Do you believe that we should have socialized medicine in the United States?

1. 85

   Gemini Foxposted 12 years ago

   Do you believe that we should have socialized medicine in the United States?
   
   Why or why not?

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2. 0

   paralegalproposted 12 years ago

   I've wondered about this question a lot. I have to admit, though, that I don't really understand the ins and outs of socialized medicine. All I have to go on are some stories I have heard from friends living in Britain, Canada and Finland, all of which have socialized medicine.
   
   My British and Canadian friends complain about the national health care systems because they can be slow to provide care. I remember one Canadian friend telling me about his mother, who spent almost eight hours waiting in an emergency room to be seen. This didn't strike me as odd, though, because the one time in my life I went to an emergency room here in the U.S., I waited nearly twelve hours. So, in a certain respect, hits story seemed to paint a better picture to me.
   
   My friend from Finland agrees that it can sometimes take a while to get non-emergency care, but he also pointed out to me that people very rarely die in Finland due to a complete lack of care. So perhaps waiting a while in an emergency room isn't so bad if it means that everyone at least has access to care.
   
   I'm still on the fence about it, but I like the idea that there are medical systems out there where everyone who needs care can get it.

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3. 59

   pingthis2012posted 12 years ago

   Yes. To me, making someone choose between their financial well being and their well being is unethical. Why should one have to pay to survive?

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4. 63

   Mercia Collinsposted 12 years ago

   I can remember talking on the internet to an American woman, who had a tooth abscess, was swollen and in terrible pain, and could not go to get emergency care because she didn't have any health insurance or medicare.
   
   I had had a tooth abscess a few days before, I went to the emergency dental hospital in my area, got antibiotics, went back a week later when the swelling went down and the problem was dealt with. I did not pay a penny, nobody asked whether i had health insurance.
   
   The difference between us, was that I lived in UK and could rely on the dear old NHS and did not have to risk my health through fear of not being able to afford treatment.

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5. 70

   Barnseyposted 12 years ago

   I believe so. Why? Doctors and nurses, Hell, the whole medical profession, are more interested in what their future gains may be than how their clients and patients are feeling. It used to be that those in the medical profession chose that field because they cared and wanted to help people. It has become quite evident that the culture is now one of extreme capitalism and incessant greed.
   Knowing this there is a very quiet philosophical minority in this country who would rather die than go to a hospital. Even capitalists don't trust capitalists when it comes to their health and well being.
   Regulate everything and take out the greed, streamline the system so that it cares for the people. Why can we send billions of dollars to Iraq and other places but we do not want to pay for a fellow citizen's health care? Let me stop. My soapbox is starting to creak.
   Oh by the way, as far as the outdated Constitution, Gusser, if it isn't updated soon it will fall to antiquity like the bible and other religious nonsense from thousands of years ago. Time to get over the fairy tales America and do whats right, not whats socially acceptable!

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6. 74

   Jillian Barclayposted 12 years ago

   Yes, I do! Medicine for profit, the system we have now, costs approximately 50,000 lives a year. However, the word 'socialized' makes many people uneasy and therefore automatically opposed to it.
   
   Good medical care should not be available to only those fortunate enough to have either money or insurance. The health insurance company lobbyists are so powerful, that they would revolt!
   
   As a patient advocate, I have seen countless people not only financially destroyed by medical bills, but devastated when they cannot get the care they need. I have seen babies turned down for transplants because their insurance coverage is inadequate...
   
   We claim to be an exceptional country, and compassionate. Are we really?

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7. 89

   mattforteposted 12 years ago

   One of my childhood friends had to go through a troublesome era recently. His dad had cancer. I don't know what type, never asked. The important part is there was treatment available that might save his life.
   
   The problem is, this treatment would financially ruin him.
   
   Nobody should ever, ever have to give up everything they've worked so hard for in life, just for another chance to live. It isn't right. Especially considering the stupid amount of money flowing through the healthcare system.

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