Deficit economy sufficient to support socialized Health care?

Question

I agree that it is nice and all that. But thinking logically, if all the countries who have socialized medicine have an economy surplus, how can we manage a program with our deficit economy without it being wickedly below par?

Answer 1

Is that an excuse not to take care of the healthcare problem, or is that a reason to stop defecit spending. I know of a few billion every month going to a certain middle east country that we could easily divert. Two birds, one stone.

Answer 2

You have it turned around - socialized medicine would be GOOD for our economy, as well as our health, and our sense of worth within society. Presently, community-run hospitals are going bankrupt because so many uniinsured people are coming through emergency, then are unable to pay their bills, forcing rates up for everyone else, and thus leaving more unable to pay. It's a vicious circle, and with for-profit medicine, it will only get worse. One of the reasons why employers don't want to hire U.S. citizens because of our tradition that the employer pays their medical benefits, and the rates are skyrocketing, so they hire illegal aliens or outsource jobs overseas. That adds to our unemployment and to the number of uninsured. The rising prices of insurance and the high costs of prescription drugs, largely due to the for-profit system, also contribute to inflation. Socialized health care would eventually solve all these problems, and give us a system that worked.

Answer 3

It sounds like what you're saying is that you can't afford to provide a basic level of health care to everybody because the economy is already in deficit. I'd say that means you need to look very hard at other areas of spending, and figure out how all those other countries are doing it. It comes down to priorities, and I can't think of many spending priorities that should come before quality and accessible healthcare.

Answer 4

You only have deficits because those in power don't care if the small people suffer in the long run . They have enough to just go to any country in the world and have their own Private armies to boot. Another reason is so they have the excuse to kill anything that is not run purely by the MARKET I.E. Medicare, social security.

Answer 5

The people who complain about the government's crappy management are the same people for socialized health care. I just don't understand why would they want the government in charge of their health? There's a reason Canadians come to the US for major surgeries if they can afford it.

Answer 6

All the countries with socialized medical care very definitely do NOT have economies that generate surpluses. They simply tax the the workers up the whazoo to pay for that so called free medical care and most of them are in big trouble with cost overruns and are cutting back.

Answer 7

Good point.
Most of the U.S. budget is already being spent on bloated social programs.

The last thing this country needs is another failed social program.

Answer 8

Well, we could stop the tax cuts for the uber-wealthy, or stop the $6B per month war, or both. Take your pick.

Answer 9

Between Iraq... and a hard place
I think the Stones thought of it first.

Answer 10

The real problem is that the government isn't spending the money that it has wisely.