Why do people believe that socialism is the same as communism?

Question

And what is so bad about socialized health care? It makes it more affordable for everyone. It also ensures that billions of tax payers' dollars are not wasted every year on people who use the ER because they don't have insurance to see a doctor. And it ensures that people who need health care the most, those with chronic illnesses, cannot be dropped from their coverage. What is so bad about that?

Answer 1

Your details don't really go with the question, so I will take them separately.

First, socialism tends to be equated with communism because there has never been a truly socialist country. Countries that start out with a socialist agenda tend to become communist before too long.

Secondly, socialized health care runs the risk of ending in subpar healthcare because it becomes government controlled. Health insurance is not that expensive. Many people without healthcare don't have it because they don't want to spend their money on it and would rather spend their money elsewhere. Think about college age kids that our independent - many would rather buy a new plasma than have healthcare because young people often feel invincible. Either way, there are other options besides socializing health care.  

Answer 2

Totally agree that socialism is not communism. Would like to see form of market socialism developed to pay for health care. A system like Medicare but vastly better managed that's for out and out fraud. To pay doctors fees that would have ceiling, but would not be discounted. And something like medical savings account were each person is given set amount to pay co-pays which would be percentage of medical fee. People would be allowed to set up account in bank that agreed to establish EBT System, keep records and abide by Roosevelt's banking regulations. Each account woulds pay 4 % interest. Interests you earned on funds not used to pay co-pays would be yours to use tax free or save for very large co-pays.No insurance in this system would be allowed. But if you had money to buy your own insurance you would not be forced to join this system. You would use debt card before every procedure being billed system. No copay no treatment. Unless it was free.  

Answer 3

Cold War Propaganda

Answer 4

Socialized health care eliminates competition.

The failure of many socialist (I.E.: communist) economies around the world have shown that eliminating competition encourages laziness, inefficiencies, corruption, and waste, and it is therefore ultimately self defeating.