Universal Health Care: A Bad Idea

The Left especially those lean toward the Socialistic side, believe that the American health care system is not working right because it is not perfect--ie an utopia. Any system man creates will always be imperfect, because man is imperfect himself. Just ask any engineer or software programmer about imperfect systems. Utopia is a myth. What the far left wants to do is make a system that is say 80% perfect and make it 40% perfect, by having the gov't run it. Like it runs the Veteran's Hospital so well.

When you have universal health care this is what will happen. First, your taxes will sky rocket. Contrary to belief, universal health care is not free. Somebody's got to pay for wages for doctors and nurses and pay for medical supplies, and it is the taxpayer who will pick up the cost. Not to mention bureaucrats who have to manage the health care system--they have to be paid too. Second, you have to wait in long lines for any health care service. How long? Try months. According to Canada's gov't health care web site, it says the waiting time for an MRI is in months. And US citizens complain about waiting for hours to see a doctor. Also, the web site says there is one primary health care doctor for every 1000 Canadians. This low doctor-patient ratio is because doctors are not being paid well. So, what can happen is that some doctors set up private clinics and charge what they want to charge. Technically, the gov't is not supposed to allow this to happen but it does happen. Consequently, wealthy Canadians go to the private clinics and don't have to wait so long. If universal health care is the perfect solution, then why is there any private clinics existing at all? I mean you would think that the wealthy would use the same system if it is any good. Wouldn't they? Instead they go to private clinics in Canada or go to private clinics in America. Also, it seems the Canadian system is not too comprehensive. Canadian citizens can buy private health insurance to supplement the national health care they get. Canada does not cover things like dental services, optometrists, and prescription medications. This private insurance is offered by companies for their employees. One other thing about Canada's health care system is that you have to have a health card to use the system. This card contains an identification number (sounds like America's social security card), which is used to access a person's medical information. I wonder what that medical info is--but I can take a guess. If the card is used to access the medical information where is the information stored? That's right, in gov't databases. Something that the privacy advocates might want to ponder.

If America adopts a national health care system one thing is almost certain to happen, that the powers to be won't be part of it or they will make it so they get a different version of it. You think Congress is going to wait months in line for health care? They'll probably put in a provision that they go will to the front of the line automatically. Or they will be the ones who be going to private clinics like the wealthy can do in Canada. Social Security is a good example. For a long time Congress did not have to pay a social security tax. They do now, but their social security system is not exactly like the one the voters have to contribute too. Always remember that those in power always satisfy their needs first, then the rest of population's needs second. And the powerful can always exempt themselves and the people they favor from their own laws they pass because they can. That is the nature of the game.

If America's health care system needs to be fixed or improved this is what can be done. Encourage more competition in the system. More doctors, more insurance companies, more pharmaceutical companies, etc. Competition increases choice and brings down prices. Here's a thought: Just like gov't is not responsible for your health insurance, neither should your employer be responsible for supplying it. You and you alone are responsible for getting your health insurance. If you own it yourself, you can transfer it to any business you work for. It's yours not the business. Portability issued solved. Actually, that is the way it was before WWII.

If you say gov't is responsible for health insurance, then why not life insurance, home insurance, pay your electricity bill, or even pay your food bill? I mean aren't these life issues important too? Just have gov't take care of all your basic needs. They could even hire crossing guards for adults--don't want people getting run over by automobiles. Or have human eating monitors that make sure you don't eat too fast--don't want people choking to death. That is exactly what the Far Left really wants in the end I believe. A nanny state.