the "right" to healthcare, a different look

[TrophyHusband 0]

it has been argued whether or not healthcare is a right. generally, the left says its a right and the right says it isn't.

in the past i've taken the stance that you don't have the right to healthcare, but for some reason i'm looking at it a little differently. this isn't a fully developed though, so bear with me here. i just want to throw this out there to get some other percpectives before firmly settling back into a stance one way or the other.

the basic hypothesis is that healthcare is indead a right, but you aren't entitled to it. let me use free speech as an example. you have the right to say what you want, but you aren't entitled to a newspaper column or tv air time to exercise that right. if you want those things, you have to pay for them. the more money you have, the bigger audience you can reach.

you have the right to get whatever healthcare you want, you just have to pay for it (either up front or in the form of premiums). no one is required to provide you non-emergent medical care, but the more money you have, the better doctors you can get.

hopefully this will never come into play, but whether or not healthcare is a right could become a big issue in the distant future. those who currently claim it isn't a right would be the ones screaming the loudest that it is. the scenario is like this: we eventually move to a single payer system. laws are passed that everyone must be a part of this system and that doctors aren't allowed topractice outside this system. no matter how much money you have, you must wait in line to see the same doctors as everyone else. (this would probably be done to prevent a two-tiered system thus making it "fair" for everyone). at this point, many people would stand up and say "fuck you, i have the right to see whatever doctor i can afford and doctors have the right treat whatever patients they want. this is not something the government has the power to take away"

there you go, healthcare is a right, just not an entitlement.

as i've said, this isn't a fully formed concept here. i welcome opposing viewpoints on this, but if your goal is to just attack it, fuck off.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[Gawain 0]

Quote

it has been argued whether or not healthcare is a right. generally, the left says its a right and the right says it isn't.

in the past i've taken the stance that you don't have the right to healthcare, but for some reason i'm looking at it a little differently. this isn't a fully developed though, so bear with me here. i just want to throw this out there to get some other percpectives before firmly settling back into a stance one way or the other.

the basic hypothesis is that healthcare is indead a right, but you aren't entitled to it. let me use free speech as an example. you have the right to say what you want, but you aren't entitled to a newspaper column or tv air time to exercise that right. if you want those things, you have to pay for them. the more money you have, the bigger audience you can reach.

you have the right to get whatever healthcare you want, you just have to pay for it (either up front or in the form of premiums). no one is required to provide you non-emergent medical care, but the more money you have, the better doctors you can get.

hopefully this will never come into play, but whether or not healthcare is a right could become a big issue in the distant future. those who currently claim it isn't a right would be the ones screaming the loudest that it is. the scenario is like this: we eventually move to a single payer system. laws are passed that everyone must be a part of this system and that doctors aren't allowed topractice outside this system. no matter how much money you have, you must wait in line to see the same doctors as everyone else. (this would probably be done to prevent a two-tiered system thus making it "fair" for everyone). at this point, many people would stand up and say "fuck you, i have the right to see whatever doctor i can afford and doctors have the right treat whatever patients they want. this is not something the government has the power to take away"

there you go, healthcare is a right, just not an entitlement.

as i've said, this isn't a fully formed concept here. i welcome opposing viewpoints on this, but if your goal is to just attack it, fuck off.

Not a bad observation. Unfortunately, the current debate and plans underway have nothing to do with whether it's a right, or entitlement. It is about control, or placing the vehicles to take rapid control. It is not universal, it is not reform...one could argue it's not even healthcare reform in the works.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[mnealtx 0]

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It is not universal, it is not reform...one could argue it's not even healthcare reform in the works.

Government control reform, maybe.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[pirana 0]

You are absolutely correct that what is being attempted is not really reform; though that term is rather subjective.

My observation is that they are basically attempting to tweak the current model for care delivery and care financing. Not a bad approach, since in our quite conservative system of government, radical change is the exception. Marginal changes could be good, but they are bringing forward most of the bad shit and just extending the model.

On the issue of whether health care is a right or not, it just becomes a matter of where we will draw the line. Is transportation a right? Food? Shelter? Education? And for all these things, to what level?

Some cultures only confer rights that provide the liberty for each individual to pursue their goals. I do firmly believe that is the most fundamental and important right. Other cultures believe liberty to act is not enough, that specific material needs should also be guaraanteed.

I'm good with laws along the lines of making it illegal to murder and be murdered. I'm not OK with laws that decree a person must join a sopecific health care delivery or financing pool. That is too far down the path of society micromanaging the individual.

To me, rights are about freedoms and liberty. Specific corporeal desires are for the idividual to choose.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley