The concept of Universal Health Care is a highly debated topic that has divided political parties for many years. Like many of you, I wondered just what is it exactly, and just how good or bad can it be? Is there a list of pros and cons we can peruse? After spending time researching and seeing it first hand in other countries, I can say now that free health care isn’t free, and it is a concept this country should stay far away from.
Some may ask, if it’s so bad, why is every other country doing it? If every other country was shooting every third citizen to prevent overcrowding, would you want to do that as well? Now before I get into this, I want to take a look at the ideas behind Universal health Care, and why it sounds so appealing at first. It is true that in a country with over 300 million people, a little more than ten percent are uninsured. Health Care itself has become increasingly unaffordable in recent years to many individuals without coverage. And yes, many medical professionals seem more concerned with malpractice liability and insurance procedures than they are with actually providing quality care. Universal Health Care (UHC) would tackle these issues, as well as centralize medical records in a single database, making it easier for medical professionals to access. It would allow every person the chance to receive care, no matter what. However, here is the one flaw already apparent. Every person already has access by law. It is against the law to deny anyone emergency care. Now I know that some might say that is just for emergencies, what about day-to-day use? Well, there are thousands of non-profit hospitals around the nation that still provide care to the uninsured. That’s what they are there for.
Another idea is that with UHC, it will encourage people to take a preventative approach to their own health. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s already happening. However, you must consider the nature of the beast. People know that smoking causes cancer, and yet many people still smoke. People know they should eat three to four fruits and vegetable every day…and yet some people have a diet consisting of Red Bull, Powerbars, and Cap’n Crunch. People know that drugs are dangerous, but we still have an epidemic in this country that has no end in sight. Just because a person is encouraged to do what is right, doesn’t mean they will actually do it. Human nature aside, there are still aggressive ad campaigns striving to teach people how to live healthier lives. Just because government controls access to heath care, doesn’t mean people are going to start living healthier. In fact, it probably won’t curb prescription drug usage or doctor visits at all. In fact, now that heath care is more affordable, more people will be flocking to the hospital for every little thing. On a side note, you would think that not having coverage would encourage people to take better care of themselves, not the other way around.
Some argue that UHC is successful overseas. However, according to 
Now the other dirty secret of UHC, is that some call it free health care. I’m sure most of you have heard that old saying, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” That is so unfortunately true, it isn’t funny. Remember, if the government is paying for it, they get that money from you, the tax payer. We all hate paying taxes, and we all hate tax hikes. Now imagine if there was UHC finally instituted in this country. The money has to come from somewhere. Now even more money is pulled from your paycheck. That means less money you take home for those keeping score. Here is the other thing, what if you are completely healthy and never need to see a doctor? Well guess what, you’re paying for it anyway. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like paying for something I’m not using. Tack on to that the fact that technically, you are paying for someone else too. I’m sure we all have friends that on occasion, we don’t mind picking up their tab, because we know they will do the same in return some day. However, we all have known at least one person who never pays. They always “forget” their wallet at home or something like that. You always end up paying for them, and they never return the favor. That gets annoying, real fast. Now think about those right now who are collecting welfare and are milking the system for all it’s worth (not those legitimately unemployed, but those leaching off society). They don’t have a job, so they don’t pay taxes. With UHC they can go to the doctor on your bill. You pay for them. The person who willing injures themselves or willing does something to get sick, you pay for them too. I hate paying for something I don’t use, and I hate it more when I have to pay for other people (especially those who are trying to take advantage of me), and I hate it even more when I have to pay for someone else’s mistake. I want you to remember that commercial about stealing cable. It’s the one where the guy at the grocery store leaves with a cart full of goods and doesn’t pay. The next person in line is given the bill. That is UHC in its most basic form. You pay so others can benefit, whether they deserve it (or need it) or not.
Another argument for UHC is that the government will make health care better because it will make it efficient. Now, the last time I checked, the great bureaucracy that is our government is well known for not being very efficient at all. Currently the government has a form of medical coverage called Medicare. However, the officials involved wastes about a third of the money it spends. Now imagine that on a bigger scale. Look at the current stimulus bill. Sure, that money is supposed to go to us, the people. However about $300 million of that package is going to congress to buy electric golf carts so they can get around 
Do you really want our government to control heath care completely? Do you really want tax increases so you can pay for something you might rarely use, but others who take advantage of everything will abuse? Do you really want health care to mimic the inefficient wait times and quality that other countries have? I certainly don’t. If I wanted what other countries have, I would move there. I spent time overseas, and I was ready to come back home after my tour was over. I still love this country despite its flaws and inefficiencies. However, letting it slide into a socialist state where the government controls everything is not my idea of a free country. Let the non-profit hospitals continue doing their jobs. Let government leave health care alone so that the private citizen can decide whether or not they want to spend money on heath coverage. After all, being free means deciding for yourself. If we take that away, then what do we have left.
And that is all from this corner of the globe. Have a good day, America!
Web Sites Cited
Earle, Geoff. "Congress $hopping Carts." New York Post. February 2009. http://www.nypost.com/seven/02112009/news/politics/congress_hopping_carts_154496.htm
Department of Health. Treatment Statistics. 2008. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/18WeeksReferraltoTreatmentstatistics/index.htm
US Census Bureau. Universal Health Care Coverage. Almanac of Policy Issues. 2002. http://www.policyalmanac.org/health/universal_health.shtml
Live Healthy America. 2009. http://www.livehealthyamerica.org/
1. The title states the viewpoint for the topic but does not directly imply the topic. It is a very good title though that gives a clear hint regarding your viewpoint.
ReplyDelete2. “After spending time researching and seeing it first hand in other countries, I can say now that free health care isn’t free, and it is a concept this country should stay far away from.” is the thesis. Very clear and concise.
3. The author’s audience is the general population.
4. Position was clear by the first paragraph.
5. The facts used aid your side.
6. The style and tone used seems to be humorous. You seem like you are walking the readers through each step, opening their eyes as you go.
7. The author found common ground with assuming that people do not like to pay for someone else when the other one does not pay as well.
8. The data of other countries was compelling. I enjoyed the example of the semester wait for a checkup.
9. The ending was good. It ends with a clear point of view from you and your stance in the topic.
10. Sources were hyperlinked.
11. Quotations were used properly.
12. There were mentions of the other side but there were never any direct acknowledgements of the opposition.
13. Language is casual and non-offensive.
14. I again enjoy your humorous approach in your writing style. You take the readers on a road trip showing them that it clearly does not make sense to accommodate the 10% at the sacrifice of everyone else. I am a strong believer in NON-universal health care. UHC is a horrible idea and again, I am not willing to cover the “tab” of the guy who refuses to get off his lazy butt and get a job because he wants to stay home and watch Oprah while eating Captain Crunch and Redbull. Overall, it was a very nice blog.
I think the argument about, “If every other country is shooting every third person…” could be left out, it makes it look like you’re talking down to the reader. I also thought the Live Healthy America link was a ineffective link. It was supposed to be an example of how American’s are currently being pressured to live healthy but I have never heard of that program. Also it was basically just a link to the website in general, it might help to be more specific. I think a better hyperlink to the term “aggressive ad campaigns” a few sentences later highlighting these ad campaigns would be more effective.
ReplyDeleteI also found contradictions between the beginning and the end. In the beginning you state there are thousands of non-profit hospitals and that we can’t deny anyone emergency medical care as an argument against UHC. However toward the end one of your arguments is that with UHC people end up footing the bill for non-working or lazy people. I could be wrong but it seems like people are footing the bill for other people in both cases, because people who can’t afford health care are usually on Access which is covered by taxpayers or the county hospital which is also covered by taxpayers. I would maybe refrain from using the word hate so frequently, that can be a very polarizing word for some people. Overall good job and very good pictures.