[danparsonson]

I think that's quite a naive and simplistic view of human nature but let's assume it's all true - what's the benefit of food poisoning? Because one either thinks the food is safe to eat or not; why would someone knowingly poison themselves (assuming they expected to survive)? Do you see what I'm saying? Removing the financial risk still leaves the huge health risk - food poisoning can be deadly, and even if not, enormously unpleasant.

[mypastself]

I’ve actually had food of questionable provenance myself, including oysters bought from a sketchy street vendor in an Asian country - and I’m not even a particularly risk-taking type.

I accepted some degree of health hazard for a pleasant meal. Let’s say someone managed to convinced me I was also at risk of losing a great deal of money in the process. I might have declined the vendor’s offer then…

[danparsonson]

OK well that's a fair point; in any case I don't find it a compelling counterargument to socialised healthcare. Having lived in two different countries with such a system, to my knowledge hospitals do not fill up with people recklessly endangering themselves just because they don't have to pay for treatment. Far more common are accidents, and we all have those from time to time - a paid system such as that in the US punishes people for being poor and/or unlucky.