Do people 'deserve' universal health care?

[Dr_BuzzCzar]

I am not sure that I can defend the declaration that this system is the best and I really don't know if Oboma's health plan is better or not. The health plan I have is really good for me. I have medicare and a secondary plan. I am retired and it is doubtful that my health plan will change much. Any light you can shine of this issue will be appreciated. I do have family members who need health coverage.

I've been studying this subject off and on for a few years. I'm a long way from an expert, but I've done some reading.

According to the World Health Organization the U.S. has the 37th best health system in the world.

According to the CIA World Factbook the United States is 46th in the world in life expectancy at birth (expected life span in years) and 40th in infant mortality (deaths/1000 births).

In an earlier post someone bashed the Canadian system (I don't recall who at the moment). Canada is ranked higher than the U.S. in all phases of health care except $$/capita. Careful about that rock throwing.

A country that intrigues me is Japan. They significantly out perform the U.S in those three metrics I listed and have an aging population as do we. Their health care system is a Universal plan covering 100% of their population using a mixture of private and public insurance systems. Since we have the baby-boomers getting very close to retirement and putting tremendous strains on our Medicare and Social Security systems watching how Japan deals with this similar problem will be educational.

Here's some trivia for ya'll:

Cuba has lower infant mortality rates than the U.S. as does Bosnia, per the CIA World Factbook.

France has the best overall health care system per WHO, while being #4 in health care expenditures per capita. (The U.S. is #1 in expenditures per capita for health care.)

There is no doubt in my mind that our present system can and should be improved.

[Belgarold]

I've been studying this subject off and on for a few years. I'm a long way from an expert, but I've done some reading.

According to the World Health Organization the U.S. has the 37th best health system in the world.

According to the CIA World Factbook the United States is 46th in the world in life expectancy at birth (expected life span in years) and 40th in infant mortality (deaths/1000 births).

In an earlier post someone bashed the Canadian system (I don't recall who at the moment). Canada is ranked higher than the U.S. in all phases of health care except $$/capita. Careful about that rock throwing.

A country that intrigues me is Japan. They significantly out perform the U.S in those three metrics I listed and have an aging population as do we. Their health care system is a Universal plan covering 100% of their population using a mixture of private and public insurance systems. Since we have the baby-boomers getting very close to retirement and putting tremendous strains on our Medicare and Social Security systems watching how Japan deals with this similar problem will be educational.

Here's some trivia for ya'll:

Cuba has lower infant mortality rates than the U.S. as does Bosnia, per the CIA World Factbook.

France has the best overall health care system per WHO, while being #4 in health care expenditures per capita. (The U.S. is #1 in expenditures per capita for health care.)

There is no doubt in my mind that our present system can and should be improved.

Thanks again for this research. I was going to mention Japan but didn't have the statistics to back up my thought that their system was VERY good.

Thanks again.