(don’t you just love a short post?)

OT, but I can’t help not bitching about this topic… ADD is SO last year, don’t you know? This year all the “trendy mommies are claiming their kids are autistic. Luckily for them, there are such things as mild forms of autism, so even a kid who seems fairly normal can pull off being “autistic.” *eyeroll* (I only mentioned ADD earlier instead of autism is because I don’t think there is a drug for autism.)

“What I hate about socialism is that it basically means parents will have everything handed to them on a silver platter and the childfree will get shafted even more than we already do.”

I would say they would have even more handed to them than they do now. We’re punished for not having lots of kids that entitle us to state handouts. I think it is getting worse too. But we’re supposed to understand that, well, it’s EXPENSIVE to bring up kids. That’s a whole other topic.

Christine - Maybe because, as Phoena says, they don’t think they’ll get sick enough for it to be a problem. Or they don’t want to subsidize the lower income classes.
Mercuriore - yeah, theoretically it should be possible, but in practice, if as Phoena says most are not sick and most don’t think UHC is important it’s never going to happen.

its no longer do no harm, its what can we gouge out of people.

i know one person in america who is on 8 different pills, one to counter acta problem, ok thats fine, but the other 7 are to counter the reactions/side effects of the first lot of pills

part of the problem and the solution, is i have found being british, that there is a push for american citizens to produce, a sort of eguenics, the unprofitable people who cant afford health care die off, leaving the rest better off.

Too many Americans are NOT sick, and they are gambling that they won’t get sick, so they don’t care if there is universal health care. So it’s not a big deal to them. As an example, In my family, people are unusually healthy. There are no hereditary diseases going around and almost no cancer (so far, knock on wood). If I had a family with history of lots of illnesses, I’d probably be more worried about health care than I am.

The entire health care system in America is broken, and it’s not just the lack of “free” health care — it’s the fact that the entire system works to KEEP people sick rather than cure them and maybe even get them addicted to some expensive drugs along the way. Many doctors are themselves addicts. At least half the commercials on the airwaves are trying to convince me to run to my doctor and get on some drug or another. And many doctors WILL give you a drug if you walk in and say, “I think I have PMDD!” or “I think I’m bi-polar!” or whatever the latest “trendy” disease is. Just look at how many doctors put kids on Ritalin just because mommy said, “I think he has ADD!”

IF we were to go to universal health care, first we’d have to fire all doctors ,pharmacists and most people in pharmaceutical companies and start over, otherwise the entire budget for the system would be blown on giving people drugs they don’t need.

Not to mention, the political system is so broken, so even if the American public got the opportunity to vote for it, the vote would be rigged to have the measure fail, just so the fatcats could keep lining their pockets.

What I hate about socialism is that it basically means parents will have everything handed to them on a silver platter and the childfree will get shafted even more than we already do. I think parents need to do LESS mooching, not more. But that’s just me.

I hear you and I too wonder why more Americans don’t lobby for universal health care. You’re right about the rich people but it’s the middle class who would greatly benefit — and they have a big voice. Why don’t they? $400-600 (which is the figure I’ve heard from American friends) a month is a big percentage of a middle income wage

Mercurior - A bit like how it works in Britain, right? I agree a middle ground ought to be possible. There is no way I can believe that a country that spends trillions of dollars on weaponry cannot afford to go at least partway. I don’t think they will though. Bascally it means if you have no insurance and cannot afford to pay - you die.

Andy - I too am skeptical about the ability to provide health care without raising taxes. if you ever do find those plans, please share.

As for the argument - You mean arguments in the US, not the rest of the world, right? I think that people should have some basic health care provided as a right as Anne-Marie says.

Personally, I see universal health care as a fair and equitable way to see that all citizens have access to basic health care should they need it. It shouldn’t be down to how rich you are.

One thing is clear though.. the insurance companies have figured out exactly how valuable health care is - that’s why they are making huge profits. They’re doing a very good job fleecing everyone. it must be how the government wants it to be.

Anne-Marie - I agree they really should be basic human rights.

Brightfeather - “However, the truth is that significant number of poverty stricken and sick people will ultimately cost the taxpayers more than a healthy population would..”

Compared to what the military is costing one would think it would be a much better investment of their money. The trouble is I don’t hear many American agitating for universal health care and I wonder why. Maybe because those who could make a difference are rich and well insured. The poor, less well off and poverty stricken folk might as well be in another country it seems. It is very sad.

I suppose that kind of thinking makes me a compassionate person and many Americans would label me a socialist. However, the truth is that significant number of poverty stricken and sick people will ultimately cost the taxpayers more than a healthy population would.

As far as convincing arguments go, how about the idea that health care and education should be basic human rights? Shouldn’t that be enough in such an obscenely wealthy country?

I am trying to find the democrat’s individual plans to get a better sense of what they are trying to do with their programs, since they are apparently not the same. But I have yet to find any adequate information.

but i agre it will never happen in america, too many businesses run medicine, who are only there to make money. not care about people. i knwo several people in america, who have pills pushed on them, which they dont really need, which costs a lot, when at worst case they only need one of the 5 they take ..