Pity James Richard Verone, 59, an unemployed, otherwise law-abiding guy who robbed a North Carolina bank of $1 so he could get arrested and get health care for several ailments. It should be a John Prine song; instead, it's America today.
http://www.commondreams.org/further/2011/06/20-1

No this didnt happen in soviet Russia or Cuba or China but in america but hey were number one right?

I saw that headline, very sad,, but I Didnt read the details

were there no other options available for him? why didnt he qualify for assistance for being below poverty level?

Very true this sounds more like a state than fedral problem. Alot does not ad up or make since with this story. There may need to be some deeper reading done.

He is hoping for 3yrs in jail so he can qualify for SS.

..i suppose if he were Obama's illegal immigrant uncle he would've had no problem...

is that one of the uncles on the side of the father who left when he was in grade school?


yeah, IM sure HE Was able to use that connection,,lol

That is bizarre, but not unfathomable. It is a sad sad day and more than likely he will get off since he intentionally committed a crime.

Becoming a criminal is not the best way to get insurance. He could have searched for private insurance agencies or simply just move to a state with better insurance coverage

well personally I agree with my father that criminals shouldnt get healthcare unless it is life threatening. If its just comfort issues then too bad. Thats part of the punishment for breaking the law.

I agree wholeheartedly with your father. (I await the bleeding heart backlash)

It is possible to unintentionally rob a bank?

Honest your honor, I went in minding my own business and all that money in there made me rob it! What was I to do with Ben Franklin coaxing me like that?

Here's your bleeding heart... : )

If we deny basic care for revenge (which is what it is to want to deny the bad guy) then we are NO better than they are. We are out of line to deny any human basic care and basic human rights.
I actually find it quite sad that some of you have such little regard for your fellow humans.
Yes, I know...they are the criminal, they deserve it, they broke the law.....bla bla bla
Again..you wanting them to suffer more than they are makes you one of the bad guys...sorry to say!!

Despite what you think you know..the health care in jails and prisons is sub standard at best. But I guess this guy is pretty sick and something is better than nothing.

It is a very sad statement about the state of our country when people have to resort to such drastic measures.

If you call common decency to a fellow human being a "bleeding heart" that pretty much says a lot about your heart.

Here's hoping you don't end up in jail someday. It does happen to innocent people too. But now I'm having doubts that you are innocent...

You just haven't been caught yet.

And I never will be because I don't break the law.

One day they will make a law that you may find immoral, as they did in Germany where it was against the law to protect a Jew and where the law states you must turn them in.

Then you will either obey that law or break that law.

I would hope you would break it and do what is right.

Laws are not always just.

Governments are not always just.

People should do what is right, irregardless of any law.

Did you read the article? He wants foot surgery. Again thats not life threatening. Healthcare isn't a right its something other people have to pay for. Why should tax payers pay for criminals? We already have to pay to feed and house them. They have weight rooms and libraries.

Why is it common decency? Lots of people outside of jail don't have healthcare, why should prisoners get better than them?

People outside of Jail at least have a choice to seek solutions. People inside of jail cannot.

The fact that people outside of jail don't have health care is also a big shame. It is not a question who "deserves" decent treatment or healthcare more than someone else. Everyone should have some kind of healthcare.