Socialized Medicine

We hear the term “socialized medicine” applied to universal tax supported healthcare as if it is some kind of sneaky communist trick. We never hear of “socialized police” or “socialized firefighters” used to refer to our system of universal tax supported police and firefighter coverage. If you have a fire or your cat gets stuck in a tree, you can call the fire department and they rush to your rescue with professional and courteous service and you don’t get a bill. If you have a problem that requires a policeman, they rush to your aid and do their best to resolve the problem, and you don’t get a bill. If you have a heart attack and go to the hospital, they ask if you can pay. If they provide services, you may get a bill for hundreds of thousands of dollars (sometimes even if you have insurance) which takes away all you have saved over your whole life and forces you into bankruptcy. Most bankruptcies in the U.S. are from medical bills. Why is it that we have a for-profit healthcare system but not for-profit police or for-profit fire departments?

Could you imagine what it would be like if your house caught on fire and you called the fire department and they told you, “sorry, you don’t have firefighter insurance so you’re on your own.” Or maybe they would come over and put the fire out and then you would get a bill for more than the house was worth. Would we tolerate that?

If we won't tolerate a for-profit system in our police and fire departments where people's lives are on the line, why do we tolerate it in our healthcare system - where people's lives are on the line?

Comments

[Darrin]

Some of us do not tolerate forced socialization in any field, including police and fire departments, because we know its not economically efficient or needed. Or, placing utilitarianism aside, we apply the ethic that states 'robbery is criminal' and apply it universally (as is required of any rational form of morality) and make no exceptions for mobs with or without flags and badges.