The categorical imperative isn't about "is it likely that everybody will act like me" but "would it be good if everybody acted like me". You'll likely not end humanity if you start murdering your neighbors, because most people will not follow your example. Your murder might not even get noticed, so even the statistics won't change - and yet you'll probably agree that there's an ethical problem involved in murdering your neighbors.
I do agree with you that we shouldn't use Kant as the one-size-fits-all solution. Don't rely on telling people (or people understanding!) not to throw their trash everywhere, just put up a trash can so they can throw it in there. It is a solid framework for judging acts, but has it's weaknesses of course. The whole "the murderer is coming for your friend who is hiding in your bedroom, are you allowed to lie to him to save your friend" thing is something where I don't agree for example.
> The US is making the message clear: "We will not provide you with socialized healthcare. You are free to pursue whatever medical care as you wish." Which includes going abroad.
Sure, externalizing costs will provide advantages.
I know what it's about. My point is that in many tough situations, following it leads to suboptimal solutions (not just for me, but for society). It is not a good way to decide the morality of many things.
>You'll likely not end humanity if you start murdering your neighbors, because most people will not follow your example. Your murder might not even get noticed, so even the statistics won't change - and yet you'll probably agree that there's an ethical problem involved in murdering your neighbors.
I would agree, but I don't need the categorical imperative to decide this. It's not as if this is a tough scenario that the categorical imperative made a lot easier to analyze.
I know this comment will trigger a bunch of people, but for me a sign of maturity is when people realize the categorical imperative isn't all it's hyped up to be.
I was a big believer of the categorical imperative since my teens - years before I had heard the phrase or heard of Kant. But the more I understood statistics and its role in the world, the more I realized the categorical imperative is only a first order way of looking at things. Once you take into account human psychology, and its inevitable spread statistically, you realize that in many cases, viewing things with a categorical imperative lens is not only futile, but counterproductive. One needs to take that spread into account (i.e. realize that all people will not behave as you do) to get an optimal solution. The question to ask is "What behavior/policy will get the best outcomes given the differing behaviors you will see in society?"
Personally, I realized I was dodging difficult issues by invoking the categorical imperative.
That's my thought on the categorical imperative in general. Regarding this specific case: Various commenters have already mentioned that some countries do indeed make it hard for you to use their healthcare if you've not been paying into the system all these years. I know one guy who ran into this - he spent most of his career outside making big bucks, and then retired in his country which provides socialized medicine. They told him they will not cover conditions he developed while he was not paying into the system (essentially, pre-existing conditions when he moved back). He has to pay full cost to get treatment for those services.
deanmoriarty is not the sole actor here. The US, as well as his country of citizenship are quite capable of ensuring they don't get exploited. If either country thinks this is abuse, they are welcome to modify their policies.
And BTW, yes, part of the reason people in the US get paid high salaries may be due to the lack of socialized health care. However, there is no implicit social contract in the US to spend that money for medical care in the US. In fact, I'd argue the social contract is quite the opposite. The US is making the message clear: "We will not provide you with socialized healthcare. You are free to pursue whatever medical care as you wish." Which includes going abroad.