October Question Meme: Day Twenty-Seven

[rogueslayer452]

Asked by wheatear:

Do you believe that health care is a privilege or a right?

I absolutely believe that health care is and should be a right, 100%.

It's outrageous to me that there's people out there who willingly admit that they would openly deny other human beings the right to get medical treatment all because they don't have insurance. There's this toxic attitude here in America that those without insurance are seen as a nuisance, that they're unimportant or "lazy, not working hard enough", and only seen as a waste of tax dollars and therefore should be denied proper care. And it goes even further than that, because even war veterans aren't being treated after returning home (which is ironic since this country praises the troops only to ignore them when they return, oftentimes with physical to mental ailments), also the fact that there's this issue where some places in this country it's becoming illegal to help the homeless. It's disgusting, it's inhumane, and it needs to be changed. The entire system in general needs to be changed.

Comments

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Amen.

[timewithers.livejournal.com]

Illegal to help the homeless? What the heck? It really feels like we will never learn and just, not to be corny but, love and care for each other.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Homelessness is such a huge problem, but instead of trying to focus on solving that problem people just flat out ignore the issue altogether, to the point where certain people will consider the homeless "expendable" (i.e. denying them food or shelter, saying that they should just "get a job" to get un-homeless -- and then not hire them simply because they are homeless, suggesting that it's their own fault for being homeless/uninsured/unemployed, etc.) The complete lack of regard of human life is astounding by these kind of people, all because they believe political stance is more important than being a decent human being.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Agreed

[wheatear.livejournal.com]

There are places where it's illegal to help the homeless? o.O

For what it's worth, I agree with you. Thanks for answering!

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, and while it depends on individual state laws, it's a lot more common (http://www.alternet.org/hard-times-usa/couple-fined-750-threatened-jail-feeding-homeless-people) than one might think (http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/09/19/3569590/madison-couple-help-homeless/). :/

[daria234.livejournal.com]

+1

Thanks for the link too. Amazing what shit people believe - that it's better to be cruel because ppl turn economic status into a reflection of personal morality.

[giallarhorn.livejournal.com]

A lot of it stems from America's privitaization of health care, which is kind of weird to think about? Like, you end up with a similar situation in attempting providing care to those in need, but in a very roundabout, complicated manner that isn't really helpful.

Add in the kind of contradictory position on the homeless, and well.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

For real, though. It's ridiculous how something so simple can be made so complicated and controversial, especially when you look around at other places and countries where universal health care is the norm. It's really disconcerting, tbh. :/

[sixphanel.livejournal.com]

I just read this and wow. Kudos for this entry. I love it, and I think you're SO right.

Spain started to take a wrong turn regarding to health care and it's worrying me... Hopefully it won't get too much worse, but who knows?