Why are we the only country in the civilized western world that does not have universal health care?

Question

Why would anyone not support universal health care besides the health insurance corporations? How can we afford to let people suffer because they cannot pay for health insurance or are rejected by them? Shouldn't anyone in the United States have the right to medical care for free?

I just cannot understand why anyone wouldn't want this. I know there are A LOT of conservatives on this board so please enlighten me.

We already have a socialized education system, free medical coverage for the military and senior citizens. So why not cover everyone?

For those that argue that our healthcare system will decrease in quality, there is no proof that it will. In fact, if you take a look at countries like Canada they have a much better system.

Answer 1

According to the most recent listings US was 37th in the world for health care systems yet twice as expensive as the average of those above us.
Criticisms of Canada and UK such as from Scenic Point and Let them Eat ignore the fact that thier health care systems do a better job than ours of keeping thier population alive and healthy. (both countries have higher life expectancy and healthy life expectancy and lower child mortality than the US).
So unsourced anecdotal examples mean little.

Answer 2

When has the American government ever took over any system from the private sector in the last 40 years and made it better? You think health care is bad now, just wait till the politicians get their greasy hands on it. France is a good example, I dont have a link but a TV news report recently that I saw told how the french government is going deeply further into debt over their health care plan. My state started its own blanket health care plan a few years back under a Democrat governor. Now after years of corruption, scandal, abuse and rising taxes from this system the present governor, who is also a democrat, had to shut it down. For the Federal government, it will be the same, but on a much larger scale. Hold on to your wallets if universal health care happens.

Answer 3

Because there are people here who have an infatuation with the idea that privatization = better. (I mean, just look at how great privatization is for meds. So great since the Rx companies all compete, right??) Also it is based on selfish greed, coupled with a lack of concern for the well-being of others. Most of this comes from conservatives, but some on the left share this view as well- that people don't want to pay for OTHER people's way. It is just not seen as a public service like roads or firefighters. There is no sense of collective good- only "me first and F the rest."

The for-profit industry has led to reduced care, and reduced quality of care. The bottom line is NOT to keep people healthy and take care of them, it is to make money. This should not happen in the wealthiest country on earth.

Chalk one up for me for the universal system.

Answer 4

I'm a Conservative and I will tell you what I think about Universal Health Care.
First off I do not trust our Government to take care of us.
For example just look at what they've done to our Social Security System.
They have taken that money which was only supposed to be used for our retirement and used it for other things almost bankrupting the system.
Our Public Educational System is in shambles and the level of education that the students receives is low quality.
There are Seniors graduating from public school's who can barely read or write.
And wasn't the Lottery originally set up to help raise money for Schools?
I really fail to see that happening.
The County Hospital which provides medical care to the poor paid for by the Government is probably the worst place a sick or dying person can go to for help.
They will make you wait 7 or 8 hours before seeing a doctor
And then the doctor won't even know how to help you because they don't really care about helping you.
I know I used to have to go to the County Hospital for all of my medical needs.
A condition I have was diagnosed during a physical by a doctor who was evaluating my health for a job.
While I had been to the County Hospital on numerous occasions trying to get a doctor to tell me what was wrong with me so I could get some relief from the pain.
One doctor told me that if I didn't think about the pain it would go away.
That's what you can expect in the future from the medical field if we have Universal Health Care.

Another thought I have on this issue is this.
If we allow the Government into our lives so much so as to rely on them for our very survival (meaning medically) then how are we going to keep our freedoms intact?
They will figure they own us and can control us or do whatever they want to us concerning our health if we allow them to do so.
I for one do not want to rely on our Government for anything because I just don't trust them.
Look at how our Soldiers are treated when they are injured or sick.
Most of them are left to rot and the conditions of the hospitals where they are treated have been found to be unsanitary and lacking in every aspect of the medical field.

I currently am covered through Kaiser Permanente which is managed health care.
And I can tell you this much for sure.
Even though I am paying for it the quality of care I receive is really poor and sometimes I'm left without being diagnosed unless I yell and complain or constantly switch doctors until I stumble upon one who will help me.
That's because the doctors work for my HMO provider and take their orders from them and their main objective is to make as much money as possible for their boss by any means possible even if it means ignoring a patient who goes to them with health issues.

Universal Health Care won't be any different in fact I think it will be worse.

Answer 5

It would take alot of info to cover this.
If you wanna discuss it you are welcome to email.

But briefly, we do have some socialized healthcare systems.. and they are failing. Medicare is mismanaged heavily. Medicaid, do you know how many immigrants are (legal and illegal) are on it.. and no one else (other country) is taking in as many immigrants as the USA steadily.
CHIP ( the Childrens Health Insurance Program ) a good program they are attempting to expand, probably the best off of them but we are looking at more taxes to pay for it.

Medical lawsuits, until we cap how much people can sue for its not going to be affordable because with teh current system doctors and hospitals will pass on the cost of their insurance. If we dont let them pass on the cost then they wont be doctors.(quit the practice)

Pharmaceuticals... the biggest issue in my opinion. The USA bears the bulk of R&D costs on new vaccines and drugs. Collective bargaining agreements on drug costs would discourage companies from spending the money on developing new ones and/or cause other countries to have to pay more for pharmaceuticals, thereby pulling away the veil of successful universal healthcare systems in other countries.

Answer 6

Oddly enough I would actually be for it,if of course it wouldn't be an utterly wasteful failure like most everything the US govt does. And of course I also realize that I would most likely end up paying more,in the form of higher taxes,than I do now for my health care. So why would I want to end up paying more for my basic healthcare than I do now?

AD

Answer 7

Republican resistance.

The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a right of citizenship. 28 industrialized nations have single payer universal health care systems.

Answer 8

we have to keep our healthcare private so that those in places of the world with socialized healthcare, who are rich enough, will have a place to go when they need major surgery. We have a great system with talented Dr's that promotes innovation and research to become even better...socialism will depress that...it is a failure in those places that have it....if you doubt that, just ask those who are rich enough to come to the US when they are in true need of something major....we do have a form of social healthcare right now..if you go to the emergency ward NO ONE can be turned down.......

Answer 9

Ever talk to someone from GB where trauma centers and the 911 system is almost nonexistent and a wait to see a specialist can last 9 months?

Be careful what you wish for.

EDIT: wi_ is correct and if any of you libs really think that it is Hillary's plan to betray the pharmaceutical companies who have been her largest contributor, you are miserably diluted.

She is running on this platform fallaciously, just as her proposal to change health care during Bill's administration was a fraud.

If she is successful in winning the presidency (which I seriously doubt), history will only repeat itself and she will once more talk up the issue yet, once more totally lay down to every demand the pharmaceutical companies, HMOs, insurance companies and attorneys have behind closed doors. Then, once more walk out muttering, oops! to the cameras.

She was responsible for instigating 'Health Care Reform' and she left us with the greatest cuts to our benefits ever seen - at any time in our history.

Those who cannot see this are simply horribly gullible and will deserve to be disappointed again.

EDIT: The rich on both sides of this issue will always receive preferential tx, causing the rest of us to always be pushed to the rear. This is not something that Universal Health Care would change....

Answer 10

Because conservatives do not believe government should provide anything except a military and police to protect "property rights". They reject the idea of any shared commons or common interests. They believe in "enlightened self interest" above all else. Conservatives have somehow sold the idea that health care is not a right, but a priviledge for those who can afford it.