Man politely robs bank for $1, lands free healthcare in prison.

"A 59 year-old James Richard Verone made a decision that would hopefully change his life for the better, without a job, and only accumulating bills, he decided to rob a bank for the grand total of $1. Now, how in the world could robbing a bank result in a reward that could better someone’s life? Free healthcare, that’s how.

Verone didn’t want to scare anyone. He executed the robbery the most passive way he knew how. He handed the teller a note demanding one dollar, and medical attention. “I didn’t have any fears,” said Verone. “I told the teller that I would sit over here and wait for police.”

The teller, however, did have some fears even though Verone never showed a weapon. Her blood pressure shot up and once Verone was handcuffed by police, the teller was taken to Gaston Memorial Hospital to be checked out. Verone said he was sorry for causing the woman any pain.

Verone says he’s not a political man. But he has a lot to say on the subject of socialized medical care. He suspects he wouldn’t be talking to a reporter through a metal screen wearing an orange jumpsuit if such an option were available in the U.S. “If you don’t have your health you don’t have anything,” said Verone. The man has high hopes with his recent incarceration. He has seen several nurses and has an appointment with a doctor Friday. The ideal scenario would include back and foot surgery and a diagnosis and treatment of the protrusion on his chest, he said. He would serve a few years in prison and get out in time to collect Social Security and move to the beach."

O____O. Really.

finally someone that proves what i have been saying, if you are that poor, going to prision is better than being ou of it.

finally someone that proves what i have been saying, if you are that poor, going to prision is better than being ou of it.

Being in prison is better than being in most situations in the real world. Prisoners get free education, free healthcare, free entertainment, etc. The only problem with that lifestyle is dealing with people who'll want to have homo-erotic relations with you or worrying about people trying to kill you. If it weren't for the fear of that, I'm sure we'd see more instances of this, just because prisoners have it way better than most instances in the real world.

Wow, quite a statement. Kudos to this man.

Being in prison is better than being in most situations in the real world. Prisoners get free education, free healthcare, free entertainment, etc. The only problem with that lifestyle is dealing with people who'll want to have homo-erotic relations with you or worrying about people trying to kill you. If it weren't for the fear of that, I'm sure we'd see more instances of this, just because prisoners have it way better than most instances in the real world.

he'll probably get psychological help if the above comes to happen too (not including death)

Things like this makes me love being danish.
But yea, kudos to this fella.

This guy gets my respect. Although, at this point I don't know enough about socialized medicine to be for or against it. All I really can say is that a majority of the rest of the world uses it, apparently. I need to look into it.

You know something's wrong with a captalistic health care system if pomegranate like this happens. Just sayin'.

You know something's wrong with a captalistic health care system if pomegranate like this happens. Just sayin'.

You know something's wrong with a captalistic health care system if pomegranate like this happens. Just sayin'.

I think it is a testament to our horrible prison system. We like to just keep prisoners out of society and don't do much to really rehabilitate them. We don't need to spend as much as we do on prisoners. For example people in California can get insane sentences due to the 3 strike law. Or the ridiculous amount of people we have in prison on drug convictions.

I think it also is a testament to how horrible America's healthcare is, but not because it is a capitalistic system. In a freer market a lot of things could cost less money so more people could afford them. There's no reason why ambulance rides need to cost as much as they do. Drugs could be deregulated so they could become cheaper like a lot of OTC drugs. The AMA a cartel that helps create a shortage of doctors. Insurance also drives up costs because people will charge everything to their insurance regardless of cost. Hospitals can charge insured people whatever the hell they want even if it isn't worth that much. Conversely, surgeries like Lasik are far cheaper because insurance tends to not cover it and force eye surgeons to offer competitive pricing.

Prisoners are given the basics in human right. The only reason people stay in there is because their rights are respected greater than they would be outside. There is no incentive to stay out of prison because that means they'll struggle to eat, struggle to find jobs, struggle find a place to sleep. That's not a broken prison system, that's a broken country. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. It's not something you should ever have to pay outrageous prices for; it should be covered by taxing.

To quote a friend who read your post, Matt,

in "a freer market" we'd end up with one company monopolizing the entire industry and raising the prices to insane heights because
what are you gonna do? Buy it or die

Healthcare needs to be completely taken out of the hands of businessmen.

Prisoners are given the basics in human right. The only reason people stay in there is because their rights are respected greater than they would be outside. There is no incentive to stay out of prison because that means they'll struggle to eat, struggle to find jobs, struggle find a place to sleep. That's not a broken prison system, that's a broken country. Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. It's not something you should ever have to pay outrageous prices for; it should be covered by taxing.

To quote a friend who read your post, Matt,



Healthcare needs to be completely taken out of the hands of businessmen.

Well, Americas prisons are terrible. Basically we do what we do for them because th epublic would be outraged at anything else. But the American system tends to fail miserably at rehabilitating prisoners.

Healthcare isn't a right. Anything that requires you take from others to get it isn't a right. People work in exchange for healthcare. It isn't something they are entitled to. You are entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to

In a freer market the hospitals and insurance companies would face real competition and they'd have to lower their costs to compete. Socialism will probably lower the cost we face atm, but not as much as pure capitalism could. It would also probably be more inefficient compared to a true private system.

The ideal system for me, though, would be to get rid of insurance in small, unnecessary cases. If insurance didn't pay for the smallest of things then people would be outraged at the prices healthcare providers are charging for them. Things like ambulance rides and quick doctor checkups don't need to be as expensive as they are but insurance helps keep them artificially expensive. Socialism shifts this inefficient insurance model to taxpayers.

EVERYTHING requires you to take from others. Are you against feeding the homeless, as well? I mean, we work to eat but there are some people out there who can't do that -- should they starve? What about those people in impoverished countries? Should we just say pineapple 'em because they aren't doing the world any real good?

Last I remember you'd never worked a day in your life and were covered under the umbrella of your wealthy parents. Didn't you once make a thread about never wanting to work, and how you think you should be able to just do what you want all of the time? I'm not sure if that's changed but if it hasn't then you're kind of a hypocrite. If you're not working then you shouldn't get healthcare, of course. Why should your parents pick up the tab for you? You're 19 or 20 now -- legally an adult, at least. Or maybe you're okay with being charged out the ass for healthcare and would gladly accept those charges upon yourself if you become ill. Or are you suggesting that some exclusions should be made? And if so, where do you draw the line? It's okay for your parents to support you out of obligation despite the fact that you're technically able to support yourself but not okay for them to toss a few extra dollars in taxes out so that everyone in the country has access to this "privilege"? The latter would certainly be easier on their wallets.

Since I don't know enough about the American economy for the other part of the discussion I'll post my friends response again

the inevitable result of competition is a victor and once that happens, it settles into monopoly
it already happens
look at microsoft, if the market were "freer" then the Supreme Court wouldn't have stepped in and busted them down, allowing apple to actually make some headway
better examples are mostly earlier in history before things were regulated as strictly as they are
the Oil industry in the early 1900s/late 1800s for example
there's a reason "Rockefeller" is synonymous with "rich bastard"
and of course the idea that getting to not die from a horrible disease isn't a human right is just plain absurd

EVERYTHING requires you to take from others. Are you against feeding the homeless, as well? I mean, we work to eat but there are some people out there who can't do that -- should they starve? What about those people in impoverished countries? Should we just say pineapple 'em because they aren't doing the world any real good?

I don't think the government should be used to force others to give to others. I'm not against charity. I am against forceful government redistribution.

Last I remember you'd never worked a day in your life and were covered under the umbrella of your wealthy parents. Didn't you once make a thread about never wanting to work, and how you think you should be able to just do what you want all of the time? I'm not sure if that's changed but if it hasn't then you're kind of a hypocrite. If you're not working then you shouldn't get healthcare, of course. Why should your parents pick up the tab for you? You're 19 or 20 now -- legally an adult, at least. Or maybe you're okay with being charged out the ass for healthcare and would gladly accept those charges upon yourself if you become ill. Or are you suggesting that some exclusions should be made? And if so, where do you draw the line? It's okay for your parents to support you out of obligation despite the fact that you're technically able to support yourself but not okay for them to toss a few extra dollars in taxes out so that everyone in the country has access to this "privilege"? The latter would certainly be easier on their wallets.

Since I don't know enough about the American economy for the other part of the discussion I'll post my friends response again

Yes, I have never worked a day in my life. I survive because my dad has yet to stop feeding me and giving me a bed to sleep in. My parents probably shouldn't continue paying for me, but they chose to. If I get kicked out I'll be forced to actually work or die which is fair enough. I shouldn't get healthcare provided by the government because that is forcefully taking other people's resources for my benefit.

As for "being able to do whatever I want" I do believe that, except when it harms other people. For example I shouldn't face legal consequences for shooting up heroine, but I should face legal consequences if I assault a person.

Meh, things getting out of hand with this. That man is smart, and I applaud him for doing what he needs for his healthcare however having to go to prison just to get the help he needs is a bit extreme. I won't be surprised if this gets exploded by national media and is used as an example in a pro-universal healthcare argument.

Well now that this has turned into a universal healthcare debate, I'm just going to throw out my support for Sarah 100%. All of her posts thus far have been excellent, intelligent and logical. Matt, all I'm going to ask you is if you do have health insurance under your parents, and to ask yourself what your life would look like if they didn't. I'm going to take a wild guess and say it wouldn't be as carefree and relaxed as it is now.

Problem is he was charged with robbery and not assault even though he had a weapon. This means he won't get any healthcare whatsoever. Pretty sure the suits in the government made sure of that.

I'm not sure of this guy's previous criminal, but he's beyond screwed now. People aren't going to hire him with a criminal record. He's arguably worse off than before.

And really, put yourself in the government's position. If they do give this guy healthcare that will encourage other people to disobey the law simply to have their health problems attended in prison. Can you imagine the mass civil disobedience that would ensue if they gave this guy healthcare? I understand that his health problems are severe, but I don't think he thought past step 2.

Problem is he was charged with robbery and not assault even though he had a weapon. This means he won't get any healthcare whatsoever. Pretty sure the suits in the government made sure of that.

I'm not sure of this guy's previous criminal, but he's beyond screwed now. People aren't going to hire him with a criminal record. He's arguably worse off than before.

Only VIOLENT offenders get healthcare? That is retarded. There's obviously an easy solution to that, though. Attack a guard.

Since this is all over the news, I don't think he'll have a tough time finding a job. All he has to do is explain the situation and most good employers would probably be completely understanding.

Only VIOLENT offenders get healthcare? That is retarded. There's obviously an easy solution to that, though. Attack a guard.

I know it's retarded. Kicking him back out on the streets will just encourage him to continue breaking the law until he gets the healthcare he wants. It's totally backwards.

Well now that this has turned into a universal healthcare debate, I'm just going to throw out my support for Sarah 100%. All of her posts thus far have been excellent, intelligent and logical. Matt, all I'm going to ask you is if you do have health insurance under your parents, and to ask yourself what your life would look like if they didn't. I'm going to take a wild guess and say it wouldn't be as carefree and relaxed as it is now.

I agree, Sarah has been pretty logical. And I do have health insurance under my parents. I understand how the current system can ruin people's lives because of the sheer cost of medical procedures. Personally, I might not be to bad off. Through my lifetime I can't think of anything major that has happened to me or my family members, but I understand what you're trying to get at. Hell, if I didn't have health insurance I might never have been sent to residential treatment for a year which, iirc, the tuition to the school was $60,000 paid for by insurance. I would have loved not to have went. Anyways, my point isn't that the current system is good. It isn't. It is terrible. It is a horrible mix of socialism and capitalism. There are ridiculous regulations and insurance abuse. Insurance companies charge ridiculous amounts and people overuse insurance and medical officials overcharge for medical care. Socialism would alleviate the potential bankruptcy people face under the current system, but what it does is just transfer the current system to the government and the only problem it really fixes is the amount of people insured. It fails to actually lower costs significantly.

I understand that socialism can and will work. I just really, really disagree with the fundamental idea of it. Forced redistribution is something I despise. I don't think the government should force peaceful people to do anything.

Problem is he was charged with robbery and not assault even though he had a weapon. This means he won't get any healthcare whatsoever. Pretty sure the suits in the government made sure of that.

I'm not sure of this guy's previous criminal, but he's beyond screwed now. People aren't going to hire him with a criminal record. He's arguably worse off than before.

And really, put yourself in the government's position. If they do give this guy healthcare that will encourage other people to disobey the law simply to have their health problems attended in prison. Can you imagine the mass civil disobedience that would ensue if they gave this guy healthcare? I understand that his health problems are severe, but I don't think he thought past step 2.

That is retarded. If the government takes away the ability for someone to provide for themselves then they ought to provide some compensation.