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I said I was not going to get into this one, and I really am not. I don't know enough about it all. BUT...I know enough to question such a premise as that health care is a "right"
A "right"? By what methodology do arrive at such a premise? A "right" to a service, by extention, means someone else is obligated to provide it. I could say, "food" is a "right"...but it means, logically, that somewhere, somehow, someone else has to either provide or pay for it.
Well said! I've got other irons in the fire at the moment, so can't really wade into this one. And, to be truthful, don't know a whole lot about it all. BUT...I notice that most of those who advocate socialized health care don't seem to know or care a fidlers damn about something that even someone so ignorant of economics as I am, understands. Which is, that "costs" are not something that can be reduced. Yes, the PRICE can be lowered for a service, but the cost behind it can't be. Somehow or another, that cost will translate into a higher price somewhere else.
No time for a detailed response with references right now, only a short reply.
Compared to the current US system, the best universal health care systems currently in existence cost less (as a percentage of GNP), offer better health outcomes, and offer 100% coverage.
From the perspective of patients, there is no issue of pre-existing conditions and you don't have to worry about losing insurance if you change or lose your job.
From the perspective of the doctor, you don't spend nearly as much time fighting with different insurance companies using 20 (or 200) different forms in order to get approval for treatment. As a physician, I know how painful the current system can be.
From the macroeconomic perspective, people aren't tied to jobs, and have the freedom to take entrepreneurial risks (good for the economy), people get preventative care instead of showing up at the Emergency Room (lowers overall costs), and overall health improves.
No time for a detailed response with references right now, only a short reply.
Compared to the current US system, the best universal health care systems currently in existence cost less (as a percentage of GNP), offer better health outcomes, and offer 100% coverage.
From the perspective of patients, there is no issue of pre-existing conditions and you don't have to worry about losing insurance if you change or lose your job.
From the perspective of the doctor, you don't spend nearly as much time fighting with different insurance companies using 20 (or 200) different forms in order to get approval for treatment. As a physician, I know how painful the current system can be.
From the macroeconomic perspective, people aren't tied to jobs, and have the freedom to take entrepreneurial risks (good for the economy), people get preventative care instead of showing up at the Emergency Room (lowers overall costs), and overall health improves.
PS - Hi TR!
I respect that you are a doctor, Sukwoo. However, a lot of other doctors and/or economists, don't agree. I admit, I am not all that knowlegeble on the subject.
MY main thing was this insane idea that "health care" or far as that goes, housing, food, whatever is a "right." If it IS, then it means somebody else must provide it.
So what if all of a sudden, because it became not worth the hassle that there WERE no more doctors? Would it STILL be a right?
Is education a right or a privilege? The ones who say it is a privilege are the ones who said libraries are socialist and wanted everyone to buy their own books.
Is education a right or a privilege? The ones who say it is a privilege are the ones who said libraries are socialist and wanted everyone to buy their own books.
Who said that? This "the ones" argument has to be defined as to who or what is/are the people in question.
I don't know of anyone who said libraries are "socialist." Who said that? And in what context?
To answer your question though, education is neither a right nor a privilidge other than defined by law or social contract.
If people want universal health care (i.e. socialized medicine) then, hey? Groovy (guess that term dates me, doesn't it? LOL). But don't think for a minute that it isnt going to cost in terms of services and money somewhere else....
I don't profess to know that much about the topic, but from the perspective of a person who needs some dental work done, and is working at a job with no health benefits, I'm all for it.
You'd think an added benefit of universal health coverage would be improved employee productivity. After all, if employees can take care of their medical issues right away, instead of waiting due to a lack of funds, then there is less time missed from work. There would also be less working with pain or discomfort, which tends to lower productivity as well.
I think it's too bad that this thread got moved to "other." I think that the general US forum was an appropriate place for it. Higher traffic too. The same thing happened to my metric thread. Maybe there's a bureaucrat running this site
Yeah, who runs it would be much more important than whether the system would deliver high quality health care at low cost. We wouldn't want to be poisoned by any more of that socialism stuff. We've got enough troubles with that just from all that water that comes out of the tap every time you turn it on...
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