how come some Americans are so anti the idea of free universal health care?

They don't get FREE schooling, they pay for it with taxes. They won't get free health care either, they'll pay for it through taxes. It isn't free if you are paying for it. It's all just a shell game, where you will pay for it one way or another. The people that are beneficial to society pay taxes, and some of those that are a drain do not. Those that are a drain already have medicaid, which is free to them. I'm not saying they are all bad people, some try really hard and can't make it but there is already health care out there for them. But, if you think that "free" health care to all will mean we all have great health care...prepare yourself to be disappointed, in fact it will probably be worse than what we have now. Someone will pay for it...it won't be the rich and it won't be the poor...it will be the hard working middle class which is a dying class in the U.S. already. At this rate all we'll have is poor and the rich.

ECON 101 "There is no such thing as a free lunch."

Many reasons for this. In one sentence the US is a far more capitalist country than the UK or most other countries in Europe. People are a lot more afraid of anything resembling communism as the US was involved in the Cold War with the Soviet Union so Americans grew up with many years of anti communism propaganda. Though Americans have public schools their standard are usually very poor and most families who can afford it send their children to private schools. Another is on a sociological level because the US is a younger country consisting of immigrants who left Europe or any other parts of the world in pursuit of the 'American Dream', no one likes to describe themselves as poor or working class as everyone aspires to suddenly make millions. Due to this the poor people in America do not have a culture of being low income and demanding state welfare. Also Americans overall tend to believe the free market is far better equipped to provide services than the state ever can, and that competition is beneficial, even in things like education and healthcare.

They do not trust the Government to act in their best interests.

They strongly believe in self-responsibility and self determination. They don't like to see others less successful than themselves 'profiting' as it were from their labour.

They believe it is one of the first steps to a European style social democratic politics which they despise.

As to specific health care concerns;

They think they will get a worse service in terms of waiting times and diagnosis.

They think it will lead to a reduction in personal choice regarding physicians, hospitals, scheduling, type of intervention, etc.

They think it will hit them in the pocket, e.g. taxes will increase but their employer won't raise their salary because they no longer provide health insurance, even if they do they doubt it will be an equivalent amount.

The think it will cost a lot more than current provisions per se.

They think the government would eventually introduce rationing in some areas, e.g. 80 years old, need dialysis? Forget it.

And don't compare it with public education, even poor Americans would have voted against it on that basis given the terrible reputation most public schools have.

Fear of the unknowns. The only known is taxes. People fear big government even when the Service would be beneficial. Political rhetoric clouds so many facts about health care. Big Insurance has so many Lobbyists that the congressmen and senators are willing to advertise the lobbyists opinion, then reporters write those words down, constituents read it and believe what they are told. This is how politics in general work in the US. BTW higher education is not paid for by the Government, only minor assistance for this.

"large harm to our greater suitable scientific device" is an oxymoron once you communicate approximately that there are better than a hundred,000 pointless deaths in step with annum contained in the U.S. via shortcoming of wellness care. confident, people who could have the money for in all probability have international classification care yet those devoid of the skill to pay those exorbitant quotes with their pre-present clauses are doomed to financial disaster, at ideal. If one thinks that socialism is the demise of loose corporation, you would be able to look on the Scandinavian worldwide places the place freedom abounds with the exception that handguns do no longer abound. and medicines in different worldwide places, an identical drugs you employ, are some distance greater low-value and hence greater accessible to the fewer .fortunate. And as some distance via fact the loose industry doing a greater helpful activity than the government - do you quite have self belief that the deepest American mercenary armies in Iraq do a greater helpful activity than the U.S. militia? i might elect to answer NTZYSMO. there is very very nearly no actuality in all the assertion related to Canada and wellness care. you're taking tips given by capacity of those with an time table and we are able to guess who they are. I stay in Canada. we've the parliamentary device of government and in case you're attentive to one among those device you will understand that any government, the two Provincial or Federal, who tinkers with our wellness Care device different than to advance it (it quite is consistently happening) does so at their peril. The final maximum suitable of my province to do this - he decreased the form of scientific scholars contained in the colleges, became into long gone almost immediately afterwards. There are no longer any set in stone cases for elections ( max. 5 years) and an absence of self belief vote will take the gov't down at any time. And so some distance as large Britain is going, carry out a little actual analyzing on the priority.There the government, below rigidity from loose corporation for particularly the pie (study insurance and HMO's) allowed them in and extremely very nearly destroyed an outstanding device. they at the instant are slowly correcting some errors

2 reasons. first, is americans culturally have a 'problem' with 'handouts.' they are so used to their private health care being part of their employment that their view is harsh - many believe that those who are uninsured deserve to be so as they are layabouts.

secondly, americans have heard too many horror stories about the NHS and other 'free' healthcare systems around the world. they are spooked at the idea of having to wait 3 years for an operation, or seeing a doctor who does NOT have an incentive to write a prescription or treat, and the rest.

it is horriffic that in the states if you are poor, and you get sick, you are basically f*cked. an american NHS would help these poor people, but too many middle class americans think it would be at their expense, that their own health care would worsen, and they are, to be fair, probably right.

Because braindead people confuse care and decency with socialism. If you say you are a christian how can it not be a good idea. You should have WELL PEOPLES clinics that give advice on keeping yourself healthy....ie: weight, smoking,drugs etc.

Well for starters the majority are the lowest earners,the tax hike would be huge to them.As much as you may not like it,the NHS is being privatised a bit at a time Labour causing most of the damage.

Because alot people are shouting about how universal health care is the first step towards socialism and communism.

A stupid argument I know.

There is not, never was, and never will be "Free" universal health care. There may be universal health care, but it is paid for with tax dollars,

And i am a supporter of universal health care.