Is there a right to health care?

[myp]

The debate over universal health care always tends to incorporate the question of whether or not health care is a right. The answer really relies on how you define the term, "right." So, what does everyone here think about this- is health care a right? And how do you define "right"?

[DodgeFB]

Originally Posted by myp

The debate over universal health care always tends to incorporate the question of whether or not health care is a right. The answer really relies on how you define the term, "right." So, what does everyone here think about this- is health care a right? And how do you define "right"?

I am not sure it is a right. It is sure nice if ya can get it. But to require others to pay for something for you just does not seem right to me. Unless someone has adopted you why would they owe you anything?

[myp]

Originally Posted by DodgeFB

I am not sure it is a right. It is sure nice if ya can get it. But to require others to pay for something for you just does not seem right to me. Unless someone has adopted you why would they owe you anything?

Exactly. The way I see it, rights are something you are born with- liberty, life, pursuit of happiness, the ability to say what you want. There is no reliance on anyone else to have those things. Health care is something that relies on someone else to do something and as such it is not a right. If you force it as a right then you are simply coercing people to try to make it a right, but in reality it just isn't.

[Dirk]

I don't know anything about a right, but universal healthcare is brilliant. I'd prefer it to a lack thereof, myself, and i doubt many people don't want universal healthcare. It's just a matter of how it is applied.

[myp]

Originally Posted by Dirk

I don't know anything about a right, but universal healthcare is brilliant. I'd prefer it to a lack thereof, myself, and i doubt many people don't want universal healthcare. It's just a matter of how it is applied.

I would rather have it applied without making it a government labeled "right." I would rather let markets compete to bring down prices and have people buy it out of free will.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by myp

I would rather have it applied without making it a government labeled "right." I would rather let markets compete to bring down prices and have people buy it out of free will.

See? This is still support for a universally available healthcare system (if a little utopic). It's merely by a different means - i.e. that of the market.

[deanhills]

Originally Posted by DodgeFB

I am not sure it is a right. It is sure nice if ya can get it. But to require others to pay for something for you just does not seem right to me. Unless someone has adopted you why would they owe you anything?

Dodge has said it well for me. In addition, I think it is a right that has to be earned. In other words we have to pay in order to have that right. Government has to source the health care from somewhere don't they? Where right comes into it for me is the right to participate in the Government decision of how the funds for healthcare will be distributed.

[Dirk]

Originally Posted by deanhills

In other words we have to pay in order to have that right.

Buying your rights? Sounds like a horrendous notion.

[deanhills]

Originally Posted by Dirk

Buying your rights? Sounds like a horrendous notion.

Perhaps you misunderstood what I was trying to say? We are talking about healthcare. Healthcare costs money. In order to get healthcare we need to pay for it. Nothing horrendous in that notion.

[myp]

Originally Posted by Dirk

See? This is still support for a universally available healthcare system (if a little utopic). It's merely by a different means - i.e. that of the market.

I don't think anyone is opposed to the mere idea of everyone having access to health care. What I am saying is that it should not be mandated through the government as that just leads to more troubles.