Is Health Care a Right?

Nurses Activism

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Just want to see your opinion (friendly discussion, no flaming, please). Is health care a right that should be enjoyed equally here in the U.S.? If so, how would this be financed without breaking the bank? How would you place limits (if any) on health care for all?

Specializes in Psych.

I agree that an up front flat tax would be fair, but then it would be simple and bureaucracies would be eliminated. People couldn't cheat and hide money all over the world.

Even the government has realized that it would be cheaper for everyone if their were a national health care system. As I said before, we already pay for it anyway. It's just all convoluted.

What shocks me the most about this thread is how nasty and coldhearted some people can be. Nurses that don't even care enough about their neighbors to feed, house, or give them healthcare if they are mentally, physically or spiritually sick enough not to be able to acquire it on their own.

Has anyone seen "About Schmidt" or "Bowling for Columbine?"

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by chigap

Nurses that don't even care enough about their neighbors to feed, house, or give them healthcare if they are mentally, physically or spiritually sick enough not to be able to acquire it on their own.

Chigap,

We do this all the time already.

Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I care about my neighbors but when my neighbors who are healthy are sitting on their butts collecting welfare while I work my orifice off, then I have a problem.

assuming the taxable income, the remainder after deductions and exemptions:

Tax payer A $25,000

2002 tax due $3,154

if 20% flat tax $5,000

Tax payer B $115,000

2002 tax due $24,920

if 20% flat tax $23,000

Tax payer B's savings of $1,420 will cause a lot of suffering to Tax payer A.

In my job [involuntary psych unit] we often have to do hands-on 'shows of force.' Some staff are stronger than others, should they hold back so we will all be sure to exert the exact same physical 'work'? Should those with less physical ability dislocate their shoulders so things can be 'fair'? Should the strongest among us resent the weaker?

These are questions of values and ethics. Our country used to have more of a concensus about what is just. I believe Tax payer A needs that $1,846 for food and shelter and transportation, and I don't mind being in the 30% bracket for TAXABLE income earned above $112,850.

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Screw it then. If flat tax is unfair, then I will teach my kids NOT to become educated for a more lucrative and financially stable career, or to make decisions so that their earning potential will increase. My sole purpose in increasing my earning potential is to fund me and my family, not everyone else. Otherwise, why should I increase my earnings? Why should I find a better job? Why should I work for that promotion? Why should I go to grad school? To support my neighbor?? That is not why I was placed on this earth!!

Unfortunately, society is made up of all kinds of people, those who can cope, those who cope only part of the time and some who can never cope, with anything, anytime........... but they still deserve health care, when they are sick, or when their kids are sick.

Health care is a right. It is one way others can judge the society in which we live. That is, how that society treats it's most vulnerable.

Originally posted by Susy K

Screw it then. If flat tax is unfair, then I will teach my kids NOT to become educated for a more lucrative and financially stable career, or to make decisions so that their earning potential will increase. My sole purpose in increasing my earning potential is to fund me and my family, not everyone else. Otherwise, why should I increase my earnings? Why should I find a better job? Why should I work for that promotion? Why should I go to grad school? To support my neighbor?? That is not why I was placed on this earth!!

Maybe we where all put here to support our neighbours...... in the spirit of community.

Specializes in Psych.

Why do childless people have to pay taxes that fund the education of children? Why do people who aren't criminals have to pay taxes to support those who are? Why do those who are peace loving have to pay taxes that fund war? Why should I pay the same taxes as people who have more rights than I do?

Specializes in LDRP; Education.

Ohhh chigap, don't get me started on THAT one. :D

Specializes in LDRP; Education.
Originally posted by JMP

Maybe we where all put here to support our neighbours...... in the spirit of community.

And I do. I teach free classes for patients, I help with a Saturday clinic for free health care for uninsured patients. I donate to charities. I'm also a nurse. I will be paying off my student loan for the next 15 years. Who is helping me? That is the problem here. The "support" is one sided. No one supports me or my family.

Originally posted by JMP

Maybe we where all put here to support our neighbours...... in the spirit of community.

Personally..i have NO desire, or feel any moral obligation to contribut towards the support of my neighbor, who has 4 children out of wedlock ..by different men..she and the kids can get Welfare...medicaid, wic, food stamps, hud..She CHOSE to get knocked up...she CHOSE to continue to get knocked up with children she couldnot afford on her own..she CHOSE to be in that situation...they have rent paid for...food and medical paid for...and should she CHOOSE to dabble in school..we'd be footing that bill, too....well the rest of us work our collective asses off, paying for school...getting and education the old fashioned way: earrrrning it....

Specializes in Psych.

Would you rather trade places with her? Do you envy what she has? What would you rather do? Do you teach your children to treat her children like they are less than because of the choices of their mother? Judgement is cheap, but what is your solution? Is it to condem these children and to write them off as useless?

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