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Serious Health Care Questions
Aug. 24th, 2009 11:22 amSo, Jerry Pournelle asks some serious and reasonable questions about health care. Here are his questions in italics and my answers:
The first major question is whether anyone is entitled to publicly paid health care (as opposed to being able to buy insurance, or to have an employer provide it). I don't think health care is yet a right, like say the right of free speech, but we do have a moral obligation to provide it. I also think that if you can pay for it, all or in part, you should. I look at health care like police or fire protection. We have a moral obligation to provide it, on at least a best effort level, and citizens have a moral obligation to pay their fair share.
The second major question is whether everyone is entitled to equal health care: that is, should the wealthy be prohibited from buying something that others can't afford? Important to note is that this is not a proposal on the table. But the answer is simply no. Everybody is entitled to a base level of coverage. Again, think police and fire. Wealthy folks can hire additional police protection (guards, gated communities) but everybody is entitled to have the police come when they call.
Yes, this is a new interpretation I am proposing. I understand that. But then, back in the day, police and fire departments were new ideas. Change can be good, sometimes.
The first major question is whether anyone is entitled to publicly paid health care (as opposed to being able to buy insurance, or to have an employer provide it). I don't think health care is yet a right, like say the right of free speech, but we do have a moral obligation to provide it. I also think that if you can pay for it, all or in part, you should. I look at health care like police or fire protection. We have a moral obligation to provide it, on at least a best effort level, and citizens have a moral obligation to pay their fair share.
The second major question is whether everyone is entitled to equal health care: that is, should the wealthy be prohibited from buying something that others can't afford? Important to note is that this is not a proposal on the table. But the answer is simply no. Everybody is entitled to a base level of coverage. Again, think police and fire. Wealthy folks can hire additional police protection (guards, gated communities) but everybody is entitled to have the police come when they call.
Yes, this is a new interpretation I am proposing. I understand that. But then, back in the day, police and fire departments were new ideas. Change can be good, sometimes.