Why is health care a business?

[Meryuma]

In conservatism and right-libertarianism, the laissez-faire model of health care is seen as being that of a business. Why? A charitable model of health care isn't innately welfare-based: the Red Cross are a non-government medicine provider and they don't see themselves as a business.
Do we need government for free health care?

[MisanthropicPopulism]

A better question is why is healthcare a free-for-service business.

[Wamitoria]

Do we need government for free health care?

Yes. /thread

[Big Jim P]

Because anything that can further the pursuit of the Almighty Dollar will become a business.

[Wa no Kuni]

Do we need government for free health care?

no/thread

[Chrobalta]

Because a bunch of rich greedy ruling class bastards who control the government realized that they themselves could make a large sum of money if the system was left privatized.

[Ashmoria]

health care is a business because it started out as a scam perpetrated on desperate people.

now that it WORKS its still a business.

in the US.

[South Lorenya]

Free health care means that someone else is paying for all the costs involved; in normal times it's possible that charitable contributions will cover the entire expenses, but if something major comes up -- such as, say, a major earthquake leveling a caribbean capital or a worldwide pandemic that's more than just hype-- charitable contributions will not be enough to handle the influx of needed medical care.

[Londim]

This is why I like the nhs. For all it's flaws, at least it's not paying at the point of access. Taxes take care of that problem

[Wolffbaden]

Why is it a business today? Because very few people in history ever took the initiative (in the United States, anyway) to prevent it from falling into the hands of people who were just in the industry to make money and nothing else. A better question would be why is this still an issue today in 2010? Why is it that the United States is still having this much controversy over universal health care when almost every other country in the West- including Germany (which was the country that first created the concept universal health care under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck during his social and welfare reforms of the 1880s), France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, among others-- has adopted the system already? Even Cuba has universal health care FFS.

[Fartsniffage]

This is why I like the nhs. For all it's flaws, at least it's not paying at the point of access. Taxes take care of that problem

Unless your health problem is with your teeth, then you are.

[Londim]

This is why I like the nhs. For all it's flaws, at least it's not paying at the point of access. Taxes take care of that problem

Unless your health problem is with your teeth, then you are.

Well, apart from the teeth. We'll let have the private sector have them. Y'know, throw them a bone to keep them happy.

[Fartsniffage]

Well, apart from the teeth. We'll let have the private sector have them. Y'know, throw them a bone to keep them happy.

That's not much comfort when you have a sudden £350 bill for a smashed tooth.

I pay a fortune each month in tax and NI, I'd quite like my whole body taken care of under the NHS.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Free health care means that someone else is paying for all the costs involved; in normal times it's possible that charitable contributions will cover the entire expenses, but if something major comes up -- such as, say, a major earthquake leveling a caribbean capital or a worldwide pandemic that's more than just hype-- charitable contributions will not be enough to handle the influx of needed medical care.

Even in normal times, charitable contributions won't pay for the quality of care most people want.

[Wolffbaden]

Free health care means that someone else is paying for all the costs involved; in normal times it's possible that charitable contributions will cover the entire expenses, but if something major comes up -- such as, say, a major earthquake leveling a caribbean capital or a worldwide pandemic that's more than just hype-- charitable contributions will not be enough to handle the influx of needed medical care.

Even in normal times, charitable contributions won't pay for the quality of care most people want.

Yep. The claim that charity could replace federal social and welfare spending is absolute bunk- particularly considering that many charity organizations are notorious for spending ridiculous amounts of their funds on "administrative costs"... whatever that means.

[Helertia]

Free health care means that someone else is paying for all the costs involved; in normal times it's possible that charitable contributions will cover the entire expenses, but if something major comes up -- such as, say, a major earthquake leveling a caribbean capital or a worldwide pandemic that's more than just hype-- charitable contributions will not be enough to handle the influx of needed medical care.

Even in normal times, charitable contributions won't pay for the quality of care most people want.

Most people need
Minor but important distinction.

[Nom Nom Germany]

Does the Red Cross even do anything substantial anymore? I wouldn't be citing them as a major NGO that provides large amounts of healthcare without having a source to back it up.

[Wolffbaden]

Most of the stuff they do now is overseas work, much to the chagrin of our country.

[Jello Biafra]

Unless your health problem is with your teeth, then you are.

Well, apart from the teeth. We'll let have the private sector have them. Y'know, throw them a bone to keep them happy.

Yeah, who needs teeth anyway?

[Kalibarr]

Because they pour millions of dollars into politicians campaigns.

[Sibirsky]

Do we need government for free health care?

Yes. /thread

The government is able to breed doctors? It's able to create medicine out of thin air? And medical equipment? That shit ain't free.

[Sibirsky]

Why is it a business today? Because very few people in history ever took the initiative (in the United States, anyway) to prevent it from falling into the hands of people who were just in the industry to make money and nothing else. A better question would be why is this still an issue today in 2010? Why is it that the United States is still having this much controversy over universal health care when almost every other country in the West- including Germany (which was the country that first created the concept universal health care under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck during his social and welfare reforms of the 1880s), France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, among others-- has adopted the system already? Even Cuba has universal health care FFS.

Cuban healthcare is a joke. You know who else has universal healthcare? North Korea. You know how they perform amputations? Without anesthesia.

Business competing in a free market are able to provide goods and services of better quality, for better prices than any centrally planned system. The problem in the US is that we have businesses providing the good and services, but we do not have a free market in healthcare. And the government has been protecting them.

[Sibirsky]

Free health care means that someone else is paying for all the costs involved; in normal times it's possible that charitable contributions will cover the entire expenses, but if something major comes up -- such as, say, a major earthquake leveling a caribbean capital or a worldwide pandemic that's more than just hype-- charitable contributions will not be enough to handle the influx of needed medical care.

Even in normal times, charitable contributions won't pay for the quality of care most people want.

And most people have insurance.

[Wamitoria]

You know who else has universal healthcare? North Korea.

You know who else said things like ^this? Hitler.

[Sibirsky]

You know who else has universal healthcare? North Korea.

You know who else said things like ^this? Hitler.

Too bad he died before there was a North and South Korea.