SOC490: Week One

         It wasn't until I started reading and researching after we started this class that it really opened my eyes about the argument on Universal Healthcare. It's an on-going debate that never seems to end, with both sides making their valid points. On the back of our book states the following statement, "Those who do not know their opponent's arguments do not completely understand their own." After reading this book I completely agree with that statement. I feel like I could ramble on forever and bring up branching topics off of the healthcare idea.
        After reading the different view points and thinking about my own opinions, I believe that healthcare is a privledge and not a human right. Donald J. Boudreaux argues that, "...it would make poor economic sense to treat access to health care as a human right...idividuals would use more health care than they actually needed, driving up the cost of care, and creating a very inefficient system." I agree with this statement because if universal healthcare were to be put in place many indivuals would be getting excess care that is not a priority and considered "essential" just becuse they don't have to pay for it. An example of this is a classmate of mine, David Honeck who states that, "If universal healthcare passes and goes into effect, I will be going to physical therapy for my shoulder and will probably get one or not more of my joints worked on, simply because I won't be paying for it." David, who is under his parent's healthcare and receives the essential and primary care that he needs would be abusing the system. That makes me think, what about all the others who currently do not have healthcare and or are already relying on other government sources of income and programs that they already abuse? This would create a very inefficient system.
        A large debate that was brought up concerning healthcare concerns what our Founding Fathers set out our rights to be. Those rights consist of life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness. Leonard Peikoff asks, "Why only these?" and answers by saying, "...they are rights to action, not to rewards from other people." I agree, and feel as though it shouldn't be my actions, hard work, and money that make up for other people's decisions and negative health concern for themself. Peikoff also argues that, "the system guarantees you the chance to work for what you want- not to be given it without effort by somebody else. I should not be obliged to pay for someone else's healthcare.
       To say that I feel that no one should receive any medical help that is considered essential, would be a false statement. But what excatly is considered "essential"? This word is very vague and needs to be narrowed down and answered. At the same time, I do not feel it is my responsibilty to pay for someone's healthcare, when they have no interest in their own and live a poor lifestyle. And by poor I do not mean by their income, I mean by the poor choices and decisions they are making. A particular case would be people who are using their food stamp (EBT) money for sugary sweets and food that is NOT considered "essential". I am a cashier at a fruit farm where there is a large variety of  fresh produce available year round. It kills me to see families come through my line and spend $50 on donuts, cookies, and other sweets when they're babies aren't wearing shoes or a coat. This is just another abuse of the system that would only peak if healthcare were to become free to everyone.
        The last point I have and that was brought up multiple times in class is education. Education in particular about teaching the population about their health. Yes, schools mandate that certain grades are required to take a "health" class...but how much is this really teaching them? The obeseity rates are skyrocking in America and only getting worse. We need to stop sugar coating things, literally and in education. Not only the issue of obesity and unhealthy eating habits, but also teen pregnancy. A major agent of socialization is the mass media. For younger age groups, it idolizes teen pregnancy. Why? Yet again, I am going to work to pay for a mistake that was not mine and could be prevented by better education. The demand for universal healthcare in my opinion cannot be met and is unrealistic that the government would be able to guarantee this right to everyone. As Peikoff states, "You have a right to work, not to rob others of the fruits of their work, not to turn others into sacrificial, rightless animals laboring to fulfill your needs."