Universal Health Care Benefits
Lilly Blakeslee
English 100
M Salerno
14th September, 2014
Universal Healthcare: Why We Need It Now As citizens of the United States of America, we enjoy many rights, freedoms and free services such as public education, public law enforcement and public safety services. We take pride in having a developed nation, however a basic human right is missing from the list: free public healthcare. Since the United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, should we not expect medical care to be provided to its citizens? Imagine the positive affects that would result from nationally available healthcare - the list is long. According to the 2012, US Census Bureau, 47.9 million people are without health insurance in America; Healthcare and health insurance have become so expensive and out of reach, that many families cannot receive the medical care they need. The best solution to this pressing issue is to add a twenty-eighth amendment to the Constitution, which ensures the right of universal healthcare to all Americans. Healthcare is a basic human right and need that should be protected by the Constitution. The government and the Constitution must fulfill their responsibility of “promoting the general welfare” of its people, as stated in the Preamble. Also, it is stated in the Declaration of Independence that citizens shall enjoy the right of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (Source 1).” Healthcare falls under that category, as our health is crucial to our well being, “dictates our quality of life (Source 2)” and controls our ability to enjoy such fundamental rights. Therefore, universal healthcare is a legitimate function of our government. In addition, the United States is one of the only developed nations in the world that remains without free health services. We may benefit from taking a lesson from other countries that have already taken these steps, such as our neighbor Canada. In Canada, life-long health coverage is ensured to everyone
English 100
M Salerno
14th September, 2014
Universal Healthcare: Why We Need It Now As citizens of the United States of America, we enjoy many rights, freedoms and free services such as public education, public law enforcement and public safety services. We take pride in having a developed nation, however a basic human right is missing from the list: free public healthcare. Since the United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, should we not expect medical care to be provided to its citizens? Imagine the positive affects that would result from nationally available healthcare - the list is long. According to the 2012, US Census Bureau, 47.9 million people are without health insurance in America; Healthcare and health insurance have become so expensive and out of reach, that many families cannot receive the medical care they need. The best solution to this pressing issue is to add a twenty-eighth amendment to the Constitution, which ensures the right of universal healthcare to all Americans. Healthcare is a basic human right and need that should be protected by the Constitution. The government and the Constitution must fulfill their responsibility of “promoting the general welfare” of its people, as stated in the Preamble. Also, it is stated in the Declaration of Independence that citizens shall enjoy the right of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (Source 1).” Healthcare falls under that category, as our health is crucial to our well being, “dictates our quality of life (Source 2)” and controls our ability to enjoy such fundamental rights. Therefore, universal healthcare is a legitimate function of our government. In addition, the United States is one of the only developed nations in the world that remains without free health services. We may benefit from taking a lesson from other countries that have already taken these steps, such as our neighbor Canada. In Canada, life-long health coverage is ensured to everyone
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