Why does the USA consider itself to be the Greatest Country on Earth and yet it still doesn't have?

Question

a basic human right like government-provided healthcare?

A poster on another question thinks we Brits are "oppressed" because we have to pay a TV license and don't live in America. Well we have all the "freedoms" you have, freedom of speech etc (how do you think the Muslim fanatics get away with it otherwise?), multiculturalism - and you Yanks pay tax too!. Plus we don't have to PAY to see the doctor when we are sick (seems barbaric to me that anyone should have to do that, like being treated when you are sick is some sort of luxury).

Is this just more American ignorance about the rest of the world that they still seem to think we are all medieval serfs in Europe?

billyandgaby - healthcare is right for all human beings, not a "freemarket" way for people to make money, surely? Do doctors in America take an oath to serve "only if they have enough money to pay me?"

So what happens if you can't afford to pay doctor's fees? You die???

Richard H - I'm sorry but thats BS about people "not making provision" for themselves - its not all loafers and dropouts - everyone, even decent working people - go through bad patches sometimes - illness, redundancy, unemployment, birth of children causing fall income etc. I myself have always worked hard but have occasionally found myself in Shite Street financially (through illness when I was unable to work for a long time). No it was not somehow "my fault" I was not making "no provision" for myself, I just geuninely needed a helping hand. At least I knew I would be cared for medically.

I am expecting my first child and money is tight as I have been off sick a lot in my pregnancy through pregnancy related complications but I don't have to worry about paying for my medical care. I know my child and I will be given a good standard of care without having to pay "bills" for it and surely that is just humane?

As for "why should the rest of us help them??" isn't it called "humanity" to want to help the less fortunate or are you completely selfish and self-centred?

Answer 1

Sorry our constitution does not mandate government health care. It does let me post a sign that says "Trespassers shot on sight" and then use an M-4 to shoot you with. So stay off my lawn, you commie pinko!

Answer 2

I swing right and left on this, in the UK we are often too quick to judge old colonial countries. You have to understand the genetic makeup of them.
These peoples ancestors were go getters, they didn't want to live in Europe, where you were born into your station, they wanted to make their own destinies, not dictated by birth (although slavery and partition made a mockery of that).
If they didn't work and provide they would have died, simple as that, nobody to sort you out, feed, cloth you, wipe you **** and more relevantly give you medical care. Medical care was a privilege. They still see it like that. In some ways I admire this mentality.
Just because it's a different system does mean it's wrong!!
Couldn't you also ask the question, if somebody makes no provision to provide for themselves, why should the rest of us help them?
I know the answer to that is a deep social one (not everybody has been fortunate to be brought up with a stable family etc) but it is a valid question.

Answer 3

Health care is not a right. Health care is a service offered by a provider to a consumer. If there were no doctors then nobody could offer the service. How can something be a "right" if it can be discontinued by a lack of providers? Free speech is a "right" because you don't need somebody to give it to you; you just open your mouth and speak. Where was the "right" to healthcare for the last 5000 years of human history before we discovered medicine?

Furthermore, if you live in a socialist country then you are a medieval surf. The government decides who lives and dies (your precious healthcare) and who is rich and poor (wage controls). Who cares if the leaders are elected or a monarch? They are still an aristocracy that controls your life.

Unfortunately, America is drifting toward socialism. So don't feel lonely, we'll vote ourselves into serfdom soon.

Answer 4

You do rather make it look as though public healthcare is free. It has to be paid for by the taxpayer. It has to be said that anything provided by the public sector as free at the point of sale will be abused both by the user and by those running the service. And it is, big time. That is why it is imploding, it is trying to satisfy unlimited demand, (increasing with immigration) with finite resources. You state that healthcare is a basic human right, so who do you sue if you don't get it? what if we collectively decide, as taxpayers, that we simply are not prepared to pay higher taxes to fund it. Who do you sue to obtain your so called human right? Much of this anti-Americanism comes from educationalists and the TV media, it is fashionable amongst lefty/liberals, people who have never grown up and hate those who produce the wealth.

Answer 5

If life & liberty are rights guaranteed by the US Constitution how can it guarantee life when treatable illnesses arise and lead to death because of poverty?

If a treatable illness, untreated through poverty, leaves you crippled where is your freedom?

If the pursuit of happiness is a right enjoyed by all Americans why are so many of them killing each other out of rage and frustration (30,000 gunshot deaths a year)?

The annual death rate from crime and disorder in the US is 20 times higher than the death toll to American soldiers in Iraq. So why are an increasing number of Americans calling for withdrawal from Iraq? Their soldiers are more likely to be killed at home than in service, especially the black ones!

It is the ability to ignore the facts and have anything that money can buy that makes the USA the greatest country in the world, unless you have no money of course!

Answer 6

Your answer lies in the responses you have received by regular Americans - if you can't make money off it or shoot it why the hell would they want it in their lives - but then I am a jaded Canadian who sees all to clearly what goes on in my neighbours yard! We may have "universal" healthcare but we pay for it in our taxes and in some places we have to pay user fees too - BUT - I would never be turned away when I needed help if I didn't have the cash to cover it. - America (in gerneral, there are some who do have a clue) does not think beyond its neighbourhood borders let alone care to learn one thing about the countries next door!

Answer 7

What's your tax rate? What do you pay for a gallon (liter) of gas? We are currently paying about $3/gallon. Doesn't Ireland pay about $7 US/gal? I live near Canada where they also have gov't provided health care but it is not free. In addition to their usual tax on goods and services they also have a 7% tax to pay for gov't services such as health care and pay about $1.20/liter of gas. That's about $4/gal US funds.
I also know that there are long waiting periods for some health procedures so instead of waiting, some Canadians prefer to come to the US for the procedure.
I'm certainly not implying that the US health care system is not with out problems and health costs here seem to be out of control.
I have a very good health care plan which is provided through my place of employment.
I believe that most Americans have access to very good health care.
Why do you have such a negative opinion of America?
Perhaps you are ignorant about Americans because I have never heard Europeans referred to as medieval serfs in my country.

Answer 8

Well, no you don't die. You simply rack up 100's of 1000's of dollars (or 'euros' hehe) in medical bills until someone takes pity on you and starts a charity event to help you. We take care of eachother.

The difference between English and Americans....
The English think 300 miles is alot.
We americans think 300 years is alot.

Answer 9

You are right. Britain is similar to America. All Americans like their country. We like Britain. We view them as the same as America; you are probably just as advanced as US when it comes to technology, as we view other countries such as Italy and Germany technologically advanced also. We don't view you as medievil still. Where did you get that idea from? We are not all rude, which some people in other countries think. I mean, we have some rude people, but every country has some. Most people in the US have European blood as do I (I'm part French and Scottish, with possible Italian blood also) Some of us don't like your government though, because your prime minister agrees with everything George Bush does. I like my country, but not exactly my government. I don't agree with a lot of what George Bush says, but he can't ruin my love for the country. We live in nice homes, get to go to good colleges, aren't forced to fight in the military, unlike many countries. In America, we can get the most recent technology, such as video game systems, where is takes some less fortunate countries, such as Mexico, several years to get that same technology. By the way, in my state, New Hampshire, we do not have to pay special taxes. That's other states, such as Massachussetts and Maine. We are lucky in that way. Hope this explains everything well!

Answer 10

Government health care isn't a basic human right. Generally speaking the US and Britian are the best and most free societies in existance. Thats why everyone is trying to live here, stop listening to the media.

Answer 11

It's only the USA that considers itself the Greatest Country on Earth. Thank God I'm a Canadian. I LOVE my country, and I'm proud of my country. I wouldn't knock another country, even if I do think that Bush is a warmonger and an idiot, amongst other things.
But you've gotta hand it to the American people. They voted him in for a second term!