I don't think too many of us would begrudge helping out in an emergency. The best way to pay for that is to make sure our dollars aren't eaten up with chronic and avoidable illnesses. Moreover, there are other ways to get healthcare besides a national system. A lot of people make decisions in choosing jobs and education with that in mind. I worked for the government most of my life FOR THE BENEFITS. I could have made a ton more money doing something else but it was a choice I made FOR THE BENEFITS. Other people may make different choices and I respect that. But I don't think people who arrange their lives to make SURE they have health coverage should have to be penalized because other people think they should be able to make other choices and still have their health benefits covered by the public, i.e., me.

The same argument could be made that people who don't go to school or continue their education or work should be entitled to an equivalent salary as those folks who studied hard to go to school, or otherwise worked dawn to dusk to have a good paying job.