Should U.S. healthcare be right or privledge?

Answer 1

It should be the right of every person to receive decent health care in this country.
Other nations do it; why can't we help those least able to help themselves.
Many people working today will find that their health care will soon be gone or they will have to pay for it themselves. That's fine for those who's wages are large enough to cover the cost & still have enough to live on, but many will find it a real hardship to pay for both.
The cost of a Doctor visit,15 min., is approximately $70 & rising!
Many who don't have insurance don't go to the Doctor because they cannot afford it. Some have minor ailments to start but left unchecked turn into larger problems, so should we just let them die. Children too?
No matter how much we may think that this is unfair, you have to be there in order to understand it. You who have the ability to pay are lucky, today, what about tomorrow? One illness can wipe out your savings, your home, car & all that you think you own. We are all only 1 step away from hospital & Doctor bills that we cannot pay.

Answer 2

This is a really controversial and complex concern. On the surface, I believe most people would agree it should be a right (that's why Congress passed the The Federal Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act - mandating any hospital with emergency facilities have to provide care for any one who seeks it, including illegal immigrants.) Unfortunately, the illegal immigrants seem to be using the emergency facilities for their primary care, and the hospitals - that's us - are footing the enormous expenses. Obviously, this can't continue indefinitely.

I really have second thoughts about putting my and my families health concerns in the hands of the same bureaucrats who "simplified" the Social Security and Federal Tax fiascoes, along with purchasing $350 toilets and $150 ashtrays. Can you even imagine trying to plow through all of the red tape when all you need is a flu shot - let alone if you need some serious care?

There's really just too much money involved in the health care industries to think the inevitable corruption and fraud wouldn't soon render the whole system in horrible condition. Check out the Medicare and Medicaid systems if you don't think so.

Answer 3

Neither. Taking care of oneself medically is very important, but if it were a right, then humans have seen this right violated continuously for the past several million years. Similarly, a privilege still implies that one is somehow entitled to it; one should pay for what one needs. I don't want to have to give my money to some lazy bum who isn't motivated to go get a job for himself and use that money to pay for his own medicine.

Answer 4

The health of a nation's population is essential to National Security, productive economy, and the general morale of the population. It also contributes positively to the national treasury when the population is maintained in good health rather than in a medically critical state of emergency care. It is in the national interest and yes it is a right to be healthy just as we assume the right to have good highways and clean water and air.

Answer 5

It's a right. So is a living wage. Neither of these things are priveledges, they are rights... the problem is, is our government willing and able to protect them? If they do not, what good is our government? Those whose jobs pay them enough to live and to have health care have no need for government on this issue, but they are really in the minority, as most Americans could be bankrupted by one or more family medical emergencies. The rest of us, most of us, are NOT being represented by our government. So why do we allow them to exist? Governments should exist for their fulfillment of the social contract, not the powerlessness or complacence of their people.


michael, how are you going to exercise your right to worship if there aren't enough priests?

Answer 6

Healthcare is a right.
A country as wealthy as the US should be ashamed that we have citizens who aren't covered with even the most basic of medical services.

Answer 7

Health care should be accessible to everybody. There is no reason why people shouldn't be able to take care of themselves and the current system in the US is an absolute sin. As long as the greed of the pharmaceutical companies and health care industry is the way it is though, people will continue to suffer and remain without suitable heath care, and this will only continue to get worse.

Answer 8

It's a privilege. Demanding service from others is never a right. How are you going to exercise your right if there aren't enough doctors? Health care as a right smacks of Marxism.

Answer 9

A right. Why are we virtually the last industrialized nation to do it? And healthcare costs a third less in those countries that have.

Answer 10

Right.