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Forum Post: There is no such thing as a free lunch

Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 19, 2011, 3:01 p.m. EST by NotOccupying (94)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

The OWS movement and the ideas I keep hearing out of it remind me of political signs that I frequently saw as a little girl that said "There is no such thing as a free lunch." I can remember asking my parents what that meant and their explaining to me that while one person may think that they are getting that lunch for "free", someone else like the taxpayers are always paying for it. When I hear you all talk about wanting a moratoriam on forclosures or wanting free healthcare or student loan forgiveness, etc I can only think to myself that there is no such thing as free housing or healthcare or education. The taxpaying population will have to pick up the bill for these entitlement programs and the economic situation in this country will get worse.

24 Comments

24 Comments


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[-] 3 points by hollypuke (21) 13 years ago

I'm Canadian...I have free healthcare. Hence there is such thing.

[-] 1 points by gtyper (477) from San Antonio, TX 13 years ago

Holly,

Come on now. I'm also Canadian, and it is FAR from free and worse it has serious problems.

When was the last time the doctors went on strike in America?

The waiting lists for relatively simple processes in America are extensive north of the border.

It isn't bad - but it isn't perfect.

[-] 1 points by hollypuke (21) 13 years ago

This is true it does have its vices and it technically IS NOT free...and brutal, once waited 4 hours to get my ear syringed. However considering the medical problems I have had in my life I do like the fact I haven't seen any 10 grand bills in my mail :P.

[-] 1 points by gtyper (477) from San Antonio, TX 13 years ago

Fair enough.

In the American system you probably wouldn't have $10k bills either so long as you had insurance.

With that said, I think there is some middle ground that is probably the best of both worlds. A government system that provides for basic care and a secondary market for more advanced care.

[-] 1 points by thenextsteps (21) 13 years ago

Canada has one of the best public healthcare systems in the world!

[-] 1 points by gawdoftruth (3698) from Santa Barbara, CA 13 years ago

nobody is asking for a free lunch, we are asking for the bullies robbing everyone else of their lunch for little more than A status quo symbol which they then BURN and WASTE to prove how much they HAVE is wrong. Stop the corporate oligarchy from STEALING and then WASTING everyone elses lunch. If there is no such thing as a free lunch take that to the corporate oligarchs. most of them have NEVER done a single thing to benefit society and have been eating a free lunch as parasites off the rest of us all of their lives.

[-] 1 points by thenextsteps (21) 13 years ago

Are you really trying to compare the millions of dollars spent on public options that everyone pays into so that everyone will recieve it, with the TRILLIONS of dollars GIVEN to corporations which only they will recieve but everyone has to pay into?

[-] 1 points by Cindy (197) 13 years ago

Okay, then fair is fair. No entertainment expense for business either. I don't care to buy your lunch, dinner, dance, trip abroad or anything else for that matter.

[-] 1 points by Tommietheturtle (3) 13 years ago

"Tinstaafl" uncle told me about this. It's intreasting that what one person or group feels they deserve is mearly an illusion of the no free lunch thing. Haha but I always said to people that agree with that statement that there is always a free lunch on the otherside of the fence, it's just guarded with armed personnel and you have too stay there for awhile. (a prison) is the best example of what a free lunch is, unless your born into fame and fortune then you don't have too worry about well anything! You agree?

[-] 2 points by NotOccupying (94) 13 years ago

No free lunch in prison. Taxpayers pay for the lunches given out in prison.

[-] 1 points by Tommietheturtle (3) 13 years ago

It's still free if your in prison and never payed taxes! A free lunch is a free lunch they exist we all give them out, there real but some people don't think they should be, thank god thier are good people alive to send thier money to the people who need it!

[-] 1 points by NotOccupying (94) 13 years ago

No its not. Its free to the person getting the lunch but not free the the rest of the tax payers who are paying for it.

[-] 1 points by Tommietheturtle (3) 13 years ago

Right so it's free! You'll be glad it is there fore you if you ever commit a crime and end up there.

[-] 1 points by NotOccupying (94) 13 years ago

Wow you must be high to not understand that it is not free if somoene else is paying for it.

[-] 1 points by Tommietheturtle (3) 13 years ago

Not high and very understanding that one person pays for it and one person eats it! I understand your objection but my comment is very clear. A free lunch exist on the otherside of the "fence". Do you think the majority of prisoners pay thier fair share of taxes, if they pay any? I kno that the imprisoned are clothed feed bathed and employed, they have something going for themselves. Do you really belive that your free lunch isn't attainable? That thier are good people who pay thier taxes and donate thier money too help feed people an you think they charge people for thier free lunch? I don't! I kno I given a majority of my earnings aside from paying my fair share of taxes to charity, I kno that it will be given back too me ten fold! Not with money but with the good grace of helping people that need it and not standing by and ignoring the problem, I honestly don't care if I receive a miracle because I know I did the right thing and that's what's important, ya now I don't have any money and live with my mom but Im not complaining about my problems I'm expressing ideals in a free and fair way just like you. Unless you think people are making money off of my comments then I'd question this sites intent. I just don't think you understand that good people exist and provide services and goods free of charge too individuals who are poverty stricken, I'm not but in the case that I was I know I'll be able too survive. I'm pretty sure tho that all this fuss between people on this forum is because there is no demand for somebody too please and that I'm sure the point of the "revolution" is to revolt not demand I don't think this is a hijacking!

[-] 1 points by kestrel (274) 13 years ago

they consider it a free lunch if daddy pays

[-] 1 points by rbe (687) 13 years ago

Not if our system is changed to a more efficient one they won't. We need a resource based economy.

[-] 1 points by ronimacarroni (1089) 13 years ago

There's free lunch in Zucotti park :P

[-] 2 points by NotOccupying (94) 13 years ago

Really? I thought those were being paid for by hardworking people who were giving you money. Not free at all.

[-] 1 points by Tommietheturtle (3) 13 years ago

I wish I could go there and see for myself the circles and groups of people I hate having to stand by and watch the media show me the 60seccond version : )

[-] 1 points by Traverse (2) from Lawrenceville, GA 13 years ago

Lol. Way to keep a positive view.

[-] 1 points by jobs (26) 13 years ago

hi Mr semilitrate read David Johnston's Free Lunch and see who gets a free lunch

[-] 1 points by Cindy (197) 13 years ago

I have done a lot of volunteer work and have received many free lunches. Indeed there are free lunches!