The United States government should implement universal health care modeled after the French System

This was the Public Forum topic for November 2008(this was my first debate topic ever) thanks for debating! best of luck! The United States should not have a universal healthcare system modeled after the French. Even though the French run a pretty efficient system, the United States couldn't replicate it perfectly due to flaws in the way they run their system and the differences of the two countries. So, this would make it nearly impossible to replicate here without reforming the ways of the French system and changing it to benefit the average American. The French's program is paid by considerably high taxes, which the U.S. presently doesn't need more taxes to be added on. This is mostly because of the recession and economic crisis we are in at the time being, and that the U.S. is still paying off debt to other countries through increased taxes. The average family is already working hard to pay these already raised taxes off as it is. Perhaps maybe changing the system in America to benefit the working class would be to make it necessary to make the employer provide healthcare for the employee. This would ensure that the people who are getting heath care are actually working and not letting other people pay for them to not work. So basically the consolidation of the private insurance industry to a single payer in France might be cheaper, but the French are not already paying high taxes as the U.S. is. So it is nearly impossible to have this French System in the United States without significantly higher taxes for everyone. Medical companies rely on America to finance their research and development. Basically Americans are already paying the price for funding for medical research for other countries who can't afford it. The U.S. is as of now the uncontested leader in medical innovation and specialty care worldwide. Without the top-flight research and innovation, provided by American's paying taxes to fund, the great medical care would not be possible in other countries. Until free markets are given a chance in American health care, we should not move to a French system. Doctors in the United States make nearly three times what doctors make in France. Part of this is because the doctors who are making a lot of money have been to some of the most elite colleges and people would be more apt to trust someone who was taught by some of the world renound teachers and professors. They believe these doctors have more understanding and knowledge than a doctor who didn't go to a fancy college or have the best schooling from famous doctors. The doctors also work their way up to being known all over the U.S. by their medical talent that is built up better and better over the years, and reputations that they get from their talent. However, these doctors are encouraged to use the most expensive medical tests and drugs. They are promoting inefficiency and cost maximization. However, the customer knows this but would still rather go to a better known doctor, even though they are paying more. Basically it's the consumer's choice. Those who can't afford fancy medical cacare n go to quick care clinics that have started to pop up in Wal-Marts and other areas around the nation. It is a cheaper way to get the same medical attention at a cheaper price. It is a small price to pay if people don't have jobs that gain them healthcare automatically. So, these people as of now shouldn't be complaining of bills when lesser healthcare is out there and those who make under a certain amount of money per year don't even have to pay taxes, so this should open up opportunity to pay their untaxed money to pay for their benefit and pay for their own medical attention. Americans often get bad reputations for our health care industry. The key to fixing it is not using the French system, but making the medical care cheaper and more available to those who can't afford it. The insurance companies and rising costs can be reformed and made cheaper for all Americans if the government works on reforming its ideas and healthcare system now. America has a great system of letting people reap what they sow, as in you get what you earn and other people shouldn't have to pay the price because the unemployed don't want to work. The U.S. may be inefficient in some respects, but free enterprise and competition can solve this over time. America still leads the world in innovation and of healthcare research, we just need to be concentrated on making our system better, benefiting all classes.