As the richest country in the world, why can't the U.S. provide health care for all of its citizens?

Question

We are the "richest" as far as GDP...

People mention Canada but what do they spend on drugs compared to the U.S.? The Scandinavian countries have very successful health care systems as well as the Netherlands....funny nobody's mentioned them.

Answer 1

because its too busy spending its money on the war in iraq

Answer 2

What does the government do well? Been to the DMV lately? The post office has a monopoly and they still struggle to not loose money every year and they have to advertise! Seriously, running to Uncle Sam isn't the answer as it's their fault that health care is screwed up!

Dentistry is not facing a crisis. People can afford self-pay or insurance. Dentists make a reasonable living, and the industry is competitive. The difference??? Government intervention.

It's like wrapping chains around an olympic swimmer, tossing him into the deep end of a pool, and when he drowns saying "....and he used to swim so well".

People get health care if they have money or not. Have insurance or not. Stories of the poor calling an ambulance to get to the hospital, or going to the doctor to get a sliver out are rampant.

Hospitals can and should be "for profit", however very few are now because of these government rulings.

The rich and middle class are currently paying a very high price for a very poorly run government health care system.

By 1. Remove government controls and 2. creating tort reform health care will by in large fix itself in America.

Answer 3

I can't believe what I am reading. Why don't we just all quit our jobs and just have no one work. Heck, we live in this country so the government should pay for everything. Worked great for USSR...or wait, it didn't work. Oh, and if I go to Canada for lasic eye surgery, I'll go blind, but if I have it done in the US, I'll be able to see.
We have the best health care in the world. If you need to use it pay for it, otherwise, don't pay for it. Its up to you what price you'll pay to live longer. We aren't forcing you to live a long life, so don't. You people just want to sit at home and watch your American Idol, Survivor, or what ever reality show is on and wish that you had a free ride, but since you can't find it anywhere else, you expect the Government to make every decision for you and spoon feed you too. We are the youngest nation in the world by far and we are one of the strongest in the world. Why??? Because of Capitalism and non government control. Some of these Nations have thousands of years on us, but we flew by them, because of our willingness to succeed. That is gone in America. Everyone is getting soft and lazy and that is what's bringing us down. Pure Laziness. Get a job and quit complaining about not getting your handouts.

Answer 4

There is a lot of misinformation out there on the impact of Universal Health Care for the Citizens of the U.S. Much of it is myths, spread by the ones that stand to lose the most. The American Medical Association, and the large Insuance company's Myths like other countrys that have it there is a long waiting list and people die waiting for procedures. That access to certain test are refused unless you meet the criteria. I think the number one issue is the cost, who is going to pay for it. As there is no free lunch in this catagory much of it will be paid by taxes. But if you take into consideration the hidden cost of our health care system that we have now. For instance the C.E.O. of G.M. has stated publicly that $1500 of every new car sold goes to pay for the health care of their employees and retirees, I would assume these cost are also in other industrys as well. We the consumer already pay that. The cost of people without insurance not going for treatment when a problem first arrives and waiting to it is much worse drives the cost up and since they cannot pay, we pay that in our insurance premimums. Any type of outbreak whether it be the flu or other illness gets worse by people that must avoid treatment because of monatary concerns, the loss of productivity. The list goes on. This misinformation is actually costing more in the long run because the longer we wait the more it is going to cost to impliment it. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

Because the government is too busy putting it into jets and limos for the government people to get around in. The money spent on fuel and transportation alone is enough to pay for something. When the government quits putting their hands into the kitty and the money starts going where it should go then maybe we will see change. But until this Organized Crime stops, it will never happen.

Answer 6

America has one of the worst budget deficits in the World and a nasty trade deficit with countries like China - richest country? I think not, largest number of millionaires, sure

Moving on - it is not that the US CAN'T provide universal healthcare for its citizens, it is that it won't. When needed, the money can be found to wage a war, even if it results in a deficit, yet the money isn't found for healthcare.

Clearly this means that the politicians have a different set of priorities than the people and that is why you vote somebody else in. The politicians don't have to worry about healthcare costs because they are wealthy.

Answer 7

GDP means nothing in the context of the richest country in the world. What is the GDP for those third world, middle-eastern oil countries?

I actually think Luxembourg is the richest country in the world.

Answer 8

You should talk to people in countries that have socialized medicine. In Canada, you can wait literally MONTHS for a lifesaving procedure. Many Canadians (those who can afford it) run for the border when they need health care. That's right, they come here, to use the health care system that you loathe.

Health care is provided for anyone in the United States. It is illegal for an emergency room to turn someone away because they can't pay, or don't have insurance. Makes the emergency rooms crowded with non-emergency cases, but they get the care they need, and the rest of us pay for it in the form of higher costs for ourselves.

Answer 9

First you have to ask why is it the governments job to provide you health care? The government has messed up just about every thing else it has taken over . Do you want 500 dollar aspirin (after all its FREE the government is paying for it)

Answer 10

For the same reason that the people in Canada ( not picking on Canada, other countries also ) pay about 25% of what we pay for our prescriptions. Our country, I guess, is susposed to subsidize all other countries. And we pay top dollar for everything that we get.

Answer 11

Because republicans can mess up even a wet dream.

We could, we should, theres money there, its just allocation of that money.
think about it 3 trillion was created to fund a war, when what do you think 10 billion would do to help the homeless?

1.4 Billion was allocated to the homeless recently nationwide.

2 trillion spent on this war under false pretenses, when
100 billion could go to education reform
100 billion could go to VA funding
100 billion could go to refomr medicare
1 trillion could go to a comprehensive health care program
and still have a few hundred billion for so many other better issues

Thank the republicans and your president for further misappropriations