Socialist Medicine??

I like to think of it as free universal health care. But nothing in life is ever free and it has to get paid for somehow, in this case, through higher taxes. Sure, on the surface it sounds kind of good. I am a living therefore my health needs are taken care of by the government (in other words the people), and I have nothing to worry about. But in reality it's not that simple.

The thing is everything we do affects our health in some way. If you drink, you have a greater chance for heart and liver problems. If you eat fatty foods and become overweight, you have not only have heart trouble, but you can develop respiratory problems back trouble, diabetes, etc. If you listen to music too loudly you could develop hearing loss. And on the flip side, if you do take care of yourself and eat healthy and exercise regularly you greatly decrease your chances for health problems down the road.

Now that we've established that the everyday actions of life have an impact on our health what do you think the government will start doing to cut high costs of taking care of people who either can't or won't take care of themselves? They will start taking away things that do damage our health. So what's so bad about that you may ask. It will make for a healthier country and an overall longer life expectancy. That is true, but what of those people who weren't alcoholics but enjoyed an occasional drink? what about those who already ate healthy and exercised regularly but still enjoyed a fat laced hamburger or slice of pizza every once in a while? And those people who didn't crank their headphones or stereo speakers all the time but still enjoyed to crank it up when their favorite song came on or movie played? What of my right not to want to be healthy? Or would that no longer be an option? Does the pursuit of a healthier country justify the loss of certain freedoms?

What about those people who abuse the system and go see the doctor for every little ache that pops up? And in contrast how does the person who is never ill enough to see the doctor accept paying for those who are constantly in the hospital?

I can't even remember the last time I was in the doctors office. But I know people and have some friends who are constantly sick and are always having to see a doctor. I don't feel they should pay for me when I go and I shouldn't have to pay for their visits. And I would feel that way regardless of how often I went. I don't know, I just don't like the feeling of being a burden. I would feel that I would owe someone something,even if it is coming out of my taxes. To me the whole system just feels wrong, that may be why some countries like Sweden transitioning back to our health care system.

Socialist Medicine, otherwise known as Universal Health care is providing care for the majority of a region or populations' health.

While yes, it would raise taxes, I recently did a debate over the matter and found that it would save the United States 3 trillion dollars each year.

France's system is a great model to look at.

I live in Thailand, Thailand has socialized medicine.

I pay about $20. for 3 months of medication for which I paid $80 a month at the VA. It cost me 50 cents to see a doctor, and if I do not want to wait I can see him after hours for $2.50.

Thais are not taxed to death for this service that offers all the people medical care. The only difference is that ,doctors,hospital beds and medication are cheaper here. The doctors and the medical profession are not so greedy here as in the U.S.

If 3rd World Thailand can do it ,Why can it not be done in the US?

When economists talk about socializing something they aren't directly referring to "socialism". Most industrialized countries have socialized their health care costs, which has allowed them to provide high quality care to all at little to no out of pocket expense. We have socialized many other costs in the US by having a military to socialize defense, police to socialize the costs of crime, firefighters and others to socialize the cost of emergencies, teachers to socialize the cost of education, and apparently Congress thinks it's a good idea to socialize the risks associated with lending money.

Socialized medicine is a tried and true practice that insulates both the individual and small business from ever expanding health costs. The main reason we haven't added doctors and nurses to that list above is that people don't seem to understand the difference between a good idea that has been used successfully in many countries for many years and authoritarian communism.

There are many options such as a universal coverage plan where everyone "buys" insurance at cost from the government. HR 676 proposed a single payer system where all medical professionals would be paid by a central authority. I believe Obama's plan is to implement the former as an option in addition to private insurance already available.

Someone on here said that in the UK you can't get private care, but that's not even remotely true. I was there for a short 10 day trip and heard many radio adverts for private clinics.

Think of Bill Gates, George Soros and John Kerry.

You will pay for their healthcare insurance and all the illegal aliens, too. For that matter even foreigners living in America.

Also, you thought the Emergency rooms were full, now you have to deal with everyone going to the doctor when ever they get a boo boo.

When you want to go, they will put your liver transplant on a waiting list and you'll have to wait in line like everyone else, not dependent on your condition. Pray you don't die beforehand.

Your doctor will be jailed if he treats anyone out of the system, even if he's paid big bucks for it.

The state will dictate your coverages and denials. Politicians will determine if you will be worth the expense.

The US Drug Industry, once the greatest in the world, will cease to exist because there will be no profit in it. Drug advancements will not be profitable anymore. Inferior drugs made overseas will dominate because they are the cheapest, some with placebos and undercut the American companies soon bankrupting them. Hope you don't get poisoned from them.

You have an option to have alternative therapies, mostly worthless psychological babble that will not treat any of your actual illnesses.

Your government will now be involved in your lifestyle. You may have to loose weight, stop smoking, drinking, start excercising or be faced with reduced benefits.

Hey, at least you have peace of mind with that card

It will make it available for everyone not just the privileged few.

Study the health care system in Cuba ... where the average Cuban has ready access ( ie no waiting lists) to world class medical care for free ... compare this with what's currently available to the average American.

The government manages and oversees everything about health care. Therefore they have to ration the care, leading to long wait times to see a general practioner or specialist, the government denying you care if it isn't a good or sure bet -like experimental treatments that you'd be willing to try if your life was at stake-, less effective care due to lower paid doctors/nurses, much higher taxes, less innovative scientific breakthroughs in the medical field since a government run monopoly has no profit motive or competition to force them to improve, etc.

Basically, socialized medicine sucks. It's doing poorly across the world, and many foreigners come to the US all the time for treatment because of our ability to pay, close to free market system that has given us the highest quality health care in the world.

it means everyone has access to healthcare so people dont die because they cant afford it

it works. i live in canada, and it's much better than the system the US has. no long lineups or anything. but best of all, nobody being denied treatment because of insufficient funds.

"Socialist medicine" means that the government is in charge of it, instead of giving every citizen a check and saying "buy health care" (or having citizens pay for their own).

Under true socialist medicine (like in the UK), you AREN'T ALLOWED to buy your own health care, even if this means that you're going to die from lack of treatment.

The US has a far better healthcare system, the only problem is that if you don't have money, you are COMPLETELY screwed.

Medicare and Medicaid are examples of socialized medicine. They exist and they work.