A base rate is funded by the taxpayers, activities (like smoking) that provide a significant and measurable burden to the system beyond what is funded by the taxpayers...
Except that detailed studies have suggested that, because they tend to die significantly younger, smokers actually put a lesser burden, over their lifetime, on the healthcare system than non-smokers.
Well before even a hint of a public conversation about universal healthcare.
Um...actually, no. The public conversation about universal healthcare goes back to the late 1800s, coincidentally about the same time that the march towards the government telling people how to live their lives started (actually, not so coincidentally, it was part of the same "progressive" movement which believes that we would be better off if "scientific experts" made our decisions for us).
working for a violent, racist Republican
I thought we were talking about Amazon. Jeff Bezos is a Democrat, or at least, the overwhelming majority of his political donations are to Democratic Party candidates and causes.
He has not acquired a fortune; the fortune has acquired him. -- Bion