I have been thinking about government health care, and I thought about what the government would spare us dependent citizens in times like we face today. What I'm getting at, is I'm thinking that the quality of care could (and probably would) be dictated by the country's fiscal situations. I also think revolutionary experimental and likely expensive drugs that were needed to maintain quality of life in many patients could be put on the back burner in times of economic hardship. I mean, they can't keep the potholes fixed in a time where commerce infrastructure is falling to pieces... do you really think we all would be afforded top notch health care once the government has complete control?
I would think twice about handing my personal well being over to a government who can barely keep it's own head above water.
Do any of you see legitimate worries or benefits of a proposed "nationalization" in health care?

Good points TPA. I trust my own ability to get health care for myself in a private system than I do the governments ability to provide health care for me in a public system. My motivation is to get the best health care. The doctors motivation is to provide the best and therefore get the most patients (and salary).

In a public system your motivation doesn't change, what does is your ability to get it. Either because there aren't private services available or because your resources are going to fund the public system via high taxes. As for the doctor's motivation, you'd better hope he went to 10 years of schooling out of the goodness of his heart, because my guess is the profit motivation is gone when he gets a government check every month.

I'm willing to consider a public system, but what I don't want is the debacle that exists in many socialist nations (I can only speak to the systems that have directly affected relatives - Australia, Germany and Canada). My sister in law had to fly to the US to get a test done ASAP that she was on a six month waiting list for in Australia. Her quick response resulted in getting treatment for a disease that could have stolen her quality of life had it been allowed to develop unchecked. I have family that has lived in both Canada and Germany who have had poor service via public health care.

I don't want to see anyone turned down from getting basic service, but I don't want it to affect my ability to get good health care when I need it.

I found this website that shares many pros and cons of a Universal Healthcare system.
Link

I like the notion that Employers may be willing to hire a larger workforce and pay better wages, as they potentially save money on the benefit side of expense. But how is the national cost offset? Our tax dollars most likely. Either that, or reduced spending in other crucial areas of government spending (Military, Education, ect.)

Overall, I appreciate many of the pro's listed in support of a Universal system.
The thing that scares me though, are the con's really seem to outweigh. All good intentions cannot be justified when we choose to completely overhaul something that isn't completely broken. Sometimes re-inventing the wheel not only proves to be a waste of time and money, but can eventually lead to a situation where we were better off before hand, highlighted by #14 on the cons side.

Eitherway, the proposal is pretty terrifying if you seriously think about all that can go wrong with implementation.

No, we don't need healthcare. So what if the majority of the FREE WORLD has healthcare for their people. So what that all of the businesses that remain in this country, outside of SWEATSHOPS, are on the brink, because of employee healthcare costs. We need to be more like Mexico, and all the other 3rd World Nations. Who needs health anyway? We don't even have jobs anymore, we don't make anything but debt, so why do we need to walk around broke, jobless, and healthy? Because the fat cats, the drug industry, the politricksters, need you to think that way so they can keep tricking all of us out of this countries remaining wealth.

You guys have let the most evil side of our society, THE ONES WHO ALREADY HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, the Neo Cons, the Bankers, the Robber Barons, the Haves, BRAINWASH YOU INTO STABBING YOURSELVES IN YOUR OWN BACK! All of the ones telling this nonsense, this LIE, all are well paid to say the opposite of what this country needs, and they have THEIR HEALTHCARE, while most of us DON'T!

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, SEE THE MOVIE SICKO! And then comeback and tell us how bad that SOCIALIST run healthcare really is on all those healthy people across most of the globe!

quote:

Originally posted by GOBLUEADAM:
No, we don't need healthcare. So what if the majority of the FREE WORLD has healthcare for their people. So what that all of the businesses that remain in this country, outside of SWEATSHOPS, are on the brink, because of employee healthcare costs. We need to be more like Mexico, and all the other 3rd World Nations. Who needs health anyway? We don't even have jobs anymore, we don't make anything but debt, so why do we need to walk around broke, jobless, and healthy? Because the fat cats, the drug industry, the politricksters, need you to think that way so they can keep tricking all of us out of this countries remaining wealth.

You guys have let the most evil side of our society, THE ONES WHO ALREADY HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, the Neo Cons, the Bankers, the Robber Barons, the Haves, BRAINWASH YOU INTO STABBING YOURSELVES IN YOUR OWN BACK! All of the ones telling this nonsense, this LIE, all are well paid to say the opposite of what this country needs, and they have THEIR HEALTHCARE, while most of us DON'T!

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, SEE THE MOVIE SICKO! And then comeback and tell us how bad that SOCIALIST run healthcare really is on all those healthy people across most of the globe!

Actually GBA, if you actually read the posts above, TPA and I both think we need to do something about the current system. However we (and I guess I take some liberty here to speak for TPA) also don't want to simply follow others into systems that will bankrupt us if not done properly.

Most Americans already have health insurance. We should find a way to provide it to kids that don't. I feel however if you're an able bodied adult, it shouldn't become a right.

It should somehow become an EARNED right just like owning a home. But yes, things need to change and kids should be able have it no matter what.

I dont want the government supplied watered down junk. Not to mention being on a waiting list months long to see a specialist (i want my private care). My friend in canada is going through that. And is trying hard to get checked out here in the states. Not to mention this pres wants to spend 1 trillion on it! Nice where you planning on getting THIS money from?

blueball you are well off you can buy all the **** private health care you want, there are millions and millions of people who cannot afford health care so what should they just like die because they are broke?

quote:

Originally posted by GOBLUEADAM:
No, we don't need healthcare. So what if the majority of the FREE WORLD has healthcare for their people. So what that all of the businesses that remain in this country, outside of SWEATSHOPS, are on the brink, because of employee healthcare costs. We need to be more like Mexico, and all the other 3rd World Nations. Who needs health anyway? We don't even have jobs anymore, we don't make anything but debt, so why do we need to walk around broke, jobless, and healthy? Because the fat cats, the drug industry, the politricksters, need you to think that way so they can keep tricking all of us out of this countries remaining wealth.

You guys have let the most evil side of our society, THE ONES WHO ALREADY HAVE UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, the Neo Cons, the Bankers, the Robber Barons, the Haves, BRAINWASH YOU INTO STABBING YOURSELVES IN YOUR OWN BACK! All of the ones telling this nonsense, this LIE, all are well paid to say the opposite of what this country needs, and they have THEIR HEALTHCARE, while most of us DON'T!

I've said this before, and I'll say it again, SEE THE MOVIE SICKO! And then comeback and tell us how bad that SOCIALIST run healthcare really is on all those healthy people across most of the globe!

Thought provoking, as usual.

quote:

Originally posted by BLIZZADEMIZZASSTER:
blueball you are well off you can buy all the **** private health care you want, there are millions and millions of people who cannot afford health care so what should they just like die because they are broke?

That's why you get the government out of the system and make it affordable.

The problem with the US system is not that the poor are uninsured. The problem is that even those who pay for the 'best' health care end up in bankrupcy, which was a huge factor in the sub-prime/credit collapse.

Any system where you don't get what you pay for is a flawed system.

If we could at least get that right, maybe we could work on a Canadian-like system and shift to a preventative care mentality.

Antitrust law needs to be enforced, and even strengthened to combat the conglomerates and the anti-competitive practices.

Health care is as much a matter of national security as a standing army.

quote:

NCC 1701
No bloody A, B, C or D

What does that mean Dr.J?

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Evil:
It should somehow become an EARNED right just like owning a home. But yes, things need to change and kids should be able have it no matter what.

Exactly. Anyone under 18 who is still in school should be covered 100%. Anyone who doesn't agree is evil.

I pay 30 bucks a month. You could work at sonic and pay that each month.

quote:

Originally posted by Blueball:
I pay 30 bucks a month. You could work at sonic and pay that each month.

You don't have good health insurance.

I had Knee surgery and paid 290 bucks for my part. And paid 7 bucks for morphine. Sounds good to me. You should do better research into Insurance plans out there.

quote:

Originally posted by Blueball:
I had Knee surgery and paid 290 bucks for my part. And paid 7 bucks for morphine. Sounds good to me. You should do better research into Insurance plans out there.

Maybe somehow you have a hell of a deal, but if great health insurance was only $30 a month, it wouldn't be an issue in this country. Maybe you should inform congress about this health care plan.

Glad you brought up congress, those people Irk me. The health plans they have are incredible. And i'd say 3/4 of those people could careless if the people have health plans. I just did alot of research . There's some good companies out there. Not just the really big named places.

Sorry, but people in congress do deserve good health care. Sometimes plans do seem good at first, but as soon as you have a major problem they will do anything to try to deny you.

Congress is the ultimate job. Do nothing , Get awesome pay, vacation 3/4 of the time.. with the best benefits on the planet.