Why is America afraid of universal health care?

Question

I am for universal healthcare and I was wondering why people are so opposed to the idea.

For those who oppose it.:How is it just. when our tax dollars pay for all inmates to have healthcare? I mean you say the gov. doesnt handle anything well..what about our police force,fire dept. and also don't you like your garbage picked up ( all funded by taxes)...

So about this "gov" control...have you thought about who is in control of your health care now? Huge drug and insurance companies...you honestly think they care about your health or how much $ they can make.

Answer 1

Americans aren't afraid of health care for everyone, they fear the word "Universal."

We believe that all working Americans should have adequate health care. Maybe not as much or as low cost as I have, but ... adequate for "their" needs.

We believe that all children should have adequate health care. We don't think that the poor kid in the projects should have "better" care than our own kids get, just adequate.

We believe that the disabled and old amoung us should have adequate healthcare. Even though we know that "they" use a lot more of it than "we" do.

We believe that anyone injured in an accident should have emergency care, even if he or she is an illegal alien. Then they should be sent back to where ever they came from.

We believe that "universal" health care would provide health care services to the very young, the poor, old, illegal and the disabled who can't pay their fair share for the care they get.

We believe that we will have to pay for something that doesn't directly benefit us. Kinda like schools after our children have graduated from the public schools. Kinda like the police or fire department guys who never have to come to my rescue because I never cause any problems. Kinda like the State Mental Hospital when I don't know anyone who is in there. Kinda like the military, when I don't believe we need to be in Iraq. Kinda like the NASA, when I'm sure as heck not seeing the moon first hand. And kinda like keeping those mega churches with preacher who fly private plains on a tax free standing when I don't go there. I could go on...

The point is, we all benefit from what we pay for collectively. Sure, there are exceptions, like in my mind, the tax free airplain belonging to the mega church... but we really all do benefit from having a healthy nation.

We fear the word universal because we have been conditioned to fear it.

Answer 2

Do some research on the universal health care systems in the UK, Canada, France, and Sweden and you'll see they're not the wonderful solutions that Michael Moore would have you believe. The main reason I don't like universal health care is because I have relatives in Canada and I have heard nightmare stories about the poor quality of their care.

Example #1: Canadian universal health care only covers you in your province, period. If you live in Ontario and you go to Montreal for the weekend and end up getting sick, you pay 100% of the medical expenses. They used to offer health care coverage that would cover you elsewhere, but that became so expensive that only the very rich can afford it. That's why so many former Canadian snow-bunnies don't go to Florida for the winter anymore.

Example #2: Windsor Memorial Hospital has an MRI unit that runs 24/7. They have three MRI machines, and two of them are always operational. The current wait time for an MRI is six to eight weeks. What's worse, your appointment may be at 3:00 AM on a work day. By contrast, when I took my wife to the ER because of severe headaches, she got an MRI in less than an hour.

Example #3: My aunt asked her doctor for a referral so she could get a routine colonoscopy when she turned 50. She was told she couldn't have one. The reason? A person must be showing symptoms of a problem before they'll order a colonoscopy. Uh, excuse me, but don't these idiots realize that a person with colon cancer doesn't start showing outward symptoms until it's too late?

You'd be amazed at how many Canadians who live close to the U.S. come across the border to get medical treatment and prescriptions that Canadian universal health care doesn't cover. And they're the lucky ones -- they can afford to pay for these things 100% out of their own pockets. Those who can't suffer, and many die because they can't get the care or the drugs they need. Yet anyone in the U.S. can walk into the ER and get treatment, even if they don't have any medical insurance. Does universal health care still sound like a good deal to you?

Answer 3

I dont think america is afraid of universal health care. Doctors, drug companies, insurance companies, hospitals, clinics, etc. are the ones who do not want universal health care. It would seriously limit a doctors income, and the same for drug companies, hospitals, clinics, insurance companies etc. They are the ones who lobby in washington against universal health care. If the canadians think universal health care is bad, try no insurance, or try paying hundreds every month for health care. Try having your insurance company tell you what drugs you can take ( generic so it dosnt cost them so much). And try having your insurance company tell you what doctor you can see, what procedure you can have done, where you can have your tests done and how often. So what is the difference if the government controls it or some greedy insurance company? I would love universal health care, but those who are getting rich off the present system are controlling it in washington, and our elected officials are getting the perks and letting it happen.

Answer 4

People aren't against it because they are "afraid of change." People are against it because it doesn't work. You end up with more government control (if you want that, you are a lazy irresponsible pos), higher taxes, and lower quality health care. These FACTS can't be disputed. Why would people want any of these things? More importantly, why would anyone want all three?

There are government programs that help the poor PAY for health care. People want you believe that poor people can't get health care. It is not the access that is the problem, it is paying for the care. If more of these programs are needed, that is one thing. But there are millions of people that can (and do) provide health insurance for themselves and their families. Please explain to me what the purpose would be in having the government take over that responsibility at the expense of the tax payer?

Answer 5

Most people are under the false impression that universal health care has to be a socialized system. Socialized delivery systems have proven to be inefficient and ineffective. We have one of the better delivery systems in the world. The real need is universal health insurace that is accepted by all providers. The delivery side could use some adjustments, but that would come with natural market forces once a unviersal insurance system were instituted. All Americans should have access to health care at affordable costs.

Answer 6

If you don't understand that collectivism is slavery, then you will likely not understand any objection.

Handing health care over to the government is unnecessary, just like Social Security as a mandatory retirement plan for all Americans is unnecessary.

Of course, we all know where Social Security is headed. Who in their right mind would turn health care over to the same clowns that run Social Security?

I do not want government services that I do not need. If welfare is needed, then we should be talking about welfare. Not about handing yet another unconstitutional power to the federal government.

Answer 7

2 reasons:

The government is the biggest bureaucracy in the world. I do not want them making decisions on my health care. I want to decide which doctors I go to. If the government is in charge, then there is more chance that the system will be even more flawed. The government is not the best organization to put your health in.

The second reason, is money and taxes. The more money the government takes from us, no matter for what reason, the less freedom you have. I would rather pay for my own health care with my own money, then have that money go to the government, and they can decide what care I get. Why can't I choose my health care for myself.

Answer 8

They spend a trillion dollars on "defense" - try to cut the budget and some politician says Not In My Back Yard - we can't afford to lose the defense jobs. Build new homes? the NIMBY's Not In My Back Yard object and cause a housing shortage. In California the wealthy wanted property tax cuts - so the fire department was cut back. The forests caught fire. but the wealthy American's live in Hollywood - they are fire proof and their kids don't get sick and they don't get sick do they? Get real America - Michael Moore has the right idea. Sicko America.

Answer 9

First of all it is costly to everyone who works, so there is not much change in how things are done now. Second, it would allow more of the mishandling that is already out of control in this country. And third but not last, is it really that good when people have to wait for treatment, cannot receive better treatment, even if they can afford it, and does anyone really want the government telling them what they can or cannot do with their health? It seems to be just another way for the government to control more aspects of the individual's life.

Answer 10

America is afraid of universal health care because then there would be no competition to create better health drugs and everyone would have equal health care meaning that politicians and other important people would not spend money on better health care services costing the Food and Drug administration to lose money. America would also lose the title of the best country to go to and receive good health care in areas such as heart surgery, plastic surgery and new medication.