Do You Want Universal Healthcare?

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I know this topic has been discussed before on this site..but, I was curious for an updated response. How many of you would be willing to pay more taxes for universal healthcare? I find it egregious that the US has put a cost on maintaining/saving ones life! I traveled to Europe and the thought of them having to bring their checkbook to the hospital aroused literal laughs. It's the same notion that we'd have to whip out our debit card to firefighters before they turned the hoses on our burning homes. It's sad. I think the overall costs of UH would be beneficial...in fact, the raised taxes would still probably be lower than our rising premiums every 2 weeks! Thoughts?

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
man dont even get me started on school systems and their failures. I am homeschooling my 13 yr old and selling my house to move to a better school district because there are so many problems with the school districts and how funding for them is distributed in this area. I would private school him if that didn't come with a "mandatory Christian household" component".

Thank the liberal democrats who refuse to permit vouchers which would allow public school students to opt out of poorly performing schools in favor of private schools, which consistently do a better job at a lower cost. If vouchers were allowed in your area, I guarantee you would have multiple private schools vying for your voucher, allowing you freedom of choice to school privately without a religious component.

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Specializes in Tele,CCU,ER.

This is my view on many topics covered here:

I grew up in South LA. One of the most violent neighborhoods in the US. Its hard to get a good education. The schools are horrible and their is no parks. Many families are immigrant and low income minorities, like myself...It was so hard for me...My mom had to spend a whole day trying to get medi-cal for me...she had no money for our medical expenses...I needed glasses and physical exams. Of course, I believe everyone should get UH. As human beings, we should help the less fortunate. I didn't make the choice of being poor...and many other don't either.

Regarding health problems, the poor have no access to healthy food...because it is expensive. There is only fast food restaurants here...and no markets that sell organic foods...Its sad how the area where my school was...had NO fast food restaurants and only Trader Joes and nice restaurants. Why alienate the classes...?

This made me try to become someone...and now I am prud of being the first college graduate in my family. I grew up being poor living in a single room with my entire fanily! and now I hold a BSN degree and am a brand new nurse in the ER. I just wish people would help each other, so more minorities can attain a good education and a good life...

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According to th following website, the Philadelphia public school district spends $11,078 per pupil. That is more than enough for breakfast, social studies text books, and every other educational necessity.

If these items aren't available to the students, it is because school administrators aren't spending money wisely.

If opportunities for inner-city students are not equal to those in other areas, blame the bureaucrats and administrators who are responsible, not the taxpayers who provide more than adequate funding.

http://www.thenotebook.org/editions/2007/summer/schoolspending.htm

I wasn't assigning blame at all. I was pointing out that we don't all get an equal chance at an educated start.

However, since you brought it up....the opening sentence of the article you cited said the following:

Philadelphia ranks 60th of 64 districts in the region, spending $10,000 less per student than the top-spending school district and $2,100 less than the median.

60th of 64 districts. While we do know how much per student they spend, I wonder how it is that we know that amount is enough in an urban neighborhood? How much is enough to pay the teachers a respectable amount (Philly teachers must live within the City of Philadelphia, so cost of living is high for them), to keep the lights on to pay for the district administration, to pay for breakfast and lunch for the kids, to pay for school books and supplies? Obviously, 59 of 64 districts think enough is more than Philly is spending.

Back to UHC...

Peace,

CuriousMe

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Someone earlier quoted JFK. Don't ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.

Ok, time to ante up! I don't need my country to do anything for me. I don't need universal healthcare and I have no problem chipping in for someone else to have healthcare. You guys most likely don't need universal healthcare. Who is going to step up and volunteer to do something for their country. Who is going to help the other Americans? I have done a lot for my country. What are you doing?

I have ante'd up. Based on information you have provided about your yearly income, I can assure you that I paid more than double that amount in federal taxes last year. So I don't take kindly the implication that I haven't ante'd up.

Furthermore, I step up and volunteer. Several hours per week. I recently spent thousands of my own dollars taking a nursing refresher course for the express purpose of gaining licensure in order to volunteer in a professional capacity. At school, where our district doesn't employ nurses. At church, educating young, unwed mothers. In our community, serving the elderly and arranging cancer screenings.

I have posted this personal and private information in the hopes that you will come to understand that we conservatives are not ugly, hateful, selfish people. We are giving and caring people who believe in the ability of others to provide for themselves, when empowered with the knowledge and support necessary to do so. Just as my parents did for me.

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Specializes in ER/Ortho.
If one is dissatisfied with the quality of school lunch, why not simply pack a lunch from home?

This is yet another example of the poor quality we get when we trust the government (in this case the public school system) to take over yet another function of parenting. In this case, feeding our children. Any parent can do a better job, and should.

I can pack a school lunch from home for my child if I choose to, but some people cannot. The children who qualify for the free or reduced priced lunches do so for a reason. Just because the kid is poor doesn't mean we need to feed him ketchup and call it a veggie.

The government isn't doing something to us. WE (you and me, and everyone else) VOTE for the people and ideas we want in our country. When people use their vote in an uneducated way or for selfish reason's to get a bigger tax cut, or to promote their big business self interests, or even worse in the name of god or racisim this is what happens. We get kids eating ketchup and calling it a major food group. Bush cut the food program that year, cut medicaid for America's poorest CHILDREN, and increased income tax refunds for America's wealthiest. I didn't vote for him, but the people who did voted for these ideas which later became actions.

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I have posted this personal and private information in the hopes that you will come to understand that we conservatives are not ugly, hateful, selfish people. We are giving and caring people who believe in the ability of others to provide for themselves, when empowered with the knowledge and support necessary to do so. Just as my parents did for me.

I appreciate that you've shared this info and don't think anyone's hateful or selfish. I'm so glad that you're parents were able to empower you with the knowledge and values you have.....but what would have happened if they couldn't....or didn't? Do we just toss you away? Or do we as a society try and provide necessities (education, health care, etc) so that you can gain empowerment?

I'm a big believer that all who can contribute to the world have a responsibility to do so.....but what does it say about us as a society when we do not empower those who can not currently contribute to our society?

The culture of poverty is not an empowering one. I see UHC having the biggest impact on our working poor. Those who do go to work for 40 + hours a week at or close to minimum wage, have no insurance because they can not afford it and are just up the creek without a paddle if a traumatic injury or terminal illness strikes.

Peace,

CuriousMe

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
i can pack a school lunch from home for my child if i choose to, but some people cannot. the children who qualify for the free or reduced priced lunches do so for a reason. just because the kid is poor doesn't mean we need to feed him ketchup and call it a veggie.

then hold the district accountable. raise he**. demand accountability of the people spending your tax dollars. why settle for unacceptable performance of the people entrusted with your children?

the government isn't doing something to us. we (you and me, and everyone else) vote for the people and ideas we want in our country. when people use their vote in an uneducated way or for selfish reason's to get a bigger tax cut, or to promote their big business self interests, or even worse in the name of god or racisim this is what happens. we get kids eating ketchup and calling it a major food group. bush cut the food program that year, cut medicaid for america's poorest children, and increased income tax refunds for america's wealthiest. i didn't vote for him, but the people who did voted for these ideas which later became actions.

voting for tax cuts is not selfish. if the people you refer to in the first part of your quote above didn't have to pay as much in taxes, perhaps they would have more money available in their pocket to purchase higher quality food, housing daycare, etc. taking money from the individual and giving it to the government to spend is never as efficient as leaving it in the hands of the individual to spend as s/he sees fit. you have cited an example of poor quality government-provided food. that money would be far better spent if left in the hands of the parents in the first place.

the notion that tax cuts which slightly reduced the percentage of my income paid to the federal government took tomatoes out of the mouths of school students is ridiculous. while the percentage of income paid may have decreased slightly, our income continues to rise, so the actual dollar amount we pay increases every year. time and time again, it has been demonstrated that tax cuts actually increase the revenue to the federal coffers because salaries grow when businesses are less burdened by taxes, people who have more money to spend generate more sales tax revenue, decreases in capital-gains tax prompt people to shift their investments, all resulting in increased revenue.

barak obama has acknowledged this phenomena. but he insists on increasing taxes on the "rich", in a manner that he states is meant to be punitive. how's that for cutting off your nose to spite your face?

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Curious me,

Yes, here in Texas ketchup is considered a veg on the school menu. This started while my oldest was in middle school during Bush's first run. If I am not mistaken it was one of the things he did to trim the budget.

First let me say that a tomato it a fruit not a veg and ketchup is a condiment. The students used to get a tomato with their burger, but now if they get 2 ketchup packets they lose the tomato. Very sad???

And its also true what you said about nutrition. All the healthy foods are more expensive (fresh fruits and veggies have all went up terribly). Your preprepared, boxed, fatty foods not so much. When a family is on a tight budget they can often afford to eat, but not healthy. This is why the poor neighborhoods have had an increase in weight. Its not because they eat more its that they eat less expensive high fatty foods that they can afford. Time just did this story a month or so ago.

A woman on another, non-nursing board lives near a city that she hasn't identified but I figured out from her clues to be Camden, New Jersey. One thing she mentioned was that this city had no grocery stores, for two reasons.

1. Even though unemployment there is 90% plus, they can't find people who will work there.

2. Shoplifting and vandalism are so rampant, even if they can find employees (imported from elsewhere), the stores can't stay open.

So, people have to rely on gas stations and convenience stores.

If someone can't afford fresh fruits and vegetables, canned or frozen is the next best alternative and do not have to be expensive.

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I have posted this personal and private information in the hopes that you will come to understand that we conservatives are not ugly, hateful, selfish people. We are giving and caring people who believe in the ability of others to provide for themselves, when empowered with the knowledge and support necessary to do so. Just as my parents did for me.

I am quite sure you are giving and caring. I am quite sure many are. However, when many people get overly hateful towards people in lower economic classes and the rest of you cheer them on we see the actions and not the words...

Anyone that gives freely of time and money would logically have no problem with universal healthcare.

As a side note, before you judge what inner city schools can and can't do, go to one. The people that balk at the idea that these schools are horror jobs and try to assign blame are usually the ones that haven't seen them. Go to these schools that don't have books or supplies. They are run by liberals and conservatives. No one is assigning blame to any one group.

The only blame is with the tax payers. You only have 3 groups. Those that scream about the injustices and mismanagement (usually liberal and lower class), those that deny it or say it isn't their problem (usually conservative and upper class) and those who really just don't care either way.

Equality in this country is still a fairy tale. Besides, why the hatred for universal healthcare. Your tax dollars are already paying for the lower class, the welfare recipients, the irresponsible people and the people that have no insurance and just don't pay their bills...

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
i am quite sure you are giving and caring. i am quite sure many are. however, when many people get overly hateful towards people in lower economic classes and the rest of you cheer them on we see the actions and not the words...

anyone that gives freely of time and money would logically have no problem with universal healthcare.

this is simply not ture. i am a perfect example. i do not desire uhc, because i don't need or want support from my fellow taxpayers, nor do i support a system that encourages continued dependence. teach people how to provide for themselves, give them the tools to do so, then expect them to take over. have faith in your fellow man.

as a side note, before you judge what inner city schools can and can't do, go to one. the people that balk at the idea that these schools are horror jobs and try to assign blame are usually the ones that haven't seen them. go to these schools that don't have books or supplies. they are run by liberals and conservatives. no one is assigning blame to any one group.

i'm thrilled you brought this up. for the record, i just optioned my 10-year old 5th grader out of a modern school in a wealthy suburban district into an inner-city public school. why? i'm not satisfied with the education she is receiving in our homogenous, stepford-like school, where everyone earns a's and b's, everyone makes the honor roll, and parents are viewed as an interference. our principal is more concerned with creating a pretty picture than educating our children. so, we did our research and applied to a magnet school that houses a majority of low-income, minority students, in a building that is probably 60 years old, in a neighborhood that is in need of some renovation (i'm trying to be tactful here.) i'll have to drive her 10 miles each way, and plan to spend 2 days a week volunteering in the building. we just attended meet-the-teacher night, and i couldn't have been more impressed with what is being accomplished by cooperation between educators, parents and local businesses that anticipate a need for well-prepared graduates.

besides, why the hatred for universal healthcare.

no hatred, just an unwillingness to participate in a system that is ultimately destructive by failing to promote independence. please don't assign the emotion of hatred to me. i have been thru too much in my life, and have too much to be grateful for to feel hatred toward anyone or anything. i have never expressed such, and don't appreciate others assigning it to me.

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no hatred, just an unwillingness to participate in a system that is ultimately destructive by failing to promote independence. please don't assign the emotion of hatred to me. i have been thru too much in my life, and have too much to be grateful for to feel hatred toward anyone or anything. i have never expressed such, and don't appreciate others assigning it to me.

count me in with jolie . . . . .we are so far from hate it is amazing that the word hate is used.

steph

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no hatred, just an unwillingness to participate in a system that is ultimately destructive by failing to promote independence. please don't assign the emotion of hatred to me. i have been thru too much in my life, and have too much to be grateful for to feel hatred toward anyone or anything. i have never expressed such, and don't appreciate others assigning it to me.

didn't mean to imply you were hateful. :( sorry sometimes i speak in a way that i am familiar with. i really only meant extreme dislike, not that you are filled with hatred.

where i am from and people my age call disliking something hating... not quite the same meaning as hate though. you have to remember that people speak differently. in my world, if i am supporting or doing something and you don't like it you would be a hater.

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