Why are so many conservatives threatened by the idea of socialized medicine?

Question

I am not attacking Conservatives its just an observation ..

Why is it that you think its a bad thing ?

Answer 1

We are threatened because when pay goes down, people won't try as hard and quality goes down. Plus it's unfair to people who devoted their lives to getting an education and be denied a decent salary.  

Answer 2

Have you read about Canada's or England's socialized medicine?

Honestly, It is enough to scare you to death.

Answer 3

Because it's something that would be forced upon us.

Because it's expensive.

Because it isn't free.

Because care levels plummet.

Because wait times skyrocket.

Because you get treated like a number.

Answer 4

Because it doesn't work -not well - in any country in the world.

Answer 5

Because we like good doctors in America.  Socializing medicine would under pay doctors and all workers in health care.  They would start private practices for the elitists.  Government controlled organization are not organized.  Socializing medicine would be chaotic.

Why do you think people from Canada come to our country for specialized healthcare.

Answer 6

Because it opens the door to nationalizing the medical profession. Do you really want the government to tell you if you can get medical care?

So far as I can see I prefer the  private sector operate hospitals, not the Federal government.  

Answer 7

The health care industry is 1/5th of our economy. You want the government, whom can't even run the DMV properly, administer aid properly (Hurricane Katrina), wastes billions on worthless projects, is failing our children in education, and hands out welfare like it has unlimited funding, you want them to handle everyones health care needs?

Health care will be rationed, the government will ultimately decide who gets treatment and who doesn't, regardless if you can afford it, care will be less effective (since doctors will be paid less for a high stress job), innovations in medical science will be stifled, people will flood the doctors for so much as a hang nail, our taxes will go up significantly, more people will die or suffer consequences because of inferior care and long wait times, etc etc, the list goes on!

Now tell me, what is so good about socialized medicine?

Answer 8

it is not that they are afraid of "Socialized Medicine".....

It is that it is proven that the care is diminished and it is not free. In Canada it cost the goverment $5000 per month per family, thus the taxes roled into the working class takes up to almost 40% of the taxable income... VAT's then take more tax into all...

The average wait is three months for a Hernia operation, and mortality increases with people waiting for specialized care...

Wonder why Candain Doctors travel to the US now for thier care...

If you worry about the money in the war in Iraq wait to you have a Trillion dollar a year national health care that goes far beyond the lenght of the Iraq war when its open..

Yes needs fixing, but also forcing a small company to pay on the average of $800 per employee per month will destroy and stifle growth.

Answer 9

Several reasons.

1) Every nation with universal health care has experienced a decline in the average quality of doctors.

2) Look at the lines and waiting lists in those countries too.

3)Where do you plan on getting this money? You will need to raise taxes, and not just on the top 1%, which already pays 40% of American taxes. Both McCain's policy and Obama's policy currently lead to an additional trillion dollars in debt, and universal health care will add to that immensely.  

4) Taking money from one person and giving it to another because they cant care for themselves is socialism.

5) Take care of your own self, that is what America is about. I understand many people have disabilities, etc, which require very expensive treatment, but they already receive aid. I have no sympathy for people who cant afford health care because they didnt pay attention in school or are to lazy to get a job.  

Answer 10

Your response to the first poster sums it up. He doesn't want to pay your way, and he doesn't want you to pay his. There are a bunch of lazy leeches in this society, that mooch off the hard work of others, and when the government gets involved, they take advantage of the system to bring down the entire economy. I am neither liberal or conservative, and definitely not Democrat or republican. I've got a novel concept, why not let the people that actually work in this country keep the money they earn. Both sides want to give it away, just to different people.

Answer 11

How's social security going?  Medicaid?  Medicare?

So with these three programs taking over 50% of our budget and still failing....you want to add yet another large program to the list.  What?  Do you think four programs will be easier to manage than three?

Answer 12

It will destroy our health care system. Look how poorly the idiots in DC handled the VA hospitals.Now Imagine that on a national scale.

And my number 1 reason..The government is already big enough .We need to shrink it.Not expand it.

Answer 13

Its a question of government controlling my medical decisions..

Did you know that right now if you pay out of pocket for a procedure denied you by medicare/medicaid you will lose all of your benefits including social security.

Answer 14

Because socialized medicine is the boogie man. Oogie boogie boogie. Oogie boogie boogie. Make sense now?

Answer 15

Because they have been taught by Republican George W. Bush, to "fear" everything. Rush and Hannity say socialized medicine is bad, so most conservatives won't have to actually think about it, they just take their word for it!

Answer 16

It is fascism. I want no government bothering me. No bureaucracy=no fascism. I'll pay my own medical bills.thx.  I've spent some money on my health I would rather not have in my life and I don't make a lot but thx anyway, please stay out of my life liberal. Don't demand any money from me and don't pretend to want to help me in some death ward. No fascism for me, maybe next time. Or maybe not.

Answer 17

Because conservatives believe in a small government and in personal liberty and freedom.    Socialized medicine means growing the government and taking away many of our choices.  Government usually doesnt do things well.  Why should we want to give our healthcare system over to the ineffective government?  Think Dept of Motor Vehicles, IRS, Post Office,  etc.........

Answer 18

Because the government can't efficiently run a popsicle stand, let alone all of medicine. And higher taxes. Which actually decrease revenue, and the burden on the person is higher.  

Answer 19

We don't want to pay for YOUR hemorrhoid surgery!

Answer 20

Socialism is a type of totalitarianism.  What more do you need to know than that to know it's wrong?  Let's call it for what it is, "socialized medicine" sounds too innocent.  It's called:  taking money from people who have earned it, or inherited it, to give to people who have not.  No one is stopping people from giving all the money they want to those that they think need it.  That should be by their choice, and if they choose to give none, than so be it.  We need LESS gov't in our lives, not more.