Health Care Heats Up

The political debate over healthcare has heated up. The Washington Post is running an article entitled, "GOP Focuses Effort to Kill Health Bills." The article begins, "Emboldened by divided Democrats and polls that show rising public anxiety about President Obama's handling of health care and the economy, Republicans on Monday launched an aggressive effort to link the two, comparing the health-care bills moving through Congress to what they labeled as a failed economic stimulus bill."

1. Do you think that health care should be considered a natural human right? Why or why not? Is there a difference between denying somebody health care because they cannot afford to pay for it and intentionally hurting somebody? Why or why not?

2. Imagine that two people make the same amount of money but one person spends all of his money on trivial things and the other saves her money? If the first person gets sick and cannot afford to pay for health care should the second be required to help support the first? Why or why not? Should the second choose to help support the first? Explain!

3. Does it make political sense for President Obama to campaign against fellow Democrats who don't happen to support his health care initiatives? Why or why not? What is the real power of the Presidency?

4. Do you think that a government supported health care system would be as effective as a privately funded health care system? Why or why not? Is there anything that a government does better than an individual, or a private firm? Is there anything that a private firm does better than the government? Is there anything that they do equally well?