Universal Healthcare

It is time for universal healthcare in America. The US is the only wealthy industrialized nation without universal healthcare. Opponents argue this unfairly forces healthy taxpayers to pay for other peoples poor health and lifestyles choices, but several studies have shown that a majority of taxpayers and citizens on both political sides are in favor of universal healthcare. A 2008 poll shows 32-59 percent of doctors support universal healthcare and that number is significantly increased since 2002. They believe it will help the inability of doctors to decide patient care and the inability of many americans to afford it.

Opponents argue that it will increase wait times and decrease level of treatment, however Americans spend a higher percentage of their gross domestic product on health care than any other country, but according to the Commonwealth fund have worse ratings in quality, efficiency, access, safe care, equity and waiting times. The arguements for universal healthcare far outweigh the arguements against it. Many politicians claim this is one of their main goals. Hopefully it can be fully achieved in the near future. Many people have said the measure of a society is how well it's poorest citizens are living. We need to make sure all Americans have access to healthcare. Human life has to be placed above monitary issues.

It is true that it is up to people to be personally responsible for themselves and their health and making the right choices in life, however illness or death is too heavy a price to pay even for those who have made poor choices. As a civil and proud society we should have at least enough compassion to agree it is reasonable to pay a few more tax dollars than we might want to preserve the lives of other people who we don't know and may never see.