Healthcare - A Privilege Or A Right?

I own my own business as well. I do NOT collect ANY unemployment, social security, housing assistance, medicare, disability, food coupons, or ANYTHING that I do not pay for myself, DIRECTLY out of my own pocket.

Unlike many on the right however, I do not label the less fortunate as unambitious crackheads. I am certain there are plenty very lazy, useless fucks with money and privilege out there as well, so stereotyping is not going to fix anything.

A country is only as strong as it's weakest member. If you were born into poverty and abuse for example, without help, you would likely perpetuate the situation yourself.

A truly strong and rich person, should have a moral obligation to help the less fortunate, and do good... not squash them down further, to build yourselves up.

Maybe you are in good financial and physical condition right now, but everything can change tomorrow. The "Dems are pro-welfare" mantra gets pretty old...

Even countries with decent, basic healthcare for all, allow their people to pay for outside care. Wealth will always provide more options.

If everyone in the US were to have some level of basic care, those with the means will still be able to pay for upgraded services.

It is not one-or-the-other, as the argument seems to come down to, for spin sake.

every american already has some level of basic care.

This is pretty much the best argument for universal health care. The amount of cash governments rake in from taxes and other shit should pretty much be a guarantee for the good health of its citizens. Gov still got no cash after taxes? Fire the idiots and hire someone else who can organize and prioritize their money better. Even if there's no money and the tards can't be fired, demand health anyway, you've pretty much bent over and paid for it already, they're just not delivering on a vital and imporant service that keeps a country's citizens strong and healthy. A strong and healthy population means a strong and healthy country. Seems like a no brainer, to me.

Maybe so, to some extent, but that is not good enough. If we can build the biggest bombs in the world, then I believe we COULD build the best healthcare system in the world as well.

How many people IN THE US are deciding between healthcare and mortgage payments right now?

And the idea that everyone has healthcare because you can use hospital emergency rooms for non-emergency care, is hardly a sensible argument either.

Education failed to teach anyone civics in the last two decades it would seem.

Re: education being a right, I think it is something that absolutely ought to be an iron-clad right in this country. The government should not only subsidize it but they should bailout every student loan on the books. Not only would this be the smartest investment they could make but it would also help boost the economy by freeing up a lot of money for people to pump back into the economy. That the govt is spending more on bombs and prisons is repugnant. Education for everyone is the only hope of getting us out of this morass.

Not everyone gets to be an astronaut, that's true. However, just because someone doesn't excel in a traditional academic environment doesn't mean they shouldn't get an education. Germany is an excellent example of a system where students who aren't cut out for the university are sent to vocational and trade schools to get an education after their compulsories.

As for health care, while it isn't a right in this country I don't know best to solve this. I don't want to see anyone sick or dying needlessly, but I also don't think it's fair to ask the people carrying the largest part of the tax burden to take on more. It won't be long before the immigration issue comes up after this passes and then we're going to be talking about adding 20 million illegal immigrants onto this plan.

ok, then what are you personally willing to give up for healthcare?
if its so important, what will you give up?

I need to read up on my Robin Hood. Anyways, you're a bastard, you know what I meant.

More than just that, a lot of people with excellent grades still can't afford to go to prestigious universities. The whole point of my rant is, life isn't fair. We have a free market here in America, most of our doctors aren't governments workers and neither are most of our professors. You aren't entitled to either, you have to work hard and make money to survive and prosper in this great country.

Bingo, no one is saying the system is perfect. As soon as someone is against the proposed health care overhaul some idiot comes out of the wood-works to call us rich white people who support greedy insurance corporations.

Oh is it really? Wow, how many tokes of your bong did you take this morning before you figured I didn't realize that.

Oh my god, you greedy white rich piece of garbage.

This is one of the emotional appeals used by ignorant liberals.

Same as everything else - a fair tax taken out of everyone's paycheck. You pay for healthcare anyway, so why not just cover it like all other security issues - like military spending... how do we pay for that?

Why do we need to fight insurance companies and pay for this coverage separately?

If I lose 30% from each paycheck, instead of 25% plus a health insurance payment, I would prefer the simplicity of the slightly higher tax - you pay either way.

This would actually be more fair for everyone, as everyone would pay into the pool, like for basic education, and for roadwork, and everything else you guys claim to hate, gets paid for now.

If you are rich, and you want better coverage, I am certain you will be allowed to pay more for it, as the wealthy will always get better services. Doesn't mean the have-nots should be screwed over.

I think this buffoon has contradicted himself more in 1 year than Bush did in 8.

For very few health care is something paid for by the recipient of the care. Whether in the US or in the EU, where we have a National Health schemes. Most pay for health care some way or another. The difference in the systems between the US and EU is our insurance is collected through taxes on our wages in the EU, in the US it's run be big insurance companies with them taking out a massive profit.

My Mother paid UK taxes most of her life and now she's retired and diabetic her health care is not subject to Medicaid it's her right to get health care for free is something she's paid for. The same with me and my cancer or Eva with her near fatal car crash. We were not asked for insurance cover or presented with a bill. We've already paid. This also goes for any drugs we need.

I would would wager we in the EU pay less per person for health care than the US. And most of us are glad of that. We prefer the inefficiencies of a Government run health care system against one run tor profit and shareholders. Which ever way it's run you will have to pay for it, the idea that Government can take on the extra cost without taxes rising is absurd. But you stop paying a private insurance company instead.

Judging by your followup post, you lied.

No politically biased bullshit

Why should I? As long as they stay off my lawn.

A History Of Reconciliation

For 30 years, major changes to health care laws have passed via the budget reconciliation process. Here are a few examples:

1982 — TEFRA: The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act first opened Medicare to HMOs

1986 — COBRA: The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act allowed people who were laid off to keep their health coverage, and stopped hospitals from dumping ER patients unable to pay for their care

1987 — OBRA '87: Added nursing home protection rules to Medicare and Medicaid, created no-fault vaccine injury compensation program

1989 — OBRA '89: Overhauled doctor payment system for Medicare, created new federal agency on research and quality of care

1990 — OBRA '90: Added cancer screenings to Medicare, required providers to notify patients about advance directives and living wills, expanded Medicaid to all kids living below poverty level, required drug companies to provide discounts to Medicaid

1993 — OBRA '93: created federal vaccine funding for all children

1996 — Welfare Reform: Separated Medicaid from welfare

1997 — BBA: The Balanced Budget Act created the state-federal childrens' health program called CHIP

2005 — DRA: The Deficit Reduction Act reduced Medicaid spending, allowed parents of disabled children to buy into Medicaid