Healthcare is NOT a basic human right.

Nurses Activism

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If one were to read the Constitution one would realize that the Constitution does not grant anyone freedoms, liberties, or rights. The Constitution only protects freedoms, liberties, and rights from transgressions on part of the government. A right is something that is inherent to the individual, comes from that individual, and is maintained by the individual. You are born with such rights like the right to speak freely, the only thing that can be done to that right is to have it infringed. No one can grant a right to another, only limit or impede the exercise of that right.

Healthcare is a human invention that does not exist in the natural environment. Only through the work of others and through the taking of resources from one party and giving to another does healthcare exist. You cannot force someone to give effort and resources to another and call that a right. In the absence of human intervention the individual would live their lives and succumb to the natural forces which would act upon their bodies.

Do I think we should provide preventative care and basic primary care? Sure. Do I think that we can? Maybe. Do I think that healthcare is a basic human right? Absolutely not.

Specializes in geriatrics.
This thread sure makes me glad I am NOT a conservative.
This thread also makes me appreciate being Canadian, and thankful for my health care.
This thread also makes me appreciate being Canadian, and thankful for my health care.

Me too. It baffles me that people wouldn't want a universal healthcare system. This discussion has also highlighted to me how individualistic the U.S as a whole is with an "every man for himself" kind of philosophy. I am very grateful that Canadians want everyone to have equal access to health care and for no one to go bankrupt over an illness. It's not a perfect system to be sure but I'm glad to have it.

Me too. It baffles me that people wouldn't want a universal healthcare system. This discussion has also highlighted to me how individualistic the U.S as a whole is with an "every man for himself" kind of philosophy. I am very grateful that Canadians want everyone to have equal access to health care and for no one to go bankrupt over an illness. It's not a perfect system to be sure but I'm glad to have it.

And not to be disrespectful at all, but I too am glad that you are Canadian! :) I am also glad that you have noticed one of the aspects of Americans that make me down right proud to stand beside my fellow Americans' and root them on "to be all they can be" while maintaining my own right to do so also.

And not to be disrespectful at all, but I too am glad that you are Canadian! :) I am also glad that you have noticed one of the aspects of Americans that make me down right proud to stand beside my fellow Americans' and root them on "to be all they can be" while maintaining my own right to do so also.

Well to each their own of course, I want people to be all they can be as well. I don't see how having access to health care means that someone can't "be all they can be". I want to root for my fellow Canadians to "be all they can be" however if they need health care to be all they can be I want them to be able to access it because without it, me simply rooting for them won't do a whole lot.

Well to each their own of course, I want people to be all they can be as well. I don't see how having access to health care means that someone can't "be all they can be". I want to root for my fellow Canadians to "be all they can be" however if they need health care to be all they can be I want them to be able to access it because without it, me simply rooting for them won't do a whole lot.

I will agree to disagree. I believe "when a man is hungry it is better to teach him to fish than to give him a fish"

I will agree to disagree. I believe "when a man is hungry it is by better to teach him to fish than to give him a fish"

Fair enough. I don't necessarily disagree with that per se. In Canada, however, we all pay for the health care. No one is really getting a "free ride". The only people that don't pay or those who make precious little or are on disability or social assistance. I assume those groups don't pay down south either, so really we're just talking about middle income and working class people having equal access.

Specializes in ED, LTC, SNF, Med/Surg.

"Me too. It baffles me that people wouldn't want a universal healthcare system. This discussion has also highlighted to me how individualistic the U.S as a whole is with an "every man for himself" kind of philosophy. I am very grateful that Canadians want everyone to have equal access to health care and for no one to go bankrupt over an illness. It's not a perfect system to be sure but I'm glad to have it."

As I've said before time and time again, access is not the issue. In the US, the "poor", which i've also proven aren't truly poor, have arguably better "access" than "everyone". There are alot of myths being permeated these days, one of the biggest is that poor people cannot get care in the US, which couldn't be further from the truth.

The other is that socialized medicine is great, and that is the answer. John Stossel did a fantastic expose on health care in Cuba. He shows that even through a universal, single payer system, the quality of care is based upon the class system... He also shows how they skew the statistics to make it appear as though socialized medicine is superior, when in fact it is not. I think if more people, on both the left and the right actually did their homework and researched the issue they would be quite surprised, as opposed to putting so much blind faith in their god kings-Obama and Romney.

"Me too. It baffles me that people wouldn't want a universal healthcare system. This discussion has also highlighted to me how individualistic the U.S as a whole is with an "every man for himself" kind of philosophy. I am very grateful that Canadians want everyone to have equal access to health care and for no one to go bankrupt over an illness. It's not a perfect system to be sure but I'm glad to have it."

As I've said before time and time again, access is not the issue. In the US, the "poor", which i've also proven aren't truly poor, have arguably better "access" than "everyone". There are alot of myths being permeated these days, one of the biggest is that poor people cannot get care in the US, which couldn't be further from the truth.

The other is that socialized medicine is great, and that is the answer. John Stossel did a fantastic expose on health care in Cuba. He shows that even through a universal, single payer system, the quality of care is based upon the class system... He also shows how they skew the statistics to make it appear as though socialized medicine is superior, when in fact it is not. I think if more people, on both the left and the right actually did their homework and researched the issue they would be quite surprised, as opposed to putting so much blind faith in their god kings-Obama and Romney.

John Stossel is an outspoken libertarian. Hardly the picture of someone impartially evaluating another country’s healthcare system. Why did he pick Cuba a poor country with very little in common with the U.S? Why not choose from one of the western Countries with some form of universal coverage…any western country..we all have it in some form. France, England, Canada, Australia…etc…yet he chose Cuba…interesting.

Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

It's not that I don't want insurance for everyone-it's that the US plan has not been fully constructed, there is too much that is unknown, and the way it was passed was careless. It's a law now, and we have to work with it, but it certainly was passed without a lot of thought about the consequences. We may certainly be a casualty of it, due to hospital closings, salary issues, due to decreased income for our employers, increased regulation, and a number of patients who we really don't know how we are going to process.

There is a problem for the increasing issue of contributors and noncontributors, and the fact that this is the largest govt grab in our history.

Specializes in Oncology, Med/Surg, Hospice, Case Mgmt..

Thank you to our Canadian friends for coming here and offering your opinions on healthcare and assisting in our debate, even though as they say where I'm from, you don't have a dog in that hunt. Please know that not all Americans feel the same. About half agree with you and have fought hard for this for a long time.

Those who oppose Universal Healthcare would like to inflate their numbers and use statements like, "most Americans", but like most every political issue, this country is divided right down the middle. If you add to the supporters' column those that may not like the ACA, but know that we must have reform, it becomes less than half for those who oppose reform of any type. We struggle to get so many problems solved in this country because of the sharp division.

I find it very interesting the number of people here and politicians who say that healthcare should be left up to the individual states. I find that interesting because I live in one of the few states that has tried this. The conservatives here in my state and others across the country have whined and complained that it is a terrible system and does not work. Many, in fact, hold up my state's healthcare system as an example of how terrible Obamacare will be. That's kind of funny in a sad ridiculous sort of way. Once again, is it because those who say this live in wealthier states? Should Mississippi be left on it's own to provide healthcare for those who live there? Hmmmm....Have you even been to Mississippi? I lived there for 8 years. I think not.

Thank you to our Canadian friends for coming here and offering your opinions on healthcare and assisting in our debate, even though as they say where I'm from, you don't have a dog in that hunt. Please know that not all Americans feel the same. About half agree with you and have fought hard for this for a long time.

Those who oppose Universal Healthcare would like to inflate their numbers and use statements like, "most Americans", but like most every political issue, this country is divided right down the middle. If you add to the supporters' column those that may not like the ACA, but know that we must have reform, it becomes less than half for those who oppose reform of any type. We struggle to get so many problems solved in this country because of the sharp division.

I find it very interesting the number of people here and politicians who say that healthcare should be left up to the individual states. I find that interesting because I live in one of the few states that has tried this. The conservatives here in my state and others across the country have whined and complained that it is a terrible system and does not work. Many, in fact, hold up my state's healthcare system as an example of how terrible Obamacare will be. That's kind of funny in a sad ridiculous sort of way. Once again, is it because those who say this live in wealthier states? Should Mississippi be left on it's own to provide healthcare for those who live there? Hmmmm....Have you even been to Mississippi? I lived there for 8 years. I think not.

:roflmao:

Because the economic problems of Mississippi has nothing to do with the decisions of those who live in Mississippi. Its not like they do not have ample natural resources, access to one of the most important waterways in the United States, oil and natural gas, and access to the ocean.

I sure do wish Arizona had half the resources that Mississippi has. But alas, the problems of Mississippi are due to everything and everyone besides Mississippians.

I am happy the citizens of your state have the right and privilege to decide the healthcare system that works best your state, for your population, and for your beliefs.

Specializes in Oncology, Med/Surg, Hospice, Case Mgmt..
But alas, the problems of Mississippi are due to everything and everyone besides Mississippians.

I am not sure what you mean as my point was that Mississippi is the poorest state in the Union. I read something recently that said obesity has had a huge impact on their economy. They are 3rd in the nation. However, I'm sure it is comforting to Mississippians to know that this is not their fault and they are wasting their infinite resources.

Economy of Mississippi statistics - StateMaster.com

I am happy the citizens of your state have the right and privilege to decide the healthcare system that works best your state, for your population, and for your beliefs.

Thank you so much. It is my hope that soon this will be shared by all Americans.

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