You raise some interesting questions (processing) but in the meantime ...

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Long story short, I don't want to force socialized healthcare on everyone


Any debate about whether a private system or a publicly funded system delivers better healthcare is moot if you fundamentally donâ??t believe basic healthcare is a right of citizenship. As it appears that you do not believe that basic healthcare is a right of citizenship, could you help me to better understand that POV.

For example, in terms of the U.S. and its fundamental values and its collective vision as a nation, how do I reconcile the following:

    The wealthiest nation on the planet by a long shot
    A country based on the doctrines of fairness, equality and â??doing whatâ??s rightâ? for its citizens
    A country proud of a tradition of â??walkinâ?? the talkâ?
    A history of coming together to â??take care of our ownâ?
    A history of innovation and pulling together to solve problems
    A history of doing the right thing, regardless of how hard, because itâ??s right
    A history of helping the underdog or the disadvantaged â??? millions even billions spent to do it
    A willingness to sacrifice their own citizenâ??s lives, ostensibly in support of another countryâ??s freedom â??? and a willingness to spend hundreds of billions in the process
    Hundreds of billions spent over the years in support of the nationâ??s security and ability to extend its power around the globe
    Millions if not billions of tax $ spent to support private enterprise faced with global competition
    Billions spent to explore space on behalf of the entire planet
    Billions being spent to militarize space
    Broad based cross-party support for universal access to a basic education system dedicated to â??leaving no one behindâ?
    Millions if not billions of tax $ spent on supporting sports/entertainment infrastructure
    Hundreds of thousands of tax $ spent on Viagra and breast implants for members of the military
    A willingness to extend tax cuts to those who arguably donâ??t need them; at a time of record deficit and debt, and during a time of extraordinary expenses
    A partially socialized healthcare system that provides catastrophic care for the destitute or disenfranchised
    Millions of citizens with access to arguably the best health care delivery in the world

    But â?¦
    No consideration for providing, as a right of citizenship, the basic healthcare needs of millions of working, tax-paying families that otherwise donâ??t have access to it; not to mention a significant portion of the population that, even at the best of times, never had access.

Iâ??m a reasonably logical guy, open to being educated â?¦ I see a huge disconnect here that simply doesnâ??t make sense â?¦ what part of this equation am I missing?

Please tell me itâ??s not about money; and please tell me itâ??s not about about politics.

And please tell me itâ??s not about maintaining a higher standard of healthcare for those who are fortunate enough to have access â??? because I have to say, when I boil all the arguments down to their essence, thatâ??s what Iâ??m hearing.