Government Healthcare Debate Essay

Words: 1845
Pages: 8

Should the government provide health care? In most developed economies health care is one of the two largest government expenditures. However, there has been a huge debate over the decision to provide health care to who cannot afford to provide it for themselves. Even though many believe that the government should not be responsible for providing health care, there are many sick uninsured people who would disagree. People without health care should not be discriminated against for getting sick it should be their civil right to have access to decent health care provided by the government.
Access to health care should be a civil right in the United States because the preamble of the United States Constitution includes the terms “to promote

The Preamble states that the government must “promote” the general welfare of the citizens. It does not say that the government has to provide it. Universal health care is not a right because the Preamble of the US Constitution states that its purpose is to "promote" the general welfare, not to provide it. It is understandable and almost a given that America has the moral responsibility to help those who are less fortunate. If one looks at past and present history, it is clear that our government helps out third world countries all the time. But, it is not the requirement of the government to spoon feed each citizen his or her own needs and demands. If universal healthcare becomes a civil right, every citizen will have the right to free healthcare. John Campbell, MBT, US Representative (R-CA), wrote in his July 13, 2009 OC Register opinion article "John Campbell: A Right to Health Care?": “…the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms. It does not however, say that you get guns for free if you don't have one. This is analogous to the issue of health care 'rights.' (http://healthcare.procon.org) This is a great analogue and example how one must read the constitution carefully and not twist around the wording to lobby for a cause. President Gerald Ford said the following statement at a joint session of Congress on August 12, 1974, "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is