No worries about messing up the thread, universal healthcare is a worthwhile discussion. From my perspective, I feel fortunate to be making a salary that allows me to pay into the system. Something in me feels that is "fair." I know a lot of people are struggling financially (I am too, I have some large debts from medical and other things which I'm paying off over time), and at the same time I've been blessed by the opportunity to provide for myself and my family.

Aside from healthcare, my next largest payment is taxes, some of which goes to Medicare, Medicaid, and VA. Again, I feel it is fair to be making those payments to help others. Part of having bipolar is not knowing how long I'll be able to work. So many of us are out of work or underemployed, and there might come a day when I'm in the same boat. In 2015 I had three hospitalizations and was on short-term disability for a while. It was scary to have uncertainty surrounding my income and having someone else make those decisions was kind of emasculating.