Is Medical Care a Human Right?

yes... we pay income taxes.. a lot of money comes into the US Government and the spending needs to be used for HERE, on US.. not overseas and not on lame projects. My tax bracket is 28%, plus I pay 3.5% state income tax.. Ok i paid around 16k in taxes last year... thats INSANE, its even more insane when I get NOTHING back in return. We need to wake up guys..... Where is our money going? Why is the US Government so expensive to run? Why are they spending our money on everything and everyone except for us here?

Its ways past time to nip this BS in the bud.

Basic medical care perhaps; however, that's not in the constitution.

I second what True American said.

Janet ... it doesnt have to be in the constitution... TAXING our income isnt even in the constitution... hell... works both ways dont it...

Safety from being anally raped is also not in the constitution, Janet. Does this mean that you will sacrifice that human right as well?

How about the right to raise your own children? That's not in the constitution.

A basic human right does not originate from the United States constitution, Snookiedimples. It is something that one would... well... hold self-evident, like all humans being equal, and being able to pursue happiness, live their lives, and be free.

So funny to watch the Dittoheads try to make everything political - even a discussion about philosophy.

Medical care is simply another way of saying preservation of life. It is a basic necessity and a real crime that this country spends so much money on this failed system and we rank behind over 30 other countries in medical coverage. We have millions uninsured and more under-insured . . . and we pay more for this system than would be required to cover everybody.

We already pay for the unisured . . . so we're paying anyway. How much less would it take to prevent the major expenditures by allowing access to needed care at a preventative - and not a catastrophic stage. And how much more humane. I also don't think it needs to be Constitutional to be legal . . . laws are passed all the time . . . . but I think it IS one of the things the Constitution was written to protect . . . . . . form a more perfect Union . . . promote the general welfare . . . " so we should be able to design a system to care for our people along the lines listed in our Constitution, with less expense . . .

Of course, the medical and pharmaceutical industries (who are so VERY much concerned with our health) might have other thoughts on the subject. Does it make any sense at all to use a supply and demand system when it comes to saving your life?? I have what you need to live . . . now . . . I'll set a price based on what you're willing to pay. I use the Fire Department as an analogy . . . You'll notice it works even though it's a big Socialist organization . . . and not a series of competing Fire Departments charging people based on demand. Some things simply should not be sold to the highest bidder . . . like life, protection from fire, National Security . . .

We have the potential to be better than we are and the vast majority of Americans want to see coverage.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

True American - and you think the U.S. gov't is suddenly (magically) going to run a pristine healthcare system?

I have a bridge to sell you.

Entitled to health care? No, unless you are infirm, developmentally delayed, or otherwise incapacitated.

And, yes, I've been on both sides of the equation.

This country is not the 'land of the handout'. At least last time I looked it wasn't.

I believe basic health care is not only the right of every citizen, but it makes sense. People who don't have to wait for a crisis to see a doctor are healthier and can therefore work more and contribute more to our society. It's like giving free immunizations against childhood diseases. It simply makes good economic sense to have a healthy productive workforce. It's also much less expensive in the long run than waiting until someone needs intensive care and a lot hospital stay. We pay either way. My preference is that we pay up front to prevent major problems.

That's true CA . . . and it's why we pay anyway! Moronic failed policies should be changed. Millions are uninsured . . . and we pay the tab in the form of increased rates anyway. Will the government program be pristine?? Is the current one?

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Being one dependent on the Healthcare system, I definitely find it just a little interesting to read people respond to such questions.

I do not think that Healthcare should be a basic thing that at birth to death a person is guaranteed. If that was the case, then as in most governmental programs, some would take advantage of it, others would be too lazy to take care of themselves, and others would not appreciate it.

I am not saying everyone, but the persuasive argument to not have guaranteed health care; even though I am dependent on healthcare, seems more appealing than to have a guaranteed health care system.

No one has plainly offered me the true benefits that would outweigh the negatives.

I pay taxes for a service from my govt, i pay them to defend this country and protect the welfare.. this government goes WAAAAAAAAAAAAY beyond those duties and we dont get crap in return here. This goverment has gone way beyond what the constitution describes as the duties of this government, hence why it costs so much to run this place. Ok, its a serious issue in the first place whether or not the US gvt is even allowed to tax our income, they can tax tariffs and thats about all from what i read they are allowed to do... so either abolish the income tax or lower the taxes to around 5%... all the us govt needs is money to run the system, and thats all.. nothing more, nothing less.. the IRS alone costs truck loads of money, it costs truck loads of money just to UNDERSTAND the tax law and have corporations do your taxes for you because its so convoluted... that alone should send red flags about our tax system.. its so way past time for change here, its not getting rediculious, it already is.

Lowering income taxes to around 5% to around 250 million americans will bring in enough money to support the basic, constitutional duties of the US government AND provide some services in return to the citizens. For medical care, to start, its filled with greedy people who arent happy unless they bring home 20- 100 million a year and that has to stop.. cap profits, cap prices of equipment avail to doctors, ect ect ect, it shouldnt cost 12k to attach a damn finger, it shouldnt cost 3 million dollars for a peice of medical equipment... it shouldnt cost 20k to be laid on a bed and pushed through a donut looking machine that scans your body.... give me a break.

True, you have GOT to be kidding me!

Most of the basic human rights we take for granted are not in the constitution.

I say basic health care is a human right. Other industrialized nations have been providing it for decades. No reason why we can't get it too.

This is the one area where I'm a liberal. (OOH that hurts.) I think with all the waste in government a sick person should receive medical care. It would cut down on many illnesses and stop the sufffering of Americans. Let's not send so much aid to other countryies before we take care of our own people. Does this mean I'm a tree hugger???

I just saw that video, it's wonderful. When I saw the care that people in France and Cuba get, without even having to pay a penny, it makes me feel like we live in a very barbaric world. Health care is a luxury. My own premium just went up to 280.00 a month....and you know what for? Hospitalization after taking out a 1,500 deductable. Period. Ordinary people are left to grovel for themselves here, between padding the pockets of Big Pharma thieves and having insurance options be so limited because of expense. We spend all our tax money on war, I guess. It makes me so angry I could spit. Let's not forget though, that those rich fat asses have all the care they need on the money they suck out of our taxes.

This shouldn't even be an issue. People should be given healthcare just as they get it already in over 30 coutries that provide for all their citizens. It's insane to deny basic healthcare to our own people while paying for it anyway. The money is spent on healthcare already. There is no increased cost . . . only savings . . . and this has been proven time and again. Medicare is a perfect example . . . running on 2% The freekin' truth is that our failed 'privatized' healthcare has been costing us PLENTY and will eventually bankrupt us unless Geo. II does it first with his spending on elective wars of opportunity. We ARE paying more than any other industrialized nation and they are insuring ALL of their citizens (which we are NOT), We rank 37th in care . . . where's the rush to be the BEST? Why is nobody bothered that EVEN Cuba, has a better health care system than us??

The US of my youth was a country that would be the best or at the very least STRIVE to be the best at everything. Now . . . with 3 dozen other countries doing this better . . . with people dying from this lack of proper care . . . you STILL see morons who state, for NO reason . . . "Nope, we shouldn't cover everybody. Let's just pay the money instead." It's insane. My country deserves so much better than this . . . and this MUST change . . . we simply cannot afford to continue this way.

Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~

Julie thats not entirely true unless it is life threatening right then at that moment. And secondly, SURE the can try and collect, garnish your wages, take your home.. and thanks to Bush it is now nearly impossible to file for bankrupcy in regards to medical collections. Werent you aware of that or maybe you just werent paying attention.. or maybe you dont care, and that makes me wonder why.

Julie: that's the entire point. If people wait until they are really sick before they go to the doctor so they can go to the emergency room it costs we taxpayers hundreds of times more than it would have were that same person able to walk into a clinic and get treated when the problem first started.

It is also not possible to "take care of yourself" and thus avoid such things as a broken leg from an accidental fall, contracting the flu that turns into pneumonia, or having a hernia go bad.

I believe there should be some form of basic health insurance that is affordable for everyone. Note I said affordable. Also, there should be some sort of inexpensive catastrophic insurance that spreads the risk across millions and thus keeps the price down. I don't think it should be free. There should be a monthly cost and also a deductible and copayments. People tend to abuse and overuse that which is handed to them free.

I believe there should be healthcare for all for most of the reasons stated above. But the main reason is for preventative care. If everyone could nip their problems in the bud there wouldn't be as many sick people who have no choice but the emergency room.

True American, our money's going to the Wehrmacht or as Ike might say to the military industrial complex.

As for basic health care...I'm not sure it's a right, but, it ought to be a basic human obligation towards your fellow human beings.

Both Julie and Carolyn are correct....which is one reason our healthcare system is so exorbitantly expensive any more. Costs rise as bad debt increase for an already overburdened system.

It's real easy to sit back and point fingers at "greedy" hospitals/doctors, but it's quite another to come up with a viable, workable option.

Health care should not be an insurance product. It should be something that everyone has. It's a matter of national security as far as I'm concerned.

The biggest waste of the money being spent on health care is the "PROFIT" that is being skimmed off by corporations and investors who see health care as just another investment opportunity to mine till it goes dry. Universal health care is inevitable, the only question is how long will we put up with the conservatives hell bent on stopping it.

Julie you are completetly wrong. We pay taxes, we get some things in return, end of story. You dont pay for a service and not get it. Thats exactly whats happening right now. Instead we are paying overly burdensome taxes and in return we get the corruption, the lies, A war that we were lied in for bush and cheneys oil buddies sending our fellow citizens over to get killed, we have illegal immigration with no border what so ever giving us security, we have corporations exploiting illegal immigrants and screwing the american workers, we have jobs leaving for over seas, I could go on and on...

Everyone should have the right to health!

As many have pointed out, the US is the only developed democratic country that does not have a universal, non-profit based health-care system. To correct any misunderstanding though, it's not these systems provide "free" health care. The way they work is that there's a compulsory insurance that covers everyone, with a contribution being deducted from everyone's pay. Children, incapacitated people, the unemployed (for some time) are covered by the state, but anyone who works pays into the system. The point is that you pay according to what you earn, and you're covered for whatever [reasonable] treatment you need. You don't have to pay more nor can you be denied coverage because you have a pre-existing condition and you'll be needing more treatment than others (such impossible situations through no fault of one's own are the worst consequence of a private, profit-based insurance system).

There are problems in these systems--a bureaucracy will make mistakes, and sometimes there are long waits. The point is, those very same things happen with the private system too, but the latter create other problems in addition, as their main purpose is not to provide health care, but to make a profit. Not just any profit, in fact, but the larger, the better. And, obviously, the way to make that profit is by collecting premiums as high as you can get away with, and denying every claim you can possibly deny. As a result, in the US people either have no health insurance, or they are paying much more to get the same things that people in the universal coverage systems get. In fact, sometimes less, as private insurance companies restrict what doctors you can see, what hospitals you can go to, etc more and more.

(My description of a universal health insurance scheme applies to democratic capitalist countries. I don't know how the Cuban system works. Mostly it looks like the people are barely paid any salary at all, so there's no need to "pay back" into a health scheme....)

As the parent of a 19 yo without health care who had health issues at Christmas and now has 2500 worth of debt he is having difficulty paying I strongly believe in health care for all. He was unable to find a job, was not in school and unable to be covered under his father's insurance. He currently has a job which he can get health care from but he better ot get sick because it will only pay 70% after $150 deductable up to 2,000. This will cost him 27.00 per payperiod and he only makes about 350.00 per payperiod. Glad he's not trying to support a family or live on his own. So yes, I think everyone should be given health care. In Illinois, because he is male and does not support anyone else, he is not entitled to health care whether employed or not. However he can get food stamps. (we'll let you it, but we won't let you take care of your body)
Aparently I have not worked thru this issue yet. sorry for the rant.