Fall 2012-What's your vote? Health Care in the US- Should it be universal, government ran?
The United States health care has been a controversial issue for decades. Currently, some people are covered under government health plans through programs like Medicaid, Medicare and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Many of the rest receive health care through their employer, or through private insurance for which they have to pay out of their own pockets, but about 40 million people in the USA do not have health insurance at all.
Does our current free enterprise system keep our health care top notch and encourage doctors to practice here?
Should we have universal health care?
Tell me what you think.
You need to pick a position and post your opinion. Then you will respond to at least 2 other postings.
Remember to give a clear and educated debate.
You may reference the internet and your outlines.
Healthcare for all
Side Score: 175
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We can take care of ourselves
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I think that healthcare for everyone is a god idea. knowing that you will live 3 more years than the people here in the united states makes me want to move to other places with free Healthcare. The extensive taxes that they have to pay to me is a small price to pay to live longer. I would rather live struggling that to not live at all. i think that the united states healthcare is a disaster. People just want money and then they don't keep "their end of the promise". It kinda sucks to know that people are that selfish to "steal" sick peoples money. i would not want to be in their position because they are actually getting paid to literally kill people by not getting them the medications or treatment that they deserve and paid for. The problem is that people too selfish to do something about the thousands that die because they did not get the treatment they rightfully deserve. That is why i am for universal Healthcare. Side: Healthcare for all
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People should have to pay to stay healthy. The non-profit organizations should be rewarded by getting paid because they WANT to help people. The profit organizations should be punished for sucking the money out of peoples pocket. Besides if the government paid we wouldn't be so screwed as of health. Side: Healthcare for all
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But you have to take in to account what is better. to get treated with not as advanced medical equipment and get better slower or to not get treated because you cannot pay for the procedure. I don't know about you but i rather live than to die because i cant pay for something. Side: Healthcare for all
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On the other side, free health care can cause problems within getting the accrual CARE. In Canada, civilians have to wait, on an average of 3-6 months. Because of this, the doctors are paid less, and many Canadians get their surgeries in America. Side: We can take care of ourselves
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There is some truth to what to you said but some people who don't need any healthcare and are in healthy shape are paying for something that they don't even know. Even if we are paying higher taxes, the people who are not even needing the healthcare are still paying for someone else's healthcare. It doesn't seem right in my opinion. I like to spend the money on my self not others. Side: Healthcare for all
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Do not automatically assume that every person wants healthcare. It might be in their best interests to buy healthcare. Perhaps they were deciding whether or not they had enough money for healthcare. It honestly does depend; if the government is going to force them to pay for healthcare, screw them and that should not happen. Lowering healthcare costs would obviously appeal to all people and would provide a better deal. However, the quality would decrease. That is simply life as it is right now. The cheaper something is (good or service), the more likely it is not as good as if it were at a higher price. I wish that the healthcare were free AND high quality as well. It is just...that will never happen at the rate we are at now. Side: We can take care of ourselves
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I think that a universal health care would be our best bet as a nation and a world. Free health care sounds good at first but when you go in depth about it its not as good as it sounds. Take a look at France for example they have free health care but the taxes they have to pay to keep it going are outrages. There are five income tax rates and there are various allowances which a person can earn before they need to begin paying tax. If you earn less than €5963 you do not pay any income tax. If you earn between €5964 and €11,896 you pay tax at 5.5%. If you earn between €11,897 and €26,420 you pay tax at 14%. If you earn between €26,421 and €70,830 you pay tax at 30%. Anything over this amount is taxed at 41%. That's why i think that a universal health care would in the end benefit the rest of the world. Side: Healthcare for all
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My opinion is that the government should take care of us and this is why I think so. One reason is some people can't afford insurance its either to expensive the insurance turn them down because they think that the patient might have a problem that is very expensive to treat. Another reason is medicines could be very expensive and people just don't have the money to afford them. In a few countries that i can name like England and France have great coverage, the people there don't have even to think about a medical bill because the government pays for it which is great. Also in England they actually pay you if you were charged to get transported to the hospital. There are backfires to these great insurances like there are very high taxes in France but at least you have great coverage. So my statement is our government should support us because no person has to go through that they can't pay for there medical bills. We should all be able to have coverage and be insured. Side: Healthcare for all
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I completely agree with you JorobaNation as i stated on my debate, why should the government decide if we live or die. we are the judges of our own fate,not the government. Healthcare should be universal so that everyone gets treated. no one gets left behind. Side: Healthcare for all
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I agree with this. I believe that people should be able to go into a doctors office and do what they need to do to get better instead of worrying about if they can pay. If they decide they can't pay they will probably get worse and could even wind up dying. Side: Healthcare for all
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Everybody deserves healthcare, no matter what. Even though other countries have higher taxes doesn't mean that we can't live like them.We are getting old and hard to take care of retired people. The Republicans want to take money out on our social security and medicare benefits, what else? The middle income people get on welfare. The homeless and the hungry will put American people in the streets. Time to leave this country and go to Canada or Italy or some place where people do not treat us like garbage. Side: Healthcare for all
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I don't leaving would be the best solution. We are already having issues with over population. Let's say leave and your family goes with you. That's not a big deal, but with your leaving you are taking 100 other families with you then that becomes a big deal. This isn't about running away. This isn't easy to solve. With time we will find the best solution together if YOU and YOUR family help and start saying what you want. Start a petition. Get 1 million signatures. Get people's attention. Running away solves nothing. Fighting for your self and your family will make people find a solution to this problem. (The petition is just an example it doesn't mean I am making anyone sign anything. Just to let you know) Side: We can take care of ourselves
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Universal Healthcare is better because even though the taxes are really high, there is free health care for everyone. There may be long waiting lines, but at least everyone is cared for. It also includes a free college education, and paid leave. It is a lot better than being turned away by health companies that are looking for a way out of paying your bills by finding pre-diagnosed conditions that are not harmful. Side: Healthcare for all
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I disagree because even if we all get free healthcare, we don't have our care personalized. If we didn't have healthcare for all we would be able to meet our own needs and requirements without having to pay so much money and have the government take away our tax money, even when most of us can't afford it Side: We can take care of ourselves
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Not everybody in the US is able to pay for healthcare, as a nation, the US should help its citizens so they have one less thing to worry about. It would also be more organized and less of a problem because it would all go through 1 place (government) and instead of having to carry around health cards and money, the patients would be in and out in a second Side: Healthcare for all
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Health care should be for all. If we have spent the last ten years copying other countries and tied to make that free for a free country why can't we also have that. The one main important that can save a person's life the United States of course wouldn't accept it just because they can make a profit. I thought this country was suppose to be free and be equal to everyone. Is the country I used to know really now leaving their patients in the middle of nowhere just because they can't pay or because their health insurance ran out at the last minute. Listen the reason no one wants to come over here because all the good things they hear about how great we are are all illusions. Okay so other countries get taxed heavily sure, but they live more happily than we do. We all know why violence usually breaks out in this country and we take lives it's because of money. This country is at the governments will because we are scared of the government. We can't be like that we have to fight for rights, get people to stand up, and make universal health care so that we to can say we live in a country that takes care of their people. Don't abandon the low class and take care of the high class we are the "United" States not the Solo States. We stand together. Side: Healthcare for all
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The countries that have Universal Healthcare end up having high taxes. So either way the expenses will be paid one way or another. But the advantage of the universal healthcare is that no matter what class level you are in, you WILL be treated. Personally, I would live in a country with universal healthcare. I would rather pay the high taxes than be kicked out of a hospital for not having insurance. Side: Healthcare for all
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I do support Health Care in France because people get care whenever and wherever they go and they don't pay nothing at all. Even though, their taxes are going to get higher (only if our income is above a million euros) they would still get care and also they would still have plenty of money to spend. In my opinion, I agree because they are getting care all the time. They don't spend not even a nickle and they get everything. I agree that they take a lot of taxes from them in order to live in their place, but I still support Health Care for all France. Side: Healthcare for all
I really do support it, because it would give a relief for small business so they can afford insurances, everyone wont have to worry much about money like it would be affordable,uninsured poor kids will get the help and care they need.There's a lot of people in America who are dying, just because they don't have healthcare and this really needs to change! It has to be fair for everyone! As a matter of fact, Obama was working on getting everyone insured! It sure is happening! Side: Healthcare for all
I believe everyone should be able to go to the hospital or the doctor without worrying over whether they can pay or not. By having an Universal Healthcare system, we eliminate the middle man and everyone can continue with life. I do think it will take time to how we would have to adjust to the taxes changing. I do not think everyone realizes just how much the tax change will affect everyone. I think by having this system people wont be afraid to be checked out and more people will be able to live healthier. This is my own personal believe and I understand some will disagree with me. Side: Healthcare for all
I think Universal Health Care is a good thing because that would help out every kid that needs the help and can't afford it. Everybody wouldn't be worried about what they're going to do when something bad happens to them or their family like sell their house or their belongings and everything they have in order to pay what they need to get better. Mostly everyone in the U.S. are dying because they don't have enough money to pay their medicines and because the government chooses if the person lives or dies. So I think having Universal Health Care is better for every one. Side: Healthcare for all
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I Agree, Universal Health Care is something that everyone should have and people don't have to think about not going to the hospital because there afraid the medical bill will be to high to were they can't afford it. So Universal Health Care is great thing to have and everyone should have coverage and be worry free. Side: Healthcare for all
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Honestly, I think we should have universal health care. Everyone needs that extra help once in a while. I mean like isn't the government there to help its people in need. They shouldn't just care about themselves and how they are getting rich while we die. Even though we should take more care of ourselves but, accidents happen and we can't prevent that. Side: Healthcare for all
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I think we should have healthcare for all because we all pay taxes in the United States. So therefore we deserve healthcare everybody we all pay and pay for taxes, but we don't see where that money is going. Everybody pays for taxes but no everybody has the benefits of healthcare only some what of the people do. With the healthcare we will all have resources for ourselves family adn friends. Side: Healthcare for all
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With or without health care we are going to have to pay for taxes. The government should attempt to help us a little more, like we have helped them. The government should be happy they are gaining so many people in the US and not having people leave to some place better. They have the Hispanics for example, they know what they're getting themselves into yet STILL choose to come and fight for rights. Why not help out the people who support them in everything? What about those responsible citizens..? Side: Healthcare for all
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Alot of people need health care so they can live with good health. Every five seconds people die because there health care dont pay for their sickness or are denied. I find it very stupid how a person can be dying but the health care do not care. Thats why i support that all people have health care. Side: Healthcare for all
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Universal health care would help out everyone. Even though we would have to pay more taxes it would be worth it. Not everyone can afford a huge hospital bill or a bill just for going to see the doctor, and their health is getting worse and worse each day. If we had universal health care no one would have to worry about huge bills and we could all use money towards other things. People with health insurance don't even get enough coverage, if any. Side: Healthcare for all
I think we need health care for everyone because there are certain people who dont have money to pay for the medical bills that are left after a single visit from the doctor. It will benefit everyone and then the money that would have been used for the medical bill can easily be used for other necessary things like food and or clothing for the family. Side: Healthcare for all
I think we need health care for everyone because there are certain people who don't have money to pay for the medical bills that are left after a single visit from the doctor. It will benefit everyone and then the money that would be used for the medical bill can easily be used for other necessary things like food or clothing for the family. Side: Healthcare for all
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I support universal health care because everyone gets medical attention. There's no sick people on the streets, or homeless because of their healthcare debts. Yeah you have to pay more taxes, but you'll be able to pay them when you don't have a huge health insurance bill along with it. Some people want to be independent, but that's not always the best idea. Humans are meant to help each other in times of need. You pay for their health, and they pay for yours. It's not unfair because your health care is getting paid by them too. Side: Healthcare for all
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I think we should have universal health care because that way everyone can get treated not just the people who have healthcare. Now, everyone wold have healthcare and would be treated equally. Also, then all those insurance agencies can't deny us care. Side: Healthcare for all
I believe that everyone should be treated the same just because were not part of some rich place we can't get health care as them. We as a counties show work together. Other counties laugh at us because we don't have health care. I am not going to be mocked i am standing for the right for FREE health care. Side: Healthcare for all
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i support healthcare for all because we all need medical attention sometimes some one may really need it and some don't get it and might die lets say if its an adult he or she has a family to support and if there single parent then is worse because the child might end up in a foster home and their parents wouldn't want that. Side: Healthcare for all
I want universal health care becayse i believe that every people shoul dget helped not only the people who can afford health care and company policies . So if we pay more tax like other countries but it is used on them not for other purposes. So its a god thing having universal healh care and people in America so people can leave longer. And their life will be safe Side: Healthcare for all
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i believe everyone should have health care because not everybody has money to buy insurance people are dying cause they can not get that surgery or prescription. doctors don't do anything because they have no health care. that is why i believe people should have free health care. Side: Healthcare for all
There is many cases were people die because the doctors didn't help them. Doctors even turn down some patience because of issues with money. A lot of people die because money over rules everything. A lot of people can't afford surgeries or medicines, but if we have universal healthcare people are going to live longer than what is the usual. Side: Healthcare for all
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I think we should all have universal healthcare. Many people die because they do not have free healthcare that are paid by taxes there are people who many times would rather not spend any money and think that they'll be okay but in the end they end up dying or being harmed very seriously from whatever it is they have for not taking actions of the situations. The ones with free healthcare go to the hospital or clinic and get what they need to have done which allows them to live a better life. Also the doctors and other specialists in this career do what they need to do and are payed a well amount of money. I think that we should al have free health care even if that may mean higher taxes on things. Side: Healthcare for all
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I think we should all have free health care because we should all be treated the same and because the government shouldn't decide our choices to live or die . Another reason is because people shouldn't be rejected from getting help that could save their live if they don't have health care or money to pay for the operation or treatments . Side: Healthcare for all
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I think that we all need healthcare. Maybe it's expensive with an insurance, but in the long run it's worth it because you might develop an illness or disease overtime. It would just need readjustments such as selling cheaper medication and stopping corrupt insurances from overcharging. The government needs to care more about people's health instead of the money. We should have a system like France, where people pay nothing or little at hospitals because of the high taxes. Side: Healthcare for all
I am not so happy with my decision because it has some flaws, but I vote for Universal Healthcare because at least we DO get treatments even if we have to wait a while. I rather wait 9 months to get treated than to get dumped out in the street, rejected from the hospital and stressing over how I am going to be able to pay for my medication. Side: Healthcare for all
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Well hopefully we won't have to wait that long for treatment ,but good news i looked up Canada's wait times for certain procedures ,& treatments ,& most of them are on par with the us's waiting time. Also your wait time in the us can depend on your health care plan waiting for a specialist as up to 3 months. 1 last thing average waiting time for a specialist in Canada is 2 weeks Side: Healthcare for all
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I feel that the government should take care of us health wise. Just because you don't have enough money to pay the already pricey hospital bill doesn't mean that they should be kicked out onto the street by a homeless shelter its just wrong this government says it will protect and help us well providing healthcare for everyone would help to do that Cuba,France, and Canada are doing it right America get it together. Side: Healthcare for all
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I agree with healthcare for everyone because people are constantly neglected medical assistance because they do not have health care. Many times they are financially unstable to pay the large amounts of money they are forced to pay if they don't have health care. With health care people will not be neglected as often and it will save many people the hardship of having to find ways to pay for medical assistance. Side: Healthcare for all
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I believe in universal healthcare because I believe its wrong to take patients to homeless shelter just because they can't pay for their hospital bills. We shouldn't let the government decide if you can get treatment or not ,because if your sick , you deserve to get treatment , its not your fault you can't afford healthcare. Side: Healthcare for all
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We should allow all to enjoy the benefits we as a society have developed. How can we claim that we are one american people when we let others suffer because they can't pay the bill. A life should never have a price on it. Lest we be as much beasts as the animals we farm. Doctors are there to save people's lives ,but how can they do that with all of this insurance interrupting them. Instead of working on a patient they have to do all this paper-work. Also the companies are allowed to deny care. No matter how important it is for someone's health even if they face death. I don't know why we turned the Hippocratic oath into a hypocritical quota ,but we're gonna fall behind the other countries if we don't change real soon. Side: Healthcare for all
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Healthcare should be available for everyone. It should be understood that not everyone can afford the same things as everyone else and if you feel ill you should have the option of obtaining some help without having to worry about money. There are things that happen and having to be worried about money doesn't help anyone. If it is someone that you care about that needs help it's even worse when you have to fill out numerous forms that you have to be stressed about money as well. Side: Healthcare for all
I think that is true. A lot of people struggle to pay for bills, their home, and their families. Some people have to work many jobs just to barely make it in life. Having a universal health care can change that. They will have maybe a few less bills and it would be a lot less of a stress. Side: Healthcare for all
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we should all be able to live a happy, healthy life without the worry of being able to pay big bucks if we get sick. people with health problems or conditions have to worry even more about this. how are they supposed to work enough to make enough if they aren't physically able? what about the people in hard positions who can't even keep a home? how are THEY supposed to pay medical bills? if everyone had free health care, then we would all be a happier healthier people. i personally have a condition that prevents me from doing a lot of physical work. as i get older, my energy level gets lower and lower. i may not be old enough for a job yet, but i still would like to know that my parents can support me and my sisters even though i have this medical and financial burden. Side: Healthcare for all
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I think that the United States should have a universal health care because there is people that are poor and can't afford all the things that they need to get better. The United States have the ability to have good quality work because they have the advanced technology and the knowledge to understand what needs to be done. Some people get turned down that don't have the money and its hard to raise money with everything being expensive. Taxes may go up,but isn't it better to save other people's lives instead of getting rich? Side: Healthcare for all
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Alot of people need health care so they can live with good health. Every five seconds people die because there health care dont pay for their sickness or are denied. I find it very stupid how a person can be dying but the health care do not care. Thats why i support that all people have health care. Side: Healthcare for all
I think that we should all have free healthcare for everyone. Because everyone will save money and be more happy without having to worry about owning money to the government. also that if they have an accident they wont have to worrie about how much it cost because, the government will pay for them.their is no free health care in the us and theres more free healthcare over in france canada and more countries.Canada is one were they have free healthcare. people that are canadians ,but they move to the united states and have an broken leg. they go back to canada and get their leg fixed back for free.so thats why i think people should have free healthcare all over the world. Side: Healthcare for all
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Becuase we aren't perfect, I think that the country we live in has enough money to take care of it's people. Just like in other countries that might be more poor or not have enough money still do that. For example, Cuba might not have as much money but they still hve free for all health care. Side: Healthcare for all
If you have health care, you will have peace of mind in knowing that you are protected from most of these costs.But for some Americans that's not the case.Healthcare should be available to anyone in need or struggling to stay healthy because they're too scared to get sick because of the cost.Research shows that people with health insurance are more likely to have a regular doctor and to get care when they need it.I remember I watched this brief video about healthcare in America,how people would have to go to Canada to get affordable doctors.That made me realize that everyone should have health care and everyone should have affordable doctors.Smh HEALTH CARE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT!! Side: Healthcare for all
My argument for this is that statistics show that countries which have Universal Health Care have a lower mortality rate. You don't have much choice if a health insurance company declines your request. On the other hand, if there is healthcare for all then people who have these issues will still get medical attention even if it's not the best out there. Side: Healthcare for all
People pay taxes for Universal Healthcare but you never know when you are the one who will need medical attention. There are a lot of people who lost their life in America because they could not get the medicine they needed to stay alive. The only problem is that people who need surgery may have a long wait time. But with Universal Healthcare everybody has a chance to get the kind of medical treatment they need. Side: Healthcare for all
But is it necessary for the certain people themselves? Healthcare should be recommended, not forced. It should never, ever be decided by the government either. If the healthcare is free, there is a high chance that it will a) involve weak treatment like most public schools and b) help only "certain" people who "are really really really really really sick." Just let the people decide THEMSELVES if they need healthcare or not. Forcing them to PAY for healthcare is crueler. If we were to do something like this, America would not be America anymore and other countries would laugh at us (successful countries like Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and more do not have this sort of system). Side: We can take care of ourselves
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I think we as humans now how to take care of ourselves and we don't need the government spoon-feeding everything to us. The more things that we have the government giving us, the more in debt we will be and the more we will have to owe to the government later. It's not worth getting healthcare for free and for all if it is just all the loyal citizens' tax money being used. When we "take care of ourselves" we know what we have to do to satisfy our needs and all without having to pay a price or sacrficing other things we could have or do. Side: We can take care of ourselves
The government also controls the health insurance companies. People will also be able to pay the taxes because they're not being robed by heath insurance companies. All that money will still be theirs, and with that money we can pay for our health, our family's health, our friends health and everyone else's. It's better to pay more taxes to save thousands of lives than to pay thousands of dollars to only save yourself. With that money you could of had many more people still on this Earth. Side: Healthcare for all
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What if we are not capable of taking care of ourselves? We don't need anyone "spoon feeding" us but WE DO NEED HEALTHCARE. So what about those who are not financially capable? Are we going to let them just get kicked out into the street just because they don't have money to take care of themselves? You might wan't to take that into consideration. Side: Healthcare for all
I agree the lower income people that are being kicked out onto the street near homeless shelters just because they don't have enough money to pay for the care the hospital can give I feel is just wrong on so many levles and needs to be stopped the government should take care of its people the people of its country not have hospitals kick them out when they cant pay. Side: Healthcare for all
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this country was made by people that did things there selves, people that can live there own lives without help. therefore i believe the people in our country need to try harder, try to stay healthy, try to get jobs, and try to be more responsible. our country needs to learn to fend for ourselves trouble times are coming and some ones not always gonna hold your hand. Side: We can take care of ourselves
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What if they are just totally incapable of helping themselves? You need to take under consideration that not all people can stay healthy, or get a good paying job. There are people who try their hardest and they still can't a job or better their immune system. SO what will we do with the people who cant support themselves? This job has a pretty big unemployment rate, and we have no one to blame but the government, NOT the people. Side: Healthcare for all
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we can take care of ourselves because ether free health care isn't really free since we must pay for it with taxes; expenses for health care would have to be paid for with higher taxes or spending cuts in other areas such as defense, education, etc. Side: We can take care of ourselves
If and when the healthcare representatives drop us, what will happen to us when we cannot pay for the bills, and the insurance companies that we apply to will not accept us. I think that it is better to pa for the bills ourselves than to have 250K all at once. Side: We can take care of ourselves
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ive been seeing allot of people talking about how we work really hard and deserve free health care.........no i disagree we are the laziest country in the world we have the choice to get an education yet most of us push those opprotunitys away soo no we should, we should suffer, we have the choice we just need to stop being soo damn lazy Side: We can take care of ourselves
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ive been seeing allot of people talking about how we work really hard and deserve free health care.........no i disagree we are the laziest country in the world we have the choice to get an education yet most of us push those opprotunitys away soo no we should, we should suffer, we have the choice we just need to stop being soo damn lazy Side: We can take care of ourselves
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I believe universal healthcare is a bad idea. Putting pretty much anything in control of the hands of the current US government is a bad idea. They say that universal healthcare is free- free for everyone. But it's not. If you do the research, other countries- Canada, France, and England- are paying significantly higher taxes. So it's not really free. Not only that, but the quality of the healthcare is so much worse than it could be if citizens would just go to college, get a good job, and have their own independent healthcare, uncontrolled by the government. Side: We can take care of ourselves
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