Jeff Gannon style softball question for conservatives

I am having problems getting my simple and closed liberal mind around a concept and would like some help on it. I seriously want a conservative to explain this to me in terms that I can understand.

Why is nationalized health care seen as socialist and irresponsible but the Patriot Act is seen as patriotic and necessary?

I have problems with it because to me they both do the same thing. I am told that the Patriot Act is necessary to prevent terrorist attacks and keep us safe. Not having it is reckless. Let's say I accept that giving up some liberty is the patriotic thing to do.

Why then isn't nationalized health care something that people who are for the Patriot Act also support then? Isn't it's purpose to better protect our citizens from disease and prevent them from dying of common illnesses. Seems to me that would be the patriotic thing to do.

In 2001, more Americans died of food poisoning than terrorist attacks. Should Americans be dying of food poisoning? I know some cases are bad, but you would think that we could better prevent food poisoning deaths or flu deaths than stop a terrorist hell bent on killing someone.

There were also more deaths by violent crime using guns in America on Americans and by Americans. Where are the people saying that gun owners need to give up some of their rights to keep Americans safe?

So someone explain it to me in a way a simpleton liberal like myself could understand. We don't think the government should be involved in protecting us from everyday threats, but that they should use extraordinary methods to protect us from a threat that will target only a small percentage of our population. The flu, cancer, and other diseases can affect everyone. What are the odds that Osama bin Laden is going to target Ottumwa, Iowa?

Is it because we don't get to blow things up or use our military against diseases? I then propose that we guard all clinics and hospitals with MP's and any school where a flu or lice outbreak occurs gets leveled with a bunker busting bomb. That will teach those entities that hate us for our freedoms. We can call it the war on germs and anywhere there are germs, we will also put an M1-A1 Abrams tank.