The United States of America is based on two significant and contradicting concepts. The first and most well known is that of freedom. This offers the individual the right to choose the majority of the fundamental elements of their life for the purpose of their own pursuit of happiness. However, the second lesser understood concept is that of a sovereignty whereas the citizens give up certain rights to the government in order to be provided with a certain degree of protection that they would otherwise not be afforded. For the most part, this involves protection from outside sources of danger but can often also mean protection from one’s own self as the choices that are made may not provide for the best outcomes for the individual. This concept has become at the forefront of the debate in regards to a nationalized healthcare system in America as the relationship between the concept of freedom and the responsibilities of the government has crossed paths which establishes a conflict between the basic understandings of rights and responsibilities. It is the intention of this author to express the necessity of a nationalized healthcare system in the United States of America through an analysis of the rights of the citizens and the responsibilities of the national government.
Rights of the Citizens
According to the founding documents of the nation, the United States of America is based on the idea of freedom. This means that, for most practical purposes, the citizens are allowed to choose their way of life, religion, and even forms of entertainment. However, there are some rights that are not in question as the overall well being of the nation must be addressed. Examples of these that are generally accepted within the nation are the requirement to receive at least a basic education in order to become a productive citizen and the requirement to follow laws that protect oneself and fellow citizens such as not drinking and driving. These areas could be argued under the basis of rights but it is generally established that giving up these rights is for the betterment of the nation.
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"Nationalized Healthcare in America".
However, many citizens seem to be less accepting of the concept of the government being involved in their medical care. This feeling is contradicted with those who claim that health itself is a right and should therefore be guaranteed (Derickson, 2002). This is closely connected to the equality of opportunity whereas everyone has the right to advance in life as they choose. Without proper healthcare, individuals do not have this right as health issues may very well hinder such advancement. According to Akhter (2003) the socioeconomic statuses of the uninsured are often due to racial and ethnic disparities and therefore are even more closely related to the rights of equality which are among the fundamental beliefs of the nation.
Responsibilities of the Government
As the previous section expressed healthcare as a right, this leads the discussion towards the idea that insuring rights is, in fact, a responsibility of the government. It can be said that the equality of opportunity is being met simply by the non-discriminatory manner in which the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) are regulated but the socioeconomic disparities would contradict this assumption. In fact, according to Gorin and Moniz (2004) it was estimated that, in 2003, over 45 million American citizens were unable to obtain health insurance for the entire year. Akhter (2003) further expresses a concern for those who are uninsured in regards to the overall well being of the nation. Specifically, Akhter (2003) states that these individuals have less preventative care and are more likely to contract communicable illnesses which can not only affect the uninsured but all of the citizens of the United States. Furthermore, these individuals are often unable to work due to untreated illnesses which diminishes their ability to be productive in society.
The United States government is responsible for the overall health and well being of the nation is terms of being able to continue to advance and maintain the nation’s status within the international community. This involves making certain that each member is able to effectively aid in the productivity of the nation. Furthermore, there is a moral value within the ideology of the nation that suggests that everyone is equal and deserves to have their basic needs met. Derickson (2002) explains that the right to healthcare is among these basic needs and that this belief is not new to the present generation as it has been debated since the 1920s. Nearly a century of political leaders and civic movements have fought for equality and rights during this time period. However, the responsibility of the government to insure the right to this basic need is met remains to be a political controversy.
Discussion and Conclusion
Therefore, as it has been established that the United States government is the sovereignty to which the citizens have agreed to give up certain rights to in order to receive protection and that protection involves the assurance of basic rights as well as the protection from one’s own poor decisions, then it should be determined that the government has the responsibility to provide a universal healthcare system to the citizens. Additionally, the government has the right to require participation in this healthcare system much like it requires education and following safety laws. The government is responsible for the well being of the nation and the citizens must adhere to the policies in order to receive the protection from the government. This should no longer be up for debate but should be implemented in order to continue to flourish as a nation.
- Akhter, M. (2003). Rekindling health care reform. APHA policies on universal health care: health for a few or health for all?. American Journal Of Public Health, 93(1), 99-101. doi:10.2105/AJPH.93.1.99
- Derickson, A. (2002). Public health then and now. “Health for three-thirds of the nation”: public health advocacy of universal access to medical care in the United States. American Journal Of Public Health, 92(2), 180-190. doi:10.2105/AJPH.92.2.180
- Gorin, S., & Moniz, C. (2004). Will the United States ever have universal health care?. Health & Social Work, 29(4), 340-344.
