Universal Healthcare

Thank you Con for a prompt response. This always seems to bring in some sort of political argument. As far as healthcare goes, what comes to your mind when you think of that word? I know that I think of good medical care at a trusted hospital. Sometimes, that medical care is necessary for survival. Let me pull at your heartstrings a little bit...One of the people interviewed for Michael Moore's documentary, "Sicko," a documentary all about healthcare and how far we are behind, had gotten two of his fingers cut off; his pinky and ring finger on one hand. He had gotten to the hospital in time to sew them back on, but when the doctors contacted his insurance provider, since he was under the influence of drugs, the insurance company decided to only attach his pinky finger. Why? It was the cheaper choice. The pinky finger was $14,000, the ring finger, $26,000. The insurance provider made it about money. Also, there was a woman interviewed. Her husband had some form of cancer (I do not remember which form.) She worked as an intensive care nurse in the hospital that her husband was treated at. Needless to say, her husband was dying and quickly. The hospital informed the wife that there was an experimental procedure that if done, had about a 95 percent chance of survival for the husband. This procedure had been studied extensively and had been performed numerous times, yet not quite enough to get out of that "experimental" zone. When the couple filed a claim with their health insurance company to have the procedure done, the insurance company denied the claim, saying that the procedure was, "not necessary for medical care, nor is the procedure a requirement given his current treatment status." A few months after that claim was made, her husband died. The filmmakers of the documentary were able to interview the specific person who denied the claim who has since left the health insurance business due to their really, inhumane practices. She had stated that she truly wanted to approve the claim, but knew that she couldn't because of a pre-existing condition the man had. She broke down on camera and as I said, left the company. It was also not only her that left a health insurance company due to their practices. There were numerous interviewees that had left due to the same type of situation. In fact, whoever within a health insurance company has the most denials of claims, they get a sizeable bonus. Why? They save the company money. This is not a political issue, nor a lawful issue. This is an issue of just being a decent human being towards other human beings. Within our current system, and without universal healthcare, insurance companies will continue to behave like this. A matter that truly is, life or death. So, as for Con's argument, "If you know that you wouldn't be able to pay your bills upfront. Get insurance." Is this really the type of system we want? Plus, many people just cannot simply afford health insurance. Also, for Con's argument, "And the funny thing is, the people call you selfish because you want to keep the money you work hard for." Honestly, I may get a little heated here, but all I can say is: Capitalism at its finest. Once again, America is so enthralled by the aspect of money; to make more, to retain more, that we completely become corrupted and can't even act decent to another human being. There is a reason why other countries are healthier. There is a reason why America is far behind the rest of the developed world. It is because we lack universal healthcare. "But in the course of a few dozen lengthy interviews, not once did I encounter an interview subject who wanted to trade places with an American." [http://www.boston.com...] Never once did this journalist meet someone who wanted to trade place with an American. Other people do not mind paying a little higher taxes to provide universal healthcare. What is the trend here? Money. It is absolutely ridiculous to me to that Americans, even any person from anywhere, could care more about money than human lives. And Con, it's not "very simple economics." Hospitals are not like your favorite restaurant or store. As I stated before, many, many people simply cannot afford insurance. And, even if they get insurance, what did we learn above? Also, take a look at this article: [http://articles.mercola.com...] In conclusion, America's healthcare system must be reformed even more to the point of universal healthcare because: A) People are dying from multiple things (Claim denials, affordability of health insurance, etc.), B) Fewer and fewer people are seeking medical care simply because they cannot afford it, and C) as I stated before, this may sound heated, but this is not a political or lawful or monetary issue, this is an issue of being a decent human being, not caring as much about how much money you have, this is life and death. (Nice little tip, France offers universal healthcare, and a completely free education, even college. They pay a bit more in taxes and such, but they are constantly ranked as a very, very happy nation. One of the happiest.)