Before we begin, I would like to ask that you keep an open mind. Often, advocates of a universal healthcare system are seen as wanting the government to control every aspect of their lives. That is not our intention. We do not want totalitarian control. We want to address the suffering of millions of Americans who can’t afford health insurance.
The basic necessities of life are food, water, and sleep. The U.S. Government ensures that every citizen receives an adequate amount of these, but what happens when one needs something more? 47 million Americans can’t afford their medical bills. Should we allow them to suffer? The United States has excellent government-run programs for citizens in need. Our poverty rate is among the lowest in the world. However, we are the only industrialized nation that does not provide universal healthcare. Citizens are in charge of paying the rising cost of their health, and for some this is impossible. 18,000 of our country’s citizens die each year for lacking proper medical care.
We all know people who avoid going to the doctor because they can’t afford it. Although it is dangerous, those who have no way to pay for insurance cannot avoid this common situation. The continued decline of our economy will cause the amount of uninsured to skyrocket. Why is our current system failing?
The American policy of “laisse-faire” economics makes the government unable to interfere with the rates charged by private insurance agencies. Currently, the availability of healthcare is determined by these agencies. It’s basically a ‘pay or suffer’ situation. However, universal healthcare doesn’t have to be completely controlled by the government. If America provided insurance in the form of welfare to people who can’t afford the private rates, the private agencies would be forced to charge less for insurance to compete with the government’s price. In addition, the current system would not undergo a complete change which would ensure minimal confusion and less room for error. Universal healthcare is not what some depict it to be.
Many people imagine crowded waiting rooms and a flawed, abused, system. This misconception is understood; however, it is not entirely true. There are many different forms of universal healthcare, but when the concept is mentioned, many people only think of one type: where the government controls all aspects of the healthcare system. This type of system would probably not work in the United States, but it would be unreasonable to rule out the other forms of Universal Healthcare. We need to keep in mind the flexibility of the term ‘universal’.
Creating a more universal system would be the best solution to our epidemic of uninsured citizens. Not only would it provide a service, but it would encourage people to take care of themselves, improving the overall quality of life. Canadians, who operate a universal healthcare system, enjoy an average lifespan 2 years longer than Americans.
It is only way we can help set the ridiculous costs of healthcare in America. It may cause taxes to rise at first, but in the long run, it will be less expensive than the current system because we would pay less for our own health insurance. Not to mention, it would be extremely beneficial. It is our responsibility to vote in favor of creating a safer, happier, healthier America that provides liberty, justice, and reasonable healthcare for all!
