Glasses and contact lenses should be free because I didn't ask to be blind?

[Lauren-green]

I saw this recent post of a person saying "glasses and contact lenses should be free because I didn't ask to be blind".. agree or disagree?

Personally I disagree as you could say that about anything, "medicine should be free because I didn't ask to be sick", "drugs should be free because I didn't ask to be an addict", "food should be free because I didn't ask to be hungry".

But in your opinion, do you agree or disagree?

Agree

Disagree

[weasley8]

I don't know which country you're from, but I believe that the US should have a single payer comprehensive healthcare plan. That would include eye doctors appointments and glasses. So it wouldn't be completely free. The individual would still have to pay a portion of it, but insurance would cover most of it. And the manufacturers would get payed the rest from insurance.

That would also help to prevent the prices of glasses from being inflated the way that they are. Currently, nearly all commercial glasses companies in the US were bought out by Luxotica, and they ramped the prices up ridiculous amounts, because there wasn't any competition, so they could. And people who wear glasses need them, so they don't have a choice but to buy them. They kept the brand names separate so as to give the illusion of choice, but the money is all going to the same place. There are still fringe companies that sell them for a bit cheaper, but they're hard to find, and they're usually quickly driven out of business by Luxotica, or bought out by them.

If there was a single payer healthcare system that covered this, they could refuse to cover ridiculously expensive brands, giving business to the smaller companies and preventing a monopoly, and also incentivizing Luxotica to drive down the prices. Most of the money that we're currently paying for glasses doesn't go to the people who are making them. It goes to the people who bought out the company to eliminate competition in the market.

[MajesticTwelve]

The world owes you nothing. Why do people insist it does?

[SuperManiac]

Disagree as making them "free" would probably make them extremely scarce and expensive. If optometrists and eye glass manufacturers and so forth were paid by tax dollars instead of voluntary customers, they'd have little incentive to innovate, improve efficiency, quality, reduce costs, etc. It might start to rival hospital costs where they charge over $300 for administering a dose of Dexamethasone which actually only costs $0.75 wholesale.

[SuperManiac]

I wouldn't think it inconceivable with such subsidies that a pair of bulky and most unfashionable eyeglasses might cost the taxpayer thousands of dollars or maybe even tens of thousands of dollars per pair.

[SuperManiac]

I tend to favor more liberal policies to progressive if we want to help people out in need. We could just give poor people money to shop around and purchase the most affordable eyeglasses while eyeglass manufacturers and optometrists still have to compete for their customers in ways that drive them to improve efficiency. I actually think that's a superior solution. I don't like it but at least it doesn't take away market incentives from the suppliers. Others might not need eyeglasses and find a more suitable use for that money.

[MrHopper]

In the UK it is subsidised for people on low income, its also available with money off for people with private health care, also companies which use computers or close up work will give you the money for an eye test.

I think if your happy with "perscription" glasses then sure its free.. but if you want stylish ones you should pay

[sejla]

Well without glasses or contact lenses I'd' be dysfunctional. I do think they should be provided to people who can't afford them. If you can't see a person can't work, drive a car and for me I would have a hard time walking. I"d have to rely on splotches of color and I wouldn't be able to see things like cars coming down the road. Everything is a complete blur passed about 4 inches in front of my face.

[DeviloftheValleys]

NOTHING IS FREE.

Payed by taxes does not mean free, and making everyone suffer that much (glasses are fucking expencive and lots of people have them) financially because of your bad luck is cruel and unfair.

[AmandaYVR]

Complicated, I voted no because glasses come in too many styles and pricepoints. Can't have others pay for peoples' more expensive tastes. But contact lenses... that seems fair, actually.

[TallAnon]

We call that "being entitled". The world doesn't owe you anything. All you have in this world is yourself and you have to look after you.

[ChocolateBrowny]

A man is born with a big dick
The man didn't ask for a big dick but found a woman with a big mouth to suck on it.
Should she feel sorry for him and suck on his dick? :D

[ChocolateBrowny]

Oh don’t worry, I’m just being followed around by vegans ☺️ the dislikes make me feel poooweeeerfffullllll hurr

[Liam_Hayden]

Nothing that requires the labor of another is or should be free. To do so makes the producer to some extent a slave.

[Jackieboi]

Money should be free cause i didn't ask to be poor.

[Jackieboi]

Tf is a Blinf person gonna do with glasses anyway, look nerdy, pull out a hipster look? he's f blind.

[Lauren-green]

More aimed at people who are sight impaired, but it was just easier for me to write "blind" 😂 but you're the first person to pick up on that haha!

[Jackieboi]

🙂🙂🙂

[CocoBat]

They are here, and so are transition surgeries here for some reason

[ecfresh]

Medical care shouldn’t be free

[Abdul78987]

I don't believe you should have to pay for glasses as bad sighting is out of my control

[Holy_Ghost_Fire]

I agree with them. If we can't control it, then it should be free to us.

[nerms123]

Sure, make it all free

[Nayrr]

I agree with your logic

[sarahlumpkin]

Water should always be free.

[Justbeyouandbehappy_]

I think that people work hard to make them

[Anonymous]

All medical care should be...

[ecfresh]

Nope

[bklynbadboy1]

Yesssss lol