Regarding universal or socialized health care?

Question

Canadians have a universal system where every individual has free access to physician and hospital care. Americans require insurance or out-of-pocket spending. Canadian waiting lines are overall longer, but Canadians are overall healthier. Both countries require insurance for pharmaceutical care.

Healthier countries throughout the world generally have a universal healthcare system while spending less on health care (per capita) then the USA. In my opinion a quick switch to a universal system in the USA would cause the already suffering economy to go further under.

My question is if you think a slow gradual switch to a universal health care system would be beneficial or harmful to the USA. Why?

Answer 1

Are a clean water supply and good public sanitation beneficial or harmful to the USA? To me, it's a no-brainer that good public health benefits EVERYBODY.

I once read a very apt analogy. Some experts set out to "build a better mouse trap" and all was going well until someone pointed out that the mouse trap design had to include a grand piano. That grand piano is the idea that someone must make a profit. I'm not talking about doctors and nurses earning a paycheck, I'm talking about PROFIT.

Answer 2

Very simple.  Think about food for a moment, to give this an appropriate comparison.

Socialism:  Everyone eats... a bowl of rice. (figuratively speaking)

Capitalism:  Those who don't work, starve.  Those who work, eat hamburger helper.  Those who work the hardest, eat steak.

Now, being in the middle, I'll take Hamburger Helper over rice most any day.

Answer 3

Con's are that it would be more expensive for those who do not bother to pay for health indurance right now, or those who want to keep private cover.

Pro's are that it would address the death rate of American kids.

FACT - the USA spends more money on healthcare per person than any other nation on the planet.

FACT - the US has one of the highest death rates for kids aged under five in the western world.

Answer 4

here is the con to the universal health care.  In Canada,they have what's called GST (Goods and Services Tax, or Government Sales Tax) that is used to support the universal health care and other government programs.  The GST in Canada is like 23% so everything you buy in the store has 23% markup just for the government. On top of that each province can have additional tax for local government.  So for example, in California the sales tax is 7.25% now add another 23% GST you are now up to 30.25% sales tax on everything sold in a store, fast food restaurant, or taxi, plumber, contractor.  Do you want something like that just to support a universal health care program?

Answer 5

More harmful. The government does not care and government corruption makes company corruption look small. People from Canada come down here to have surgeries. When Canada has 300 million people and the National health care works then I will believe it. What works on small scale always does not work on the big scale. Get in a circle of 3. Pass 3 dollars around and everyone gets a dollar. This will work do it with 1 million people with one million dollars. Most  will get 1 some will get 1-100 Some will get none.  

Answer 6

You say lots of stuff about how good universal care is then state your opinion that it's bad. That makes no sense.

Health Care is everyone's right in a civilized society and should not be used to make money - it's like selling medicine to make money.

Answer 7

Harmful.  There is no 'good' way to switch to a system of poor care and less freedom.  Saying that Canadians are healthier doesn't mean anything.  American should have more unhealthy people...have you seen the way many of them take care of themselves?  That doesn't mean that people that do take care of themselves should have to pay for the people that don't, all for the 'privilege' of degraded health care and lack of options regarding their own care.