Why do I keep hearing that democrats want socialized medicine?

Question

I keep hearing (mostly from conservatives attacking liberals/democrats) that people like Obama, Clinton, and Edwards want socialized medicine in the US.

I've checked, and I don't see them saying they want socialized medicine. So where did this come from?

Is this just propaganda? Genuine ignorance? or something else?

Universal Healthcare: All residents have access to healthcare

Socialized healthcare: Government controls and finances healthcare.

They are different by definition.

It appears to mostly be ignorance based on the answers.

Answer 1

People don't understand the difference between socialized medicine (govt controls medical care) and universal health care ( people buy into insurance plans)...these are the same people that talk about cutting and running from Iraq when the only plans put forward are for a 12 to 18 month withdrawal...nothing but scare tactics

Answer 2

Yes I do. I think its downright vile what our health care system does to some people. The physicians still get paid, the clients are tended to, it can still be private practice, it just needs to be regulated by the government. I think are current system has a lot of picking and choosing done. People don't choose to have MS. You don't know if you will develop cancer a year from now. People don't get diseases just because they feel it. So whose to say that it is okay to give or deny health care solely based on your hand at life. I am not 100% for socialized medicine. I think everyone should have a fair opportunity to claim what should rightfully be guaranteed to every person: a right to life. However, if they fail to take action and claim that right, than that's their problem. Obviously there would be problems. For instance, our education system is socialized and admittedly, there are problems with that. However, like the school system, the good that it does would probably outweigh the costs.

Answer 3

Most liberals belive that everyone in America has the right to have access to equal healthcare at an affordable cost. Those on the right label this as socialized medicine, to create a talking point in order to attack the democratic candidates.

If they were to create a healthcare system which is fully owned and operated by the government then that would be considered a socialized system, however I have heard no politician suggest this. There has been talk about a single payer type system similar to the Canadian Health Care system, which can not be classified as a social system as this system allows for both private and public providers of health care services, however most services are paid for by the Canadian government.

The healthcare system most commonly refered to as socialized medicine would be the NHS (National Health System) in the UK. This system is paid for by taxation however also allows private healthcare and private health insurance to continue to operate similarly to our American health system.

Answer 4

Socialism is the government takeover of an industry. In this case, the democrats are attempting to take over the health insurance industry. They would make it mandatory that all people will get health insurance, even against their will. If someone can prove that they cannot pay for health insurance, they will get it free of charge at the expense of taxpayers. Socialism does not require a complete takeover of an industry, therefore even the dem candidates with less extreme plans are for socialized health insurance as they mandate it and control prices. However some candidates such as John Edwards advocate forced disbanding of the insurance companies and a complete gov't takeover of their former industries. You can argue about whether the other candidates are completely socialist in their health insurance plans, but there is little doubt that people like Edwards want socialized medicine.

Answer 5

Watch the debates, every one of the leading Democraps are pushing for socialized medicine. But they do not use the term socialized. If they did, there would be no chance of it ever passing. Hillary even attempted this while serving as first man. Hillary care. If you look at the details of the health care reform that each one is pushing, it is socialized health care, wrapped up in what they consider a sugar wrapper that will fool enough people to help get them elected. The terms are health care reform, universal health care, and single payer health insurance.
Health care is not a right, especially if it causes someone else to pay for it. Under our form of government, it can not be a right if it requires action, or capital from others. The only actions a right requires is non-interference, or protection.

Answer 6

Universal Health Care.

Answer 7

What Edwards has described sounds like socialized healthcare to me. He recently said that he would make check-ups mandatory for all citizens, which I would vehemently oppose.

Answer 8

Hillary had wanted to socialize it when her husband was in power and every politician and their mothers made sure she didn't. Insurance companies had even eventually paid her off and the plans were scraped.

There are a few who do want to socialize it like Kucinich and Biden.

Answer 9

It is true. They want a single payer system, which is socialism at its truest form. Hitlery, Obama, Edwards have all said it.

Answer 10

Um, the government pays for every ones' health care that would be socialized. Those politicians aren't stupid they know they can't use the word socialized or they would never be elected. Come on think man.............