This journal entry is in response to the question “Is health care a right or a privilege?”
At this point in the United States, health care is considered a privilege. Those who work and earn a decent living are able to afford quality health care. However, those who are living on low income often receive poor health care if they can afford care at all. Many people believe that the U.S. should begin providing universal health care. They argue that with all the money the U.S. government spends on health care now, switching to a universal system could be done the right way.
Other countries, such as Canada and Italy, currently use a universal health care system. There are both positives and negatives to this method. Although health care is provided to all citizens of these countries, research shows that it is not necessarily equal quality care for all citizens. Those with more money are still receiving better care. Also, there are worries that if the U.S. switched to the universal system, hospital and clinic employees would be less motivated to put forth their best effort. This would both lower the quality of care and delay innovation.
I feel that if the U.S. were to switch to the universal system, thus making health care a right, it would have to be done the right way. Based on other government-run programs, such as welfare, I do not believe that this is possible. This is because the people abuse the systems that are set up for them. It is not the fault of the government that this program would not work; it is the fact that not all people are honest. Citizens would take advantage of the system if health care were a right, rather than respect the system as a privilege.
As of right now, I would have to say that this is a difficult argument to choose a side for. Switching to a universal health care system would be the most “moral” thing the government could do. However, it is not necessarily the right thing because the people who would use the system are not all moral individuals. I would have to say that I think health care should be a right, but for now it must remain a privilege.
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Clint-
ReplyDeleteI agree that healthcare needs to be a right. It is my hope that more will be done to make this work in the right way. I agree that lowering the income of healthcare workers is not the way to go. With the decline in work and insurance in the Stark County area, physicians and their families are making an exodus from the area. We've lost neurologist, Ob/Gyn's and ENTs. Masillon is now limited to 2 ENT guys that doesn't leave the people much of a choice. So, there is a need for investigation into the situation before making any decisions.
Clint
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this topic. Unless there is a way that all individuals will use the program as intended, there will always be problems with it. Also, I agree with the point about the drive of the physicians. I feel that if they are paid less, then some of them might not put forth their best efforts. It's sad to think that, but it's a possibility.
Clint, We do have a pessimistic attitude towards our fellow human beings. We are convinced that it is money which drives the health care worker to be better. And that others merely want to take advantage of our generosity. And yet the Romans created these wonderful Baths for all citizens to help them stay healthy. And they engineered the aquaducts we will visit next week to be sure their citizens all had safe water supply.
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