live Music @ Fish Out of Water

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton

International Coastal Cleanup Day Was A Success In South Walton

Merchants Of Alys Beach Announce New Dining & Shopping Options

No beachcams yet

More cams

Include enough context for a reply on the first pass: who you are, what this is about, and anything time-sensitive we should know.

Write a clear note and we will route it fast

SoWal Contact Form

What helps the SoWal team reply on the first pass

Use these links when your request already has a clear destination.

Prefer a direct route before you write?

Use this when you are not sure where your request belongs and need the SoWal team to route it.

Questions, corrections, and quick help

Share newsworthy updates, corrections, community tips, or photography that can improve SoWal coverage.

Story tips, local leads, and photos

Reach the team for business visibility, partnership planning, or other commercial opportunities.

Listings, sponsorships, and business requests

Use this path for media coordination, press follow-ups, or requests that need a communications contact.

Press outreach and interview requests

Tell us what you need and how to reach you.

Send your note here and the SoWal team will route it appropriately.

Choose the quickest route for your message

Forum account areas

Log in to view member profile, alerts, messages, watched content, bookmarks, preferences, and staff tools.

Member-only forum areas use your SoWal forum account.

Use your forum username or email to post, reply, follow threads, and manage your account.

Log in to the forum

Log in to the SoWal forum

Find people and visit their public forum profiles.

Members

Enter the six-digit code sent to {email}.

Check your email

Join the conversation

Welcome to SoWal

Sign in to SoWal

Signature preview

Ads support our local stories, BeachCams, and community guides. If you use an ad blocker, allow SoWal, then check again.

Help keep SoWal local

Your feedback helps us make SoWal better.

How was this story?

Get local stories, events, and South Walton highlights in your inbox.

Stay close to the coast

Choose whether SoWal may use optional cookies. Necessary cookies keep the site working.

Your privacy, your choice

Site navigation

Submenu

Bite-sized stories, curated itineraries, and community events delivered to your inbox on the regular.

Sign the Socialist-Free Purity Pledge

Latest conversations

Write a reply

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton