Is There a ‘Right’ to Health Care?

An inherent right? I don't think so, but people that don't have coverage still get treated.

So let's see...46 million people in the US are uninsured - that's been shot down and brought no retort. But you will still hear the President quote this number as he desperately tries to save this sinking ship. Now that he has conceded nothing will get passed before the August recess, he will get to watch his eroding public support - erode even further. For the record, more people are against the healthcare ideas put forth by congress(Obama) then are for it. And the longer these bills are available to be read, the more comes out, the less anyone likes them. Won't it be a pleasant change of pace for your conngressmen to actualy get to read a bill before he/she votes on it?

Republicans should not be blamed(but will be) if no bill passes, as there is a democratic majority in both houses. Barney Frank has even gone on the record that he would love a single payer system, and if Obama says otherwise, well I call bs on that. There has been a marked difference between what Obama says, and what he does. It is no coincidence he is trying to pass these laws within the first year. After December, they will have no chance.

As to using other countries like Europe or Canada as models? You really need to get out more and talk to foreign nationals living here. I have never met one that wanted to be treated in their country as opposed to here.

Our system should be improved. Medicare/medicade is in horrible shape and is rife with fruad. But I have yet to see the govt run anything in an efficient manner, and I doubt an expansion of their role will make it better. When you are the regulator and competitor....well it doesn't work well.

 

Tweak and fix? This bastard needs to be blown up.

 

I have always taken the position that health care is a right because "life, liberty and pursuit of happeness" is hard to achieve without good health. But this does not justify socialized medicine or nationalizing the health industry. What it does call for is giving Americans decent health care at reasonable cost. The best way to achieve this is a market-driven approach to managed health care. The biggest problem in health care is the working poor: people who work for small businesses that cannot afford to offer health care. One solution would be to allow small businesses to purchase health care through associations. That would allow them to purchase health care at reduced costs just like the large corporations.

 

Here's the thing with healthcare - we already pay for everyone to have access to it, either through medicare/medicaid or ER visits which are never paid for.

Unpaid ER visits, or ER visits for minor care for medicare/medicaid drive up costs much more than a government plan which requires regular check-ups does.

 

Exactly. This is the point most people miss.

 

So I guess the last two fellows approve of Obama's plan?

 

I didn't know he had one yet.

 

So now we'll all have crappy care...how nice. :rolleye33:

 

I am certainly not in favor of any system that reduces the quality of care for anyone.

I'm not sure that Obama's system would do that though.