They are anti abortion, not pro life.Pro-life but against healthcare for all.
Never made sense to me.
They are anti abortion, not pro life.Pro-life but against healthcare for all.
Never made sense to me.
It does. Hell I had someone take it a step forward and say it depends what kind of job people have as to whether or not they deserve it.Maybe I'm just paranoid, but does anyone else think that question implies that only rich people should have a right to healthcare?
Ironically, it's such a bloated and inefficient system that it's actually way more than if we just had socialized care.
I don't think I ever referenced basic necessities though how I can see how others see it as such. The road blocks were to how people usually received assistance and aid during unfortunate times in the past (from what I am aware).
I never said I had a plan, exactly. It was just more of an idea. Reinstalling values probably through public opinion and other societal means. The country has become more divided as time has passed, to the point where nobody seems to have any shared beliefs or values. For example, in the past, almost everyone was proud of the country but now even the flag is something divisive. Neighbors used to be people you would talk to and rely on, as opposed to being afraid them of or isolated from them. People did not seek help from the federal government but rather their local communities. Like I said, friends, family, charities, churches, neighbors, etc. Granted, they weren't supposed to help with everything, which is why the government allowed and still allows access to things such as education and health care (and in the case of education it is free until university). The non-cultural homogenous nature makes it more difficult for all or most people to agree upon something and for there to be smaller communities that assist its members.
That's fine, I suppose. Although it didn't feel right to say just that in a discussion thread without properly explaining myself and my perspective as an individual. The novelty isn't particularly what matters, I think it's fair to have a general conversation about different views based on their merits among other things. Maybe it'll help someone change their mind or confirm their beliefs. Whether or not the opinions of the majority are unfortunate remains to be seen.
...Ironically, it's such a bloated and inefficient system that it's actually way more than if we just had socialized care.
I don't think I ever referenced basic necessities though how I can see how others see it as such. The road blocks were to how people usually received assistance and aid during unfortunate times in the past (from what I am aware).
I never said I had a plan, exactly. It was just more of an idea. Reinstalling values probably through public opinion and other societal means. The country has become more divided as time has passed, to the point where nobody seems to have any shared beliefs or values. For example, in the past, almost everyone was proud of the country but now even the flag is something divisive. Neighbors used to be people you would talk to and rely on, as opposed to being afraid them of or isolated from them. People did not seek help from the federal government but rather their local communities. Like I said, friends, family, charities, churches, neighbors, etc. Granted, they weren't supposed to help with everything, which is why the government allowed and still allows access to things such as education and health care (and in the case of education it is free until university). The non-cultural homogenous nature makes it more difficult for all or most people to agree upon something and for there to be smaller communities that assist its members.
I think you underestimate the real costs of Healthcare if you think "community" is the answer. Yes, communities may be more fractured, but Doctors don't make house calls anymore either. Every part of Healthcare is associated with a conglomerate that would be more than happy to bleed any community dry of charity. The whole system needs to be torn down and rebuilt. If there was a way for a clinic to charge $200/hour and only make you pay for the 15 minutes you actually spend with the doctor, then yes, I'd agree with turning to the community, but that is not the reality.
Brilliant, the MAGA defense. How convenient that this idyllic time period that you pine for had legally enforced segregation through Jim Crow laws, because that's definitely not what you've been hinting at with all this cultural homogeneous crap.
I respect your opinion and I can understand and empathize with you. I can see how they can be argued as necessities and you have a fair point, I just think that universal applications of both of those limit freedom and I do not agree with it (assuming it is forced on everyone). If you're talking about access, people already have that. If you're talking about affordable or easier access, that's fair but I believe making it more adorable or easier to access will lead to concessions elsewhere and to me is not personally worth it. To you it is, and that's fine for both of us. For me, I think it is unreasonable to expect a government or country to provide all of its citizens with both, especially when it was founded on liberty and expecting people to provide for themselves (I will make a caveat about some arguments about those with disabilities and those born in poverty and that's fair and perhaps we should look at that, although some people have been able to live happy lives regardless of either). Providing most citizens is fine by me, or more accurately providing access to both that everyone could potentially have.
They could pass a law in theory but this is quite a divisive issue and given how laws have to go through both the House and Senate, I really doubt it would happen not even mentioning the influence of public opinion. They can propose a law but the chances of it being passed at this point in time are slim.
I will admit to ignorance about the demographics of Mexico but aren't the majority of people in Mexico at the very least Hispanic? They might have diversity in regards to the different types of Hispanics but overall I would imagine they're still mostly/all Hispanic and as such are still relatively homogenous.
I will also admit to ignorance when it comes to your statement about how the quality and access of both are declining. How have those things been declining?
That's fair and I can somewhat agree that they can only go so far and that the government should use tax dollars to guarantee a basic benefit for all. To which I say, is that not what they have? They already give us access to education and healthcare don't they (and education is free until college to my knowledge). I'll admit perhaps they don't guarantee it for everyone but I feel to go along with the survivor mentality that founded the nation, they provided access/the means to obtain both and basically said "survivors/those that work hard will access/earn this."
Here is the thing. I am pretty sure our government already directly spends more per capital than any other nation on health Care. If I am correct on that assertion, there is no reason why taxes would need to go up to provide universal care.The bottom line is, people like GoreMagala (and looking from the outside many Americans) would rather have those extra tax dollars for themselves than to help their fellow man. I'm not sure how you can even change that sort of mindset because it just seems like a basic lack of empathy for others less fortunate.
Our politicians and very rich people do, but the general public simply doesn't. The NHS's continued existence is perhaps one of very few issues that all major sides of the political spectrum agree with, with the only debate surrounding it being what's "destroying" the NHS (immigrants and the EU or politicians and rich people). The only real debate on that particular issue comes from parliament and really only then because the Tories have a fetish for privatisation of public services.
As an Australian I simply see it as a necessity, one that benefits society, as I'm part of that society I also gain those benefits. Will I miss money taken from my pay each fortnight, not really, it's 2% of my taxable income.... that's right, 2%. That money will go towards helping those less fortunate than I (as well as myself if I need it). I worry that people can be so callous as to deny other people medical care based on their circumstances, often out of their control.
Here is the thing. I am pretty sure our government already directly spends more per capital than any other nation on health Care. If I am correct on that assertion, there is no reason why taxes would need to go up to provide universal care.
Here is the thing. I am pretty sure our government already directly spends more per capital than any other nation on health Care. If I am correct on that assertion, there is no reason why taxes would need to go up to provide universal care.
Heck, just change the question to the natural end of things and make it "Do the poor deserve to live?" 5-4, no.So how long until this gets appealed all the way up to SCOTUS so we can have another 5-4 ruling?
I dunno, man. The public in the UK supports it now, but what's to stop another campaign like the pro-leave Brexit one from convincing people over time to get rid of the NHS? With the austerity measures already happening in the UK and the projected economic costs of Brexit, won't people in the country have fewer resources? It's easier to convince people to get rid of something like NHS when they have even less than they used to as long as you use the right argument. Considering how effective the argument against Others were for Brexit, I can imagine the same thing could work against NHS.
Not that I'm saying I hope that happens. I wish you guys the best in dealing with Brexit and other detrimental changes going on across the Atlantic.
...
Maybe?
Services that are provided by the American government(s) tend to be vastly more inefficient than comparable services in other nations.
The USA just does not focus on cost control, only revenue.
You're probably right and maybe taxes wouldn't actually go up, but that seems to be a major talking point for those opposed to universal healthcare in the US. In their minds the prospect of paying a single dollar more in taxes to help those who don't work as hard as them (obviously not true, bootstrap mentality is juvenile) is out of the question.
Out of interest, how much does health insurance cost the average American? At 2% of my income, it's really not much is it, I'd be surprised if it was proportionally less in the US.
Oh please. If you were suffering from a chronic illness or had a loved one in that situation you wouldn't be making this calm, distant sort of argument. We're all human beings made of squishy parts that will need healthcare at some point in our lives.
Other countries make it work. FFS, Canada makes it work. Your argument for it only really working for homogenous societies is disingenuous.
Where else would we have to make concessions. Are you not aware that people already pay for health insurance out of their paychecks?
How about that money goes to taxes too fund healthcare for all instead? I will happily pay more sales taxes for purchases I can control rather than possibly going bankrupt over a illness I likely can't control.
I appreciate your well reasoned argument, but I have to admit that your distant take on a matter that affects everyone is aggravating.
The second bolded bit reeks of "Yeah, I guess it sucks for people with disabilities. Oh well, I'm not one of them so it's just a thought exercise for me!"
Then we can change the survivor mentality this country has. One can argue it doesn't really work in the modern day, anyway.
The US spends 12.4% of its annual GDP on public Healthcare alone. In my country, Spain, where we have universal Healthcare, it's only 8.4%. In total the US spends more than 20% it's GDP on Healthcare alone. It's almost twice what the other countries do. It's a gargantuan scam.Here is the thing. I am pretty sure our government already directly spends more per capital than any other nation on health Care. If I am correct on that assertion, there is no reason why taxes would need to go up to provide universal care.
Ok. So my point stands then. The issue in the USA is not a funding issue, additional revenue is not a requirement to provide adequate health Care to the entire population of the USA.The US spends 12.4% of its annual GDP on public Healthcare alone. In my country, Spain, where we have universal Healthcare, it's only 8.4%. In total the US spends more than 20% it's GDP on Healthcare alone. It's almost twice what the other countries do. It's a gargantuan scam.
I apologize, I've alwaye been a very distant type of person. I find it hard to relate to or sympathize with people, as well as generally feel much emotion. I've always been more of a cold, logical, and apathetic type of person. I'm sorry for aggravating you and I thank you for appreciating my argument.
Honestly, I wouldn't know what I would do in that situation. I would probably do what I can in order to try to get treatment for my illness or the illness of a loved one. Obviously that would be a priority and I would do my best to get it. Ultimately, I don't know what I would do if I couldn't afford it. Knowing me, I would probably just accept it and do what I can with what I have. Alternatively, maybe I would be miserable and pity myself and the unfortunate situation, I don't know. Although I think that likely won't be the experiences that others have. To be fair and I guess to state my bias, I guess I've just been desensitized to it all. Not to mention, talking about survivor mentality, my parents basically risked and sacrificed everything to leave Cuba so that I could get open-heart surgery here in the United States (to my knowledge I don't think they had the ability to perform the procedure there). But, that's all anecdotal.
As for your next two points about other countries making it work and other concessions, I can agree and concede. Another member a while ago persuaded me in favor of his and your side a bit more. To my knowledge the issue seems to lie with banks overcharging patients due insurance companies demanding discounts. I believe in some hospitals a $1 IV bag costed a patient like $157, I can agree that's a bit ridiculous. With that I think the aim should be focused on both hospitals and the insurance companies.
You have a reasonable point with what you said about tax. However I'm still apprehensive on whether or not taxes are what we should focus on here.
You misinterpreted what I said about the poor and disabled. I think the first half was pretty fair and reasonable, in fact we're talking about it right now and I appreciate it. What I meant by "although some people have been able to live their lives happy regardless of either" was somewhat of the whole survivor mentality bias I admittedly have, that some people despite being poor/disabled are still able to live happy lives and be alright. I wouldn't be as heartless as to imply that I'm not one of them so it doesn't matter. It does suck, and I can at least empathize or try to, which is why I'm having this discussion with you and trying to see what can be done. While some some can pull through, others can't, and not even help from their community can suffice due to some of the outrageous bills. Hence why I'm starting to lean towards you guys a bit more.
The survivor mentality thing is debatable, and again I am bias. I would say perhaps it doesn't need to disappear completely, but perhaps we could have measured to make those who aren't surviving have an easier time, however way we can. I can agree that those poor and disabled should be able to have reasonable access to healthcare. They should still pay for it though, but I do agree the prices are the issue currently.
That's the Declaration of Independence.Well the Bill of Rights does say we have a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I would say that getting medicine is often required to stay alive so if we are still that country I don't know how you could argue that everyone is entitled to get competent medical care.
So how long until this gets appealed all the way up to SCOTUS so we can have another 5-4 ruling?
The title is more in context toward the recent court cases. It's not a broad title actually.
Sorry for getting so contentious. I've just been reading too much today and was encountering a lot of viewpoints that seemed very... lacking in empathy. So I assumed the worst about you, and that was not fair of me at all.
Well, since you shared your origins and coming from Cuba, I'll mention that I spent most of my childhood in Canada and while I didn't think much of politics then since I was so young, I look back and realize how much I took the social services there for granted. So when I came to the US as a teenager, even then the viewpoints I ran into about healthcare and other social services seemed so viscerally wrong to me. Fast forward decades later, and I've spent years and years and years hearing people regurgitate the same easily debunked BS about why we can't have affordable and accessible healthcare for all, and it drives me crazy. As someone who has experienced living somewhere where that kind of thing is available, it angers me to no end to keep encountering a mentality that just outright dismisses it using false arguments. Not that I'm saying that's what you were doing. Again, I assumed the worst about you and I apologize for that.
I focus on how unexpected illness can bankrupt people in the US. I mean, yeah, sure, I appreciate low sales taxes when I'm buying groceries and clothes at Nordstrom Rack or whatever. On the other hand, I have a feeling that a lifetime of savings from retail purchases could be easily wiped out by one really bad health crisis. So at the end of the day, cheap goods in that sense don't really matter in my opinion. If sales taxes went up, I could adjust my spending accordingly. You don't have the freedom to make adjustments like that with an illness. A good diet and exercise are crucial, but they aren't everything. And, well, genetic disorders exist.
The way I see it: taxes are the price we pay for living in a civilized society. The tax rate for wealthier Americans and corporations used to be much higher. As I understand it, over the past 30 years there's been a consistent effort to gradually chip away at that tax base and push costs onto middle and working class individuals. It makes no sense to me. The wealthy are where they are because of the systems of stability built up by this country. And as an individual, if my government is telling me that in most things in life I'm on my own, then why in the world am I even part of this society? It makes no sense.
Government can be inefficient, but here's the thing: as people we ostensibly have the power to change that. I can't change the assholes running health insurance companies that deny people coverage. So I'll take my chances with the government over private corporations.
I think the survivor mentality in the US has been used to convince people to be okay with taxing the wealthy less. When that happens, all of society suffers. The wealthy might feel it less, but the systems of stability on which they rely (but won't admit it) also start to crumble. Of course, this takes awhile to happen and they can ignore it until things get really bad.
Maybe it's because I was raised in Canada, but I just don't buy into a lot of the cultural explanations Americans have for not wanting to contribute to the welfare of their fellow citizens. I'm not even that altruistic about it. I know that if those systems are there to help others, they'll also be there for me some day.
Healthcare is a human right, if society fails to provide it, then you and your society failed.
The mentioning of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (to my knowledge) is in the Declaration of Independence, not the Constitutional or the Bill of Rights. As such, from what I'm aware of, there is no legal way to expand any of those things into any laws or rights.
As for the issue of health care, I'll say the same thing I said in the right to literacy thread. It isn't a right, if you want it to be that's fine, in which case I recommend you start raising public opinion for the creation of an amendment.
Even if it became a right, to be consistent with other rights, you can't force everyone to have health care or make it so everyone has health care. It needs to be a choice. A right is something that the government can't take away from you not something the government forces on you or gives to you out of the kindness of its heart. Think about the second amendment and guns. You have the choice to have a gun or not, the government can't take away your right to have a gun. The amendment/right isn't forcing everyone to have a gun or giving everyone a gun. So again, even if it becomes a right, nothing will change. All it will do is make it so government can't take away your choice to have health care or not. If you want everyone to have health care then that would have to be a difference piece of legislation entirely, but it wouldn't be a right.
When it comes to if people should have right to that choice, I think they should. Thankfully, most people already do have that choice but it wouldn't hurt to have it cemented I suppose.