What are your opinions on having socialized health-care in America?

Question

For people who want it: Let me ask you this. Since socialized healthcare would be run by the government, why on earth would you support it? I mean ask yourself this. What has the government ever run that has turned out to be successful and beneficial?

Answer 1

When you socialize healthcare, you're financing every habit, whim, and predilection of each citizen it covers. It's clear that a great many people choose lifestyles that are harmful, wasteful, and counterproductive to themselves and others. The effect of this behavior manifests itself in health care costs. With the government providing their health coverage, the only consequence to the acts of irresponsible people will be that others will have to pay for them.

Answer 2

I live in Canada and enjoy the benefits of "Socialized" medicine.  The government obviously has some input into policy, and how much resources are spent on healthcare - but most if not all doctors offices are private businesses.  The only difference is that most of their billings are made to a government agency.  I don't pay anything at all for my basic medical care, everyone legally entitled to live in Canada can register, and nobody is turned down because of pre-existing conditions.  I can see any doctor I want, I can visit an emergency room for care and be seen in less than an hour, diagnosis, hospital care, surgery all free.  I will never pay more than $1000 a year for prescription drugs, and if I can't afford that I can get my drugs free.  Yes there are waiting lists, for surgery, but usually urgent surgeries are done quickly.  My last elective day surgery took 6 weeks from the day I asked my GP for a referral to a surgeon to the day the surgery was done.  Why on earth would you think that your system is any better?  There are millions of americans without medical coverage.  Insurance companies deny claims, not for medical reasons, but only because they can - they aren't in healthcare - they're in business and the bottom line and denying claims is the best way to profit.  Watch Sicko

Answer 3

Good point. However, we could provide optimal healthcare to everyone and sell our research (such a massive sample) to the World Health Organization (WHO), and other countries.