How many here would like the US to have national health care?

The HMO's and pharmacutical companies are getting just what they want while millions are without healthcare.
I know several doctors that are in favor of this and
I believe we can have both great health care and a national plan.

Great question. Anyone with an ounce of humanity in them.

Im all for it.*

I would

I would

I am with you on that one! No one seems able to fix the system. Hilary tried and failed miserably.

although i admit that out health care is very messed up, that is bordering on socialism. we need to figure out how to fix things now ,but still, i don't think that the government should hold ownership of anything but the post office and military.

It would be wonderful if we had national health care!

I'm all for it as soon as there's a good model out there that works. All current systems have significant glitches.

It works in Canada, other than the waiting.

We need to do something, the cost is outrageous.

With deductible, co-pays, specialist fees, lab, radiologists and consulting fees it is terrible, and that is even before you have the operation.

I want fair market priced healthcare. I have to pay inflated prices because the whole system is rigged to make sure the government compensation covers their costs for medicare and medicaid patients. This means the rest of us pay inflated prices. Get governement out of healthcare and it would be affordable for most and community clinics and charitiable groups could cover the rest. Look at the VA to see government care doesn't work.

Why do you say it works in Canada? It's a disgrace there too.

ALL FOR IT! Canada has universal health care and same with Massachusetts, Why can't the whole country have universal health care?

Been there a long time in UK

100% Amen.

No. The quality of care would be much worse. National Health Care plans all suck. Don't let anybody tell you different. Cuba? Even Castro didn't use Cuban doctors, and we're still not sure he's even alive. People from these countries will come here for major surgeries. Why? Because the waiting times in their home countries are so long, or the level of care needed doesn't even exist there.
The assumption that the quality of care will remain constant is wrong. It remains high here because it's profitable. The question isn't what it costs, but rather, what it's worth. The best costs the most. If you diminish the value of quality healthcare, you decrease the incentive to create it , or have it. We will end up paying more for mediocre healthcare, or having sevices denied outright. Nobody wants to talk about the cost, that should be a red flag right there. It would be like an HMO from hell.
Also, the argument that millions are without healthcare in this country right now is bogus. All you have to do is check into the emergency room at any hospital, and they have to treat you. Everyone so inclined knows this and takes advantage of it. It's rampant. There are also plenty of free clinics around for vaccinations and routine check-ups. I've used them myself.
The idea that you can get something for nothing and at the same time have it be worth something is dangerously simplistic and niave. You get what you pay for.

Socialized medicine has the negative effect of rewarding doctors for their many years of schooling and interning with salaries that doesn't compensate them for the time they've put in, and most importantly, for what we expect of them. Plus, there's the Medical School bills.

In the military, there is a form of socialized medicine, and while it's cool to get stuff for free, it's more than made up for by the enormous waiting times, and that's only if there's a person in the specialty you're looking for works there. Otherwise, be prepared for traveling (and waiting once you get there).

There IS a fix for the problems we have with the health care industry, but sadly, the answer that's always introduced is Socialism. Sure, part of the reason doctors endure the long hours and years of training is to help people, but it's also the big paychecks that are waiting for them on the other side, once they get their residency. Do you REALLY want a doctor who makes the same or less than you to be operating on you?

HMO's can only exist for as long as people keep giving them money. If people found an alternative health care system that gave them what they needed for less money, they would take it. And yes, the pharmaceutical companies make alot of money, BUT they also float the entire cost of research, development, testing, and so forth BEFORE each new drug is put on the market, and ONLY see a return on their investment if it makes it to production.

Well, this went on longer than I had planned, but I think I made several valid points.