If Obama and his followers were consistent they would resemble communists.

First, I believe that you misinterpret the meaning of the phrase "universal healthcare". Universal Healthcare simply means health care for ALL citizens. What you are reffering to is "Socialized Medicine" or "Socialized Healthcare". Socialized Healthcare is healthcare provided for all citizens at the government full expense. Universal healthcare DOES NOT have to be socialized and thusly, communist. In Obama's plan, people will be able to provide themselves with healthcare by BUYING THEIR OWN policies. No one is given free coverage at all. The fact is, Healthcare costs have sky-rocketed. http://www.oftwominds.com... http://www.washingtonpost.com... Over the last 15 years, the cost of healthcare as doubled!!! Thats why most people who dont have insurance, Honestly Cant Afford It! Its easy for someone like my opponent who claims that he makes over $150,000 a year to say otherwise but there is a new problem arising now that wasnt as bad 20 years ago. I work in a restaurant. I dont have time for a higher paying job. Im in school full time. I make enough for rent, food, and gas. Thats it. I dont have money for insurance. Since I am in school, my parents plan will cover me until I graduate. Were I not so fortunate, I wouldnt have coverage. Period. There is no chance. The problem is not just mine either. Most of the people I work with range from 19-42. They dont have coverage because they dont have money. They live paycheck to paycheck, drive their beater cars around as little as possible, and hope that they dont get sick or hurt because heaven forbid, they need to go to the ER! Now they owe THOUSANDS to the hospital that they dont have. They cant pay it. Thats just a fact. They have no money. Now their credit is awful. Forget a home loan, or buying a new, more fuel efficient car. Forget getting that loan u needed to finish school, or that business loan you needed to start your own business. You cant even live in a decent apartment anymore without a cosigner! All because you got in that car accident that wasnt even your fault... Lives are runied because of this. I think more people are a bit more disciplined than you think. The problem is not just with poor older couples. The problem lies in the younger generation. The millions of college kids with no time to earn enough to cover their books and fees, let alone health inurance. It lies with the thousands newly weds and the new parents, who have found that the financial demand for raising a kid or taking care of themselves was more than they expected. These people DONT WANT to be uninsured. They just plain dont have a choice. Now that we have clarified the healthcare crisis in NOT just a fantasy of a financially unidisciplined mind like my opponent has asserted, I will continue to address his other points. 1. Again, no one is recieving free healthcare. They are paying for AFFORDABLE healthcare on their own. No one is getting a free government ride, and nothing is resembling communism. 2. My opponent stated: "If you are dead set on debating whether Obama is for socialized health care, we can do so in a separate debate. For now, and to avoid derailing the spirit of the original resolution, you will need to concede that Obama and his party is for universal health care. If not, I can modify original resolution in another debate to "If those who are for universal health care were consistent, they would resemble communists." Let me know." - In response, we ARE debating the possibly socialized nature of Barack Obama's plan. Were it not for your opinion that his plan is socialized, then you would not be claiming his plan to resembled communists. You set that tone in your previous round. In all honestly, my friend, if you believed that Obama's healthcare plan was not in anyway socialized, than you could have never made your assertions. In summary: The only way for Obama's Plan to resemble communism is through a socialist nature. Seeing as it does not have a socialized nature, it cannot resemble communism. 3. Lastly, you are right in saying that healthcare is not the most expensive of life's necessities. I should have worded my thoughts better. I will reorganize my point like this. I made 1200 dollars this month. I need food for the month - $250 I need to pay my rent - $550 I need to buy gas for the month - $180 I need to pay for my phone and internet - $100 (I need internet. Im going to school and already dont have cable) I need to pay my car insurance - $120 Total: $1200 Point: Where am I gunna get the extra $200 for my insurance? I have to prioritize. I need all of those other things first. I have to. I need food or I'll starve. I need to pay rent so i have someplace to live I need to buy gas to i can get to and from work and school and run other errands I need a phone and i need internet or I cant complete my school work I need car insurance or I cant drive my car. All of these come first...and I can only hope I dont get hurt cause I dont have anything left to put away for health insurance. Me and Millions of americans... No its not the most expensive, but its TOO expensive. I still stant by my point, a plan that does not involve government give-aways of any kind, cannot resemble communism.