Why doesn't the US offer universal health care?

Answer 1

Most complex political questions have no simple answers. In this case the history of American political debate surrounding social policy provides a basis for an answer, but even then...

I will go over a few reasons why I believe the United States never has, and never will introduce universal healthcare.

1 When most other western representative democracies were experimenting with public healthcare, the United States had other political priorities.

Remember that in most of Europe (and Canada) public healthcare didn't become available until mid-century. Fierce debates over socialism and public ownership of social services raged from the early 1900s until after WWII. However, sweeping policy decisions and complex institutional development didn't follow until the frightful consequences of the great depression were made clear.

At this time, what has been called Keynesian economics became widely accepted in Europe (and Canada), and governments expanded their roles in maintaining basic standards of welfare. They did so in order to reinforce social stability, to lesson economic recessions, and in order to provide a secure foundation for future generations of citizens and workers.

It was a pragmatic move to provide consessions to organized labour, without giving up undue political authority, and/or moving towards radical redistributive political systems (ie communism)

At this same time across the Atlantic, However, the United States was embarking on a massive military reorganization, and a dramatic reconceptualization of its role as an international power. It was also geering up for an ideological confrontation with the Soviet Union. The threat of Communism, and the perceived similarities between communism and an expansive welfare state also made the American public leery of too much state control over essential services.

Therefore, while the American government did expand its role in guaranteeing social welfare for Americans dramatically, it didn't follow the Keynesian model as closely as many European States.

Another reason for America's lack of a public healthcare system is the role that private charities and social welfare organizations have traditionally played in American society.

In other Western democracies, churches and public groups and institutions have provided services for the impoverished in society. However, these groups have been particularly well organized in America. Politically, and culturally, America has always been geared towards community and local provision of basic welfare. In some ways this community orientation has deflected attempts by more progressively minded thinkers to introduce certain public services. (On a personal note, I would mention that charitable organizations has proven shortcomings in providing for the needs of the majority, however, so to have state institutions).

Finally, the capacity to change state policy and introduce universal public medical insurance would demand a massive amount of political power.

The private insurance companies and doctor's associations in the United States have inertia on their side. It would take, and this is the case for any huge political undertaking, a massive upswell of public demand for the American government to introduce universal healthcare. This public outcry would have to compensate fo the political power of established interest groups that represent insurance companies, tax payers lobbies, conservative associations, etc..

This has been the case for some decades now.

In conclusion, the best medical systems in the world all have an acknowledged public aspect. France, Japan, Scandanavian countries have all found that private coverage does not provide the security necessary for their citizens. National health standards support these conclusions.

Additionally, American industry would benefit greatly by sharing the burden of providing health care for employees with the broader American population. For example, the American steel industry is suffering because its European competitors do not have to pay their employees health insurance. This problem will only get worse as the American work force continues to age.

Having said that, countries like Canada are beginning to find that a completely public system has burdens of its own. Universal access means waiting times for expensive procedures. Additionally, many of the brightest Canadian researchers and medical professional choose to work in private American medical facilities that can pay them better and provide better equipment than public Canadian hospitals.

6 of one or a half dozen of the other. The best, most pragmatic solutions have been found in France and likeminded nations. Available private procedures for those who are willing to pay, and universal coverage for the majority of society.

Even this system has problems. But frankly, at the end of the day, what are you going to do. The future of healthcare rests in adequate public and private dollars for prevention.

Try exercising, convince your friends to exercise and we'll all be better off for it.

Answer 2

Cost and ignorance. Why can't the US offer a low level health plan? Why not make doctors work for it as a required internship into medicine? Taxes would pay for it, and if you don't like paying for what you don't use, why do you have car insurance? Have you been to the doctor at all or was it a free clinic? And I am assuming you have no family that would need it ie kids or a spouse. Or are you still on a parents plan? The truth is something needs to be done, be it a compromise in between the two extremes of none or all. Other countries have it, true. They also have mandatory vacation times and less hours per work week. But we are simply looking to stay healthy. Personally, my insurance for a family increased 25% this year (07) to $2500 per quarter, that's an additional $125 per month. Finger point, call me a socialist. Do the math. How many are without it? How productive can you be sick? Can America be? Wouldn't create jobs? Whatever it is, it needs to be addressed now!

Answer 3

Yes, to some extent. I'm in favor of a setup where the government has a public insurance plan that anybody can obtain and will subsidize the insurance for people with low income. It should not be required and anybody can get private insurance if they still want to. I'm a student and ex-military.

Answer 4

Because it's a bad idea.

There are many compelling reasons, but I don't have a lot of time, so I'll try to boil it down to a few points. Universal health care would be paid for by taxes (like all government programs). This means you and me. So if I never get sick, I am still paying for health care (I don't get to stop paying taxes do I?) even though I never use it. I don't know about you, but I don't like to pay for things I never use. You know who gets my tax dollars? People that smoke 3 packs a day, people that drive 100 in a 25, people that eat nothing but fried food and drink sodas, people that play sports and get hurt, people that take a piss and don't wash their hands, people that do no exercise. Please explain to me how stealing my money and giving it to these people is a good idea.

Seriously, who are you that you "deserve" to steal my money to pay for your mistakes? Are you God? What gives you the moral authority to steal food from the mouths of my children and give it to somebody else?

You do NOT have a right to good health. You do NOT have a right to MY money. Why must the solution to every problem be stealing money from me? Is that the limit of your intelligence? The only solution you can come up with is theft?

Answer 5

I havent a clue. Many coutries have it, most of all Europe offers universal health care for their people. It comes down to politics and their views; not to mention $$. More government Vs. less government.

Answer 6

It was tried by Hillary back in the eairly ninties. I cost the dems congress. Her solution was to tax anyone who got health care through there work and use taxes to pay for others who did not or did not work. What you are asking for is socialistic and countries that have it knows it does not work that great.

Answer 7

The National-Union feels that the US is in a budget crisis because federal spending is too high. It would cost more millions of dollars to place the system in effect and there are cheaper ways to decrease health insurance costs, http://www.voteprimous.com

Answer 8

Doctors, after 8 years of living like children in college, turn into nasty, bitter, and empty people whose only joy in life is making as much money as they can. So these zombies block public medicine viciously.

Answer 9

The excuse we hear most is that the U.S. might appear to be going "socialist" and we still haven't rid ourselves of an out-dated cold-war mind-set.

"The Truth Is Out There" - just follow the money . . .

Answer 10

To put it simply: cost.

What government services are you willing to do without in order to pay for this?