RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Well said, Eric. As you pointed out, nothing in our Constitution gives the federal government the right to stick their snout into the healthcare system.

There are three problems with socialized medicine. The first is that it violated the constitution, the second is that it is unethical, and the third is that it promotes substandard care. Show me where in the constitution there is a "right" to free healthcare. Socialized medicine is no different than me ringing your doorbell and saying, "I'm too poor to afford my medication, give me some money or I'll have the government throw you in jail."

I agree with Eschew Obfuscation; our healthcare system isn't flawless but it's better than socialized medicine. What bugs me about our health insurance system is that too many insurance companies will turn down people with pre-existing conditions, which in my opinion, is prejudice. But it's better this way than with socialized medicine.

To a European, the fact that this concept would be so maligned in America is unbelievable. Yes, it is true, such a system can be much abused but the fact that someone can be left distraught and in debt having been presented with a bill for thousands of dollars to help them recover from an illness is, to our minds, quite disgusting. Why not lead the world America, and create a fair system that would be something everyone would like to adopt? I always thought of America as a country that liked to say 'yes, we can do that, let's put our minds together and create a model for the world, just as they did with the moon landings'. The motivation of the new conservativism is fear, control and a 'no' mentality. Mr P: shouldn't the American people's political focus therfore be to demonstrate against the furtherance of such unhealthy lifestyles...enough of the MacDonalds, the unnatural foods (I've lived in the States and seen dougnuts sold everywhere, blue coloured drinks, maufactured cream, GM modified bread and even bright pink cheese!) Shouldn't there be the insistance that schools provide to proper dietary requirements, the removal or banning of hormones, additives, toxins, chemicals and suchlike in food preparation and animal husbandry and the education of citizens in correct eating, exercise habits and stress management as well as providing the understanding behind creating better relationships? Money better spent and maybe then you wouldn't need any sort of welfare. The second point is why should the system be corrupt? Why install a corrupt system? Design one that is less susceptible to such before you even implement it. FURTHER UPDATE; I was suggesting that the Americans could invent something that was good because they obviously didn't like the European model. Yes, I agree we here could do better and why not? Still no reason to malign socialised medicine.

God forbid we should actually look at other first-world nations with quality and affordable health care. Hey kids, it's already de-facto 'socialized' medicine if middle-class people can't AFFORD health care! Have you people been looking at your medical insurance deductions for the last 10 years? The pharmecutical companies have been raping you and the politicians still scare you with the 'socialist' tag of anything (ANYTHING) that threatens the system designed to work against working-class and middle-class citizens. If only a certain amount of people can afford health care, don't curse 'socialism' kids- it's already here. Get over the name-calling and stop living your life like veal. . .

Well, that probably would end it. And Dac, your challenge to Americans to design a system of health care where everyone shares its successes equally, I would ask why Americans are responsible for such? Why are not Europeans responsible to design such a system? Why are not Asians, Africans, Australians, etc. ? Funny that when Hillary tried foisting socialized (AKA government-controlled) health care on the American people, her proposal was rejected so universally by Americans, it was not even brought back in an attempt to revise it, but her Hillary-ous Committee (which had met illegally and without minutes recorded) was simply disbanded permanently. Sorry to break it to you, but outside of communist/liberal enclaves, Americans like our system better than any other in the world. It's a competitive market system based on profit-driven HMO's and private insurers. It has its flaws and failings but most people get excellent care. We've entrusted a number of responsibilities to our government behemoth and one truth endures: government (ours and others) wastes money and delivers mediocre results, and occasionally, really screws up an existing problem. Americans are wont to risk something so precious as the industry we rely on to keep us alive in our hour of emergency. That fact isn't likely to change, regardless of the brow-beating we take about 40 million uninsured Americans. The fact that they don't have health insurance doesn't mean that they can ever be denied health care. Americans accept that safety net and prefer the government to stay out of the funding/distribution/decision-making positions, except for the most shrill of liberals and people actually running for office.

Well Daccory, Americans wouldn't be so upset over socializing medicine were it not for one small factor: logic. As Lance pointed out, the lifestyles of many Americans are becoming increasingly unhealthy yet the life expectancy rate is steadily increasing (hence the end overpopulation). Let's overlook the fact that it makes no sense to eliminate a system that has proven itself to succeed regardless of the conduct of idiotic ambulance-chasing lawyers. The problem when people can't afford their medication is one that can be solved through a variety of different actions: none of which include subjecting such a critical part of our country to uncontrollable corruption.

Socialized medicine equals poor quality. Take a look at the infant death rate in countries with socialized health care. Any problems we have in America don't stem from the health care system itself, it stems from the frivolous lawsuits that constantly hover over the system.

Americans are increasingly in poorer shape, eating worse and take less care of their bodies yet because of our medical system are living much much longer than previous generations. And liberals want to scrap it in favor of ideology. NO socialist system of medical care comes close to providing the care you can get in America but liberals will favor scrapping it in favor of a system of shared misery.