Why does this country not have health care, and we're the richest nation in the world?

Answer 1

Because the Coporations are in bed with the Government. Hate to break this factoid to you, but....... Think of it like this, if you were really rich, like from healing people, and you could buy a senator to protect your money making scheme, wouldn't you like chocolate rabbits more? Lenny?

Answer 2

OK I was just discussing that the other day with a lawyer's wife--friend of mine. Plus I have always wondered that and thought that I was and still am ashamed of our country for that reason. She told me and it made sense. OK--the insurance companies are the main ones doing this. They front the politicians money for campaigns and continue doing favors. Although politicians see that there needs to be a change, they can not get past the money and that is one reason that money is so evil Those people should burn in Hell. I swear--I would move to Canada if I could. Stupid Americans believe that if we had a universal health care plan that some people would not get the good treatment that we get today. I totally disagree b/c what could be worse--a lot of people here get no treatment at all b/c they are scared of the bills. Plus if you do get treatment w/o insurance you have to pay thousands of dollars (experience) and that is not fair. and what really is the crappy thing--Bush is or has made it a law that we can not file medical bankruptcy. He is such an idiot and everything he does confirms that.

Answer 3

1) We DO have health care, just not socialized medicine(yet).

2) We're NOT the richest nation in the world, we're the biggest DEBTOR nation in the world cause we're always taking money that our people earn, and giving it (unlawfully) to other people who don't earn it.

3) All socialized medicine would be, is a wholesale extention of #2, and our medical care would grind down to that of a third world nation or banana republic.

Answer 4

It all comes down to money. It really is a complicated problem because so many people are making money they way things are now. Here are a few shots...
Pharmaceutical companies make big bucks off of Americans. We pay far more for meds here where they are manufactured than those who buy the same med in other countries. You may wonder why we pay more. Simple, we can. The pharmaceutical companies know that and us it to their advantage. We pay for the research into the meds and the rest of the world benefits. Pharmaceutical companies then pay lobby-jerks to convince politicians it is a good system. More money changes hands there.

Very simplistic..you get the idea.

Answer 5

Because the richest people are those who have the money from health care and it's subsets. Why would they want to spread that amongst a nation?

And for the one who said Medicare and Welfare? You need to get a reality check with the systems? You are fortunate you've not needed either one - they are not easily available - they are not simply "income based" - my family of 3 is more than economically 17% below the poverty level, but we don't qualify for assistance - why? because we are in the two year gap between disability being approved and Medicare kicking in - you want to know what's really wonderful? When medicare kicks in? Out of the $1175 my husband gets - they will be taking $275 plus we will have to pay out of pocket $1500 before any of the benefits kick in - since Medicare Part D started - which was so grand and glorious - patients like me who had been able to get some assistance directly from the pharmaceutical companies, no longer can, as they have stopped their patient assistant programs - so now for the next year out of my $665 I have to pay for my medication out of pocket plus dr's visits every 3 months for the prescription, since the FDA and AMA decided there was too much drug distribution and it needed closer monitoring - now this may not mean a lot to you - but we don't have a vehicle because we can't afford one, we don't have public accessible tv, we can't afford one, we do have internet because we're under contract and until my brain tumor reached proportions that rendered me unable to answer the telephone for HSN anylonger, we have to maintain the bill, but then it will go. We do have a house payment and it's cheaper than renting, so we try to keep it up, gas prices are going up, so taxi fare goes up, and neither of us can walk any distance, heating fuel is going up, and so does electricity, and now that I have metal poisoning, I can't eat canned goods, they have to be frozen foods - do you know what frozen vegetables cost compared to buying 2nds on canned goods? So, it would not hurt my feelings one bit to see this nations insurance companies and pharmaceuticals, and doctors all become federal employees who have to live and work, just as my husband and I did driving trucks for a living following their rules and paying our taxes, until to no fault of our own, we were no longer able to do so - and we are neither one overweight or elgible for food stamps. So, DUH to the first respondent for thinking the solution is out there, because I'm tired and sick and tired of wondering every month if I can afford to keep my utilities on and eat? Have you ever had to worry about that? Was it because we didn't plan ahead? No, that's part of the problem. We have life insurance and because of that, it counts against our needs - go figure, just because we want to be able to bury each other with our little $25,000 policies, it is counted against our actual income and expendiutures and formulated out and we're not eligible for any state or federal assistance - but we can't refinance our home because we don't make enough money! So, where's the justice for the working man in the richest nation in the world?

Answer 6

this is why were are the richest the green eye monster lives here. hate to give the same to everyone might miss out on some money i have asked this ? every time i pay my insurance and for some reason i sell it to well (life not medical)yet good money in this field by the way .

Answer 7

We are not the richest country in the world. We have so much debt, we have loans with China that we will never pay off.

Answer 8

I agree with dumpfinds
Have you ever tried getting insurance with a condition? I was turned down because I have pre-diabetes,HBP and PCOS.
Tried to get medical assistance however my husband and I make too much money..My question is, if we made too much money how come we are living in poverty?
The healthcare industry wants everyone to be healthy but they can not provide health insurance for those who can not afford it.
As much i love this country,I am ashamed on who we have running it

Answer 9

Because we don't value human resources. We value things that you can put through the Wal-Mart scanner (consumerism), or the Wal Street ticker. When we switch from a consumption based economy, into an investment based economy then we will value human capital.

Answer 10

Because free health care is too socialist and that scares Americans.