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Writer's Block: Health Care
Sep. 23rd, 2008 03:29 pm[Error: unknown template qotd]
In a perfect world without need for "compensation," health care would be a right. In my next-to-perfect world, all hospitals would be charitable organizations as they once were...except with medically trained folks instead of nuns/clergy walking around just trying to keep folks comfy until they die.
Unfortunately, I think that emergency care is the only right that can be adequately secured via the Federal govt without converting to a socialist system. Unless being a doctor becomes a position of sacrifice (as one in our society typically expects of teachers, those that do charitable work, or actors/artists), the knowledge and equipment needed to work in medicine will demand extensive compensation. At this point, the debate goes to our society and how much people are willing to pay for themselves and for others. I would love the dynamic to evolve to society-supplied health maintenance programs better funded than the govt has them now with govt-assisted (but totally society-supplied) emergency care for all.
A blue collar family that has a member diagnosed with cancer shouldn't be in debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars the rest of their lives, but I don't think society should be paying for Bambi's chin implant and tummy tuck so she can get into the sorority she wants. Want vaccinations, sterilization, or a periodic physical - sure. I'd rather pay for those preventive measures than the emergency awaiting for that person down the road.
In a perfect world without need for "compensation," health care would be a right. In my next-to-perfect world, all hospitals would be charitable organizations as they once were...except with medically trained folks instead of nuns/clergy walking around just trying to keep folks comfy until they die.
Unfortunately, I think that emergency care is the only right that can be adequately secured via the Federal govt without converting to a socialist system. Unless being a doctor becomes a position of sacrifice (as one in our society typically expects of teachers, those that do charitable work, or actors/artists), the knowledge and equipment needed to work in medicine will demand extensive compensation. At this point, the debate goes to our society and how much people are willing to pay for themselves and for others. I would love the dynamic to evolve to society-supplied health maintenance programs better funded than the govt has them now with govt-assisted (but totally society-supplied) emergency care for all.
A blue collar family that has a member diagnosed with cancer shouldn't be in debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars the rest of their lives, but I don't think society should be paying for Bambi's chin implant and tummy tuck so she can get into the sorority she wants. Want vaccinations, sterilization, or a periodic physical - sure. I'd rather pay for those preventive measures than the emergency awaiting for that person down the road.
