Why is the USA the only western nation without Universal Health Care?

Question

1. The medical industry pays influence money in the form of campaign contributions to politicians.

2. The medical industry employees more lobbiest than there are politicians to stop universal health care.

3. Politicians are corrupt and greedy and will do anything to get the influence money from the health care industry.

4. All of the above.

Answer 1

I'd go with #4.

Answer 2

Lets look at the 3 choices you listed.

1. The medical industry pays influence money in the form of campaign contributions to politicians.
Answer: So does the oil and gas industry, unions, lawyers, special interest groups........... etc., etc., etc., (ad nauseam)

2. The medical industry employees more lobbiest than there are politicians to stop universal health care.
Answer: Why shouldn't they. They know how devestating the effects would be not only to that industry, but to many others who are dependent on it.

3. Politicians are corrupt and greedy and will do anything to get the influence money from the health care industry.
Answer: Yes. And any other industry that has money.

Universal (Socialist) healthcare is not the answer. It's like cutting off your foot to cure a headache. I agree with Ryan M who put it much more eloquently than I could have.

Answer 3

It is one of the things that makes us superior to the others. They are all embracing various degrees of socialism. As a result, they are all becoming quite weak.

I really get tired of people complaining about corporations, industries and big businesses donating money to influence politicians. The reality is, most every company donates to both parties as a form of self defense. Bill Gates never used to donate to any political party and the democrats dragged him and Microsoft through one court battle after another. Bill finally started to open up the purse and what do you know, microsoft is no longer the villain.

The politicians are running what is in effect a protection racket and you want to blame the companies being extorted. Why are you not shouting at George Sorros? There is a fat cat that is deliberately using his money to influence elections.

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Answer 4

All this talk about health care came during Bill Clinton's first run for office. No one even mentioned this prior to that. As far a right to health care, it is not in the bill of rights, so get over it. This is more about freedom than anything. The people who would support free medical care or universal health care is the same crowd that will wan to control every part of your life. They will decide what leisure activities you do, if you like skiing, snowboarding, skate boarding or anything that could likely injure you then they will regulate those activities. If you like steak and potatoes then you can forget it, those could possibly lead to a heart attack. If you like having unprotected sex, they will regulate that as well. The same people who want universal health care are the people who support abortion with the premise it's my body I can do what I want with it. It won't start out that way but it sure will end up that way, just like welfare was supposed to be a hand up not a lifestyle, social security was not supposed to be what it is, but look at the mess it has turned into. The tax code was not supposed to ruin the lives of hard working Americans but it does every year. Just about every Government program that has started out with good intentions is a shadow of it's former self. So be careful what you wish for you just might get it.

Answer 5

The USA is the only nation without Universal Health Care due to the fact that there was a time in this nation that individualism and taking responsibility for yourself and your own health was paramount. Health care is not a "right." It is a service or a good provided by a company or an individual, usually in exchange for some form of compensation. Just like I can't hold a gun to my neighbor's head and demand he hand over his food, I can't hold a gun to a doctor's head and demand he treat me for illness. What good would that do, anyway? He would give substandard treatment.

Universal Health Care does just that in the end. The demand for health care increases exponentially as people jump on the bandwagon of "free" or inexpensive health care. Being unable to pay for the increased demand at current price, the government arbitrarily sets price caps on the goods and services that are provided. The supply of health care practitioners and goods decreases as prices go down due to regulations forcing people to accept lower prices. So, you have increasing demand and decreasing supply, leading to poor quality and long wait times to get even a simple appointment. The major corporations love the idea of "Universal Health Care." It will drive the small practitioners out of business while supporting the companies that have aggressive cost structures (lower wages, less experience, cheaper and less useful products, etc.)

The answer, of course, is not Universal Health Care. It is complete de-regulation of all medical industries. Get the government out of health care decisions that should be a private matter between you and your doctor. The supply of services and goods will increase as people are attracted into the field due to the high prices and demand will decrease due to the fact that people will not demand every possible treatment and use every service they can get away with using. Instead they will make cost conscious decisions and decide what is most important for them and their families. The increasing supply of doctors will have the added benefit of leaving doctors with time to give back to the community, opening free clinics, volunteering time in emergency rooms and hospitals, and doing good works in general. Believe it or not, this is the way health care used to work at the turn of the 20th century. And, everyone was able to afford or receive quality care. It is a myth, promulgated by politicians, that health care was not available to anyone who sought it out.

Health care advanced more quickly in the USA because we haven't had any kind of "Universal Health Care" or socialized medicine, not in spite of it.

Answer 6

Canada is one of the countries that has the Universal Health Care of which you are so fond. The problem is, it doesn't work.

There are immensely long waiting periods for treatment and it has been noted in several cases where people have died waiting.

Fewer and fewer people are entering the health field due the fact that it is an incredibly expensive educational process and, once you do graduate your salary is capped making it difficult to repay your student debts. (Hence many Canadian trained doctors and nurses leave to work in the USA).

Canadians are taxed through the nose to pay for their health care.

Not all the health care is "free". Only some of the hospital care is. You still have to pay for any prescription medicines, hospital rooms, physical aids (crutches, wheelchairs, etc) dental work, eyeglasses and eye tests...

Most Canadians still have to have health care insurance (often through their employer where the premiums are deducted off their paychecks) to cover most medical costs.

Answer 7

Well, the BIG picture is that it's that capitalism has gotten out of hand in this regard. The founding fathers never imagined a society where so many Americans would become wealthy at the expense of the health (or lack thereof) of others. It has only gotten this bad in the last quarter century thanks to Reagan and the HMO's.

Answer 8

Raw Capitalism.

Answer 9

There is no Right" to health care ! A right ceases to be a "right" and becomes a PRIVILEGE SUBJECT TO REVOCATION when it demands the property or labor of another human being to be fulfilled. The "rights" you refer to are the same "rights" Karl Marx was referring to when he wrote "The Communist Manifesto: "From each (Taken by FORCE (if neccessary, which it always is!) according to his ability, to each (unearned, and unpaid for!),according to his need! NO HUMAN BEING SHOULD BE FORCED TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF ANOTHER, EITHER PHYSICALLY,AS IN THE PRACTICE OF SLAVERY, OR ECONOMICALLY, AS IN THE CONFISCATION BY FORCE OF ANOTHERS WEALTH, MATERIAL POSESSION, OR FRUITS OF LABOR! Unfortunately, we're one of the last remaining countries on earth that haven't completely succumbed to Socialism/Communism. It's only a matter of time, however-when the majority has the power to vote itself benefits at the expense of others (THEFT!) it's almost impossible for them not to exercise that power.

Answer 10

5. Thank god we dont.

I do not want long lines and poor healthcare because rates become standardized. I work hard to provide myself with healthcare and others should do that too. I don't work hard to provide healthcare to everyone in the country, including those who sit around and smoke crack instead of getting a job. We are also the most powerful and #1 western nation, so why would we follow in the footsteps of lesser nations?

Answer 11

Greed and rampant "capitalism". Health is less important than money. They just don't care about people. They care abouttheir bank accounts.