Soc 490, Week 2!

When I googled the definition of a right every website I clicked had a different definition. Some said it was what was just and some believed it is based on morals. Basically, I did not have any clearer idea of what a right is than before. I have concluded from all the opinions, definitions, and examples that a right belongs to a person to protect them from someone or something else. Every person is born with rights and deserve to have those rights no matter what happens in their lifetimes. In the fight of universal health care the question is whether it is a right to have health insurance or whether health care is a privilege. I believe health insurance is a privilege, however; I can see how many believe it is a right.

If eating is a right that all human beings have and the government does everything in its power to feed our nation how do we not have the right to be healthy as well? I always think of the children during this argument. Would any person in the world deny a starving child something to eat when they had a full plate? No. So, why is it ok to turn a sick child away from medicine when it could save their life just because their parents can not pay for it? Mark Creech believes we should not have to pay for anyone but our selves, why would we help those who are taking advantage of the system? I understand where he is coming from but, not everyone needing government help is taking advantage of the system. What if his children were starving and needed a bite to eat?

Canada has universal health care and can most easily be compared to the lifestyle that many Americans lead. Although our lifestyles are very similar, Canadians out live Americans, are healthier, and have lower infant mortality numbers than we do. Why? Many people trace all of these things back to universal health care. As a child you can go to the doctors more often, which can educate you on healthier living. If you are sick, you do not have to wait until you can barely get out of bed before deciding to go to the doctor. Although nothing has been scientifically proven, there are many many links that prove these thoughts true. Helen Redman even discusses how many Americans are job locked because of  private insurances. People stay at jobs they are miserable at just to receive health insurance. Maybe, if universal health care was put in place more psychological problems like depression would also lower.

One link that stands out in my mind is how people living around the greatest hospitals in the world, for example the Cleveland Clinic, have the opportunity to see a doctor as much as they need to but are still unhealthy. Health insurance is so unaffordable even people who can walk to a hospital from their house can not go because it is an expense they can not afford. With universal health care people would not have to worry about the large expenses of hospital bills if they were paid for. If this was the case, maybe people would not let that lump continue to grow or let their persistent cough get worse.

Writing this side of the argument has really made me think about my opinions of why health care is a privilege. I stand by the decision I made in class last week but, I believe something should be done to lower the cost of private insurance so we can begin to move forward to better lifestyles.