Is there a right to health care?

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
The debate over universal health care always tends to incorporate the question of whether or not health care is a right. The answer really relies on how you define the term, "right." So, what does everyone here think about this- is health care a right? And how do you define "right"?
 
Mar 2009
2,751
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Undisclosed
The debate over universal health care always tends to incorporate the question of whether or not health care is a right. The answer really relies on how you define the term, "right." So, what does everyone here think about this- is health care a right? And how do you define "right"?
I am not sure it is a right. It is sure nice if ya can get it. But to require others to pay for something for you just does not seem right to me. Unless someone has adopted you why would they owe you anything?
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
I am not sure it is a right. It is sure nice if ya can get it. But to require others to pay for something for you just does not seem right to me. Unless someone has adopted you why would they owe you anything?
Exactly. The way I see it, rights are something you are born with- liberty, life, pursuit of happiness, the ability to say what you want. There is no reliance on anyone else to have those things. Health care is something that relies on someone else to do something and as such it is not a right. If you force it as a right then you are simply coercing people to try to make it a right, but in reality it just isn't.
 
Apr 2009
1,943
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Disunited Queendom
I don't know anything about a right, but universal healthcare is brilliant. I'd prefer it to a lack thereof, myself, and i doubt many people don't want universal healthcare. It's just a matter of how it is applied.
 

myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
I don't know anything about a right, but universal healthcare is brilliant. I'd prefer it to a lack thereof, myself, and i doubt many people don't want universal healthcare. It's just a matter of how it is applied.
I would rather have it applied without making it a government labeled "right." I would rather let markets compete to bring down prices and have people buy it out of free will.
 
Apr 2009
1,943
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Disunited Queendom
I would rather have it applied without making it a government labeled "right." I would rather let markets compete to bring down prices and have people buy it out of free will.

See? This is still support for a universally available healthcare system (if a little utopic). It's merely by a different means - i.e. that of the market.
 
Mar 2009
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I am not sure it is a right. It is sure nice if ya can get it. But to require others to pay for something for you just does not seem right to me. Unless someone has adopted you why would they owe you anything?
Dodge has said it well for me. In addition, I think it is a right that has to be earned. In other words we have to pay in order to have that right. Government has to source the health care from somewhere don't they? Where right comes into it for me is the right to participate in the Government decision of how the funds for healthcare will be distributed.
 
Mar 2009
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Buying your rights? Sounds like a horrendous notion.
Perhaps you misunderstood what I was trying to say? We are talking about healthcare. Healthcare costs money. In order to get healthcare we need to pay for it. Nothing horrendous in that notion.
 
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myp

Jan 2009
5,841
50
See? This is still support for a universally available healthcare system (if a little utopic). It's merely by a different means - i.e. that of the market.
I don't think anyone is opposed to the mere idea of everyone having access to health care. What I am saying is that it should not be mandated through the government as that just leads to more troubles.
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
Perhaps you misunderstood what I was trying to say? We are talking about healthcare. Healthcare costs money. In order to get healthcare we need to pay for it. Nothing horrendous in that notion.

Well, someone has to pay for it. The idea that you have to pay to live - or that the richer you are, the better your healthcare - is a horrendous idea. To me, anyway.

I don't think anyone is opposed to the mere idea of everyone having access to health care. What I am saying is that it should not be mandated through the government as that just leads to more troubles.

With which i happen to agree. Non-state universal healthcare system is preferable to a state-oriented one.
 
Mar 2009
2,188
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Well, someone has to pay for it. The idea that you have to pay to live - or that the richer you are, the better your healthcare - is a horrendous idea. To me, anyway.
Well if you do not want to pay, then probably you will have to find another way to look after yourself medically. Maybe just make sure you don't get sick.
 
May 2009
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USA
If universal healthcare is not a right, then it certainly should be. What else is the purpose of government but to provide for such things? Whenever I find myself looking narrowly at some social welfare program, I think of the Preamble to the Constitution, which always puts my views in proper perspective. It is "We the People" - not me, me, me.
 
Apr 2009
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Disunited Queendom
Well if you do not want to pay, then probably you will have to find another way to look after yourself medically. Maybe just make sure you don't get sick.

The best protection against being ill is being rich. Poor people have a far greater chance of getting ill in the first place. Therefore, poor people have a far greater need for healthcare.
 
Mar 2009
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The best protection against being ill is being rich. Poor people have a far greater chance of getting ill in the first place. Therefore, poor people have a far greater need for healthcare.
Well isn't "being rich" the stereotype solution for all problems? Taking responsibility for one's health would probably be a more realistic solution than waiting for hand-outs?
 
Apr 2009
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Well isn't "being rich" the stereotype solution for all problems?

At least most of them, probably. That's due to the fact that social issues are mainly a result of wealth inequality.

Taking responsibility for one's health would probably be a more realistic solution than waiting for hand-outs?

Most people do their best. The problem is money, time and stamina - the latter two an issue as a result of the first problem.
 

GOP

Feb 2010
360
0
United Kingdom
It definitely is a right to health care, I believe that system should work properly enough so all its inhabitants are covered. The problem in this debate is that from the leftist part of the political scale the argument is that only the government should responsible for solving this issue, just like Obama's plan is all about, government control. Now I believe that the private sector needs to be part of the solution. Because through history we've learned for, in this case, the hospitals to be able to serve their customers in a modernized fashion we need to competition between the public and the private sectors. I believe that with a total government controlled system were very few private firms are allowed to serve their service to the public, the service and the ability to give the customers they need will be greatly inefficient.
 
Apr 2009
1,943
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Disunited Queendom
It definitely is a right to health care, I believe that system should work properly enough so all its inhabitants are covered.

I agree.

The problem in this debate is that from the leftist part of the political scale the argument is that only the government should responsible for solving this issue,

No we don't.

just like Obama's plan is all about, government control.

No, it's about helping huge and inefficient insurance corporations.
 
Apr 2009
1,943
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Disunited Queendom
And by raising taxes on these corporations, it really doesn't help them to get any more sufficient.

I presume you mean efficient?

No, it doesn't. Neither does funding from the state. But then, efficiency isn't the aim. State capitalism isn't well-known for its efficiency.
 
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