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by Anonymous on March 13th, 2006

Anonymous

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Why doesn't the U.S. offer health care when it is a human right?

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  • by NoWayJose on November 6th, 2006

    NoWayJose

    The US offers medicare/medicaid for people above a certain age or who can not work. Citizens and non-citizens receive 'emergency room' treatment regardless of ability to pay. I am a healthy working American and I pay for this.

    Traditionally, in the US it was not seen as the Job of the government to provide health care, but of the private sector (the people). People can spend as much or as little as they want on health care when the need (or perceived need) arises. As a result, America has developed some of the finest and most advanced medical care available in the world.

    A right was seen as something 'god given' or 'natural' which the government should not interfere with. It did not promise to 'provide' something, just not get in your way. Hence you have a right to 'Life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness'. So you can't deprive someone of their natural freedom, or take their life, or unfairly restrict them in their pursuits of happiness.

    But 'medical care' is not a natural right. It is something you may pursue. It is something that can be provided, but no government can 'mandate' health care.

    The UN can say it is a human right, but in many many third world countries there is NO real medical care. And saying it is a 'right' does not make it magically appear. Advanced medical treatment evolved along with our society which flourished upon government simply 'not impeding' our pursuits.

    Comments

    • "...most advanced medical care available in the world". Perhaps, but all the wonders of modern medicine are quite useless if you can't put up the money to pay for them, as so many millions of Americans are unable to.

      go_to_hellas

      by go_to_hellas on November 7th, 2006

    • go to the emergency room w/o ins. or money for heart bypass surgery and you get two asprins and told to see your primary docter for a refferal to a surgeon. then they wheel you to the door and say take care now, please get out of the wheelchair we need it for the next paitent.thats the free care you get when your ins. co. says it's a pre existing condition. many countries mandate equal care for all.

      THEGREENEYEDJACK

      by THEGREENEYEDJACK on February 17th, 2010

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