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Pace McGriff
Devin Patten
English 1010
3 August 2014
Health or Freedom?
On March 23, 2010, President Barack Oa!a signed int" #nited $tates la% the
Aff"rdale &are Act 'A&A(, a federal statute inv"lving health insurance) Medical e!ergencies,
"r visits t" a d"ct"r*s "ffice, are +racticall, inevitale t" "ccur f"r all +e"+le) -f a +ers"n is n"t
c"vered , health insurance then their !edical ills can e ver, e.+ensive/ and visits t" a
h"s+ital, "r d"ct"r*s "ffice, increase as +e"+le get "lder) Pr"viding aff"rdale health insurance f"r
all A!erican citi0ens is an "+ti!al idea, alth"ugh a g"vern!ent1!andated la% that all individual
citi0ens !ust +urchase health insurance is a vi"lati"n "f rights, effecting A!erican citi0en*s
individual freed"! t" ch""se f"r the!selves) 2-ndividual liert, is g"ne as s""n as this ill is
held c"nstituti"nal3 'McAuliff()
4he A&A has een a heated deate in A!erica since health care ref"r! %as +r"+"sed ,
President Oa!a t" c"ngress in 2005) Making health insurance !"re aff"rdale, and availale
f"r !"re +e"+le is the g"al, h"%ever the c"nstituti"nalit, "f this la% is deatale) 2-n the
+"litical firest"r! "ver the ungainl, r"ll "ut "f the Aff"rdale &are Act, "r Oa!acare, "ne
central 6uesti"n that sh"uld e fr"nt and center in "ur nati"nal deate see!s t" have receded int"
the ackgr"und, and that is %hether universal health care is a funda!ental right "r a +rivilege3
'$angh"ee() 4here are s"!e c"!+le. issues that arise fr"! this enact!ent 1 like %hether "r n"t
the f"unding d"cu!ents "f the #nited $tates +r"vide su++"rt f"r a right t" health care/ "r %hether
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a right t" health care c"uld increase the #)$) det and deficit/ "r %hether i!+le!enting a right t"
health care c"uld lead the #nited $tates t"%ards s"cialis!)
7h, did President Oa!a sign the Aff"rdale &are Act int" #)$) 8a%9 4he 7hite :"use
%esite sa,s this a"ut their +lan f"r health care ref"r!; 2<"r decades, rising health care c"sts
have hurt A!erican c"!+etitiveness, f"rced t"" !an, fa!ilies int" ankru+tc, t" get their
fa!ilies the care the, need, and driven u+ "ur nati"n=s l"ng1ter! deficits)3 On the surface, this is
an atte!+t fr"! the G"vern!ent t" e.+and aff"rdale +ulic and +rivate insurance c"verage) >et
the underl,ing effect is that the A!erican citi0ens are sl"%l, l"sing !"re "f their individual
freed"!) 4his c"untr, is uni6ue ecause its citi0ens +lace value "n a +ers"n*s freed"! t" ch""se
their "%n +ath) :"%ever, %hen President Oa!a signed this la%, he als" signed an individual
!andate that all A!erican citi0ens !ust +urchase health insurance, hence the +e"+le*s ch"ice is
n"% dictated , the G"vern!ent) 27hen the g"vern!ent c"ntr"ls ever,"d,*s health care, +a,s
f"r ever,"d,*s health care, it is the g"vern!ent c"ntr"lling ever,thing3 'McAuliff( in health
care) 4his act is ringing t" +ass a G"vern!ent %ith t"" !uch +"%er "ver the +e"+le, %hich is
n"t g""d f"r "ur freed"!)
7h, d" +e"+le need health insurance9 4here are a l"t "f !edical e!ergencies, and sick
+e"+le in the %"rld, that need t" e c"vered , health insurance) 2?"hn $tuart Mill argued f"r the
+ara!"unt i!+"rtance "f !eeting +e"+les* +ri!ar, needs, and c"nsidered it t" e a !"ral cri!e
t" ring a child int" e.istence %ith"ut a fair +r"s+ect "f eing ale t" +r"vide f""d, and guarantee
freed"! fr"! +ain3 'Petrin"vich() A +ers"n*s health significantl, c"ntriutes t" their 6ualit, "f
life, and a +ers"n needs health insurance t" ensure the, %ill have !edical care %hen needed) -t is
deatale %hether "r n"t a +ers"n sh"uld e f"rced t" +urchase health insurance, "r have their
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"%n ch"ice in s"ciet,) -f ,"u %ill stud, the #)$) &"nstituti"n, 2@"tice that the &"nstituti"n
d"esn*t sa, the *general %elfare "f the citizens "f the #nited $tates)* -t sa,s, *general 7elfare "f
the #nited $tates)* 4his clause "nl, gives the &"ngress the +"%er t" raise !"ne, t" defend the
c"untr, and +a, f"r the da,1t"1da, "+erati"ns "f the g"vern!ent3 'Anders"n() 4his is %h, in
recent +"lls, the !aA"rit, "f c"nservative A!ericans "++"se the A&A, ,et the G"vern!ent d"es
n"t listen t" its "%n citi0ens)
$h"uld all A!ericans have the right 'e entitled( t" health care9 4he f"unding d"cu!ents
"f the #nited $tates d" n"t s+ecificall, sa, there is a right t" health care) 4he +ur+"se "f the #$
&"nstituti"n, as stated in the Prea!le, is t" B+r"!"te the general %elfareB "f the +e"+le)
:"%ever, these d"cu!ents d" n"t s+ecificall, state that a citi0en sh"uld e f"rced t" +urchase
health insurance, like the Aff"rdale &are Act d"es) 24he reas"n that A!ericans are s" divided
"n this issue is that the right t" g""d health '%hich can "nl, e ensured thr"ugh guaranteed
health care( is n"t !enti"ned in an, "f "ur f"unding d"cu!ents3 '$angh"ee() Even th"ugh this is
n"t s+ecificall, stated in the f"unding d"cu!ents, the #nited @ati"ns has stated this "n their
%esite; 24he right t" health is a funda!ental +art "f "ur hu!an rights and "f "ur understanding
"f a life in dignit,) 4he right t" the enA",!ent "f the highest attainale standard "f +h,sical and
!ental health, t" give it its full na!e, is n"t ne%3 ':igh &"!!issi"ner() Alth"ugh, 8arre,
Anders"n, sa,s in his %e article f"r American Thinker; 24he %"rds *health* "r *health care*
a++ear n"%here in the &"nstituti"n) $" acc"rding t" the 5
th
and 10
th
A!end!ents, the *right* "f
health care !ust e guaranteed and +aid f"r , each individual state)3 7hether a +ers"n is
entitled t" health care "r n"t, the, sh"uld have the freed"! t" ch""se f"r the!selves, instead "f
eing c"ntr"lled , the G"vern!ent)
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7h, is President Oa!a taking ste+s t"%ards a s"cialist g"vern!ent s,ste!9 Because
the, elieve 2All citi0ens have a !"ral entitle!ent t" an ade6uate level "f health care/ universal
health c"verage is a !"ral necessit,3 'Petr"n"vich() $"cialis!, , definiti"n, entails g"vern!ent
c"ntr"l "f the distriuti"n "f g""ds and services) #nder a single1+a,er s,ste! %here ever,"ne
has a right t" health care, and all health care ills are +aid , the g"vern!ent, the g"vern!ent
can c"ntr"l the distriuti"n "f health care services) $" ,"u !a, ask ,"urself, 2:"% !uch !"re
s"cialist can ,"u get than a g"vern!ent telling ever,"d, %hat the, can d", %hat the, can*t d",
h"% the, can live3 'McAuliff() -f the A!erican +e"+le value their freed"! and ch"ice, then the
President see!s t" e d"ing the "++"site, , gaining a !"re +"%erful influence in their lives) -t
see!s that !an, "ther c"untries have g"ne t" s"cialis! , necessit,, ut %"uld rather have !"re
freed"! instead, if that %ere +"ssile) Perha+s, h"%ever, the G"vern!ent s,ste! is designed t"
eventuall, take "ver all freed"! "f its citi0ens)
An"ther deate "n the A&A is that it %ill increase the #)$) det and deficit) One "f the
highest causes "f ankru+tc, in A!erica is due t" !edical e.+enses, ecause +e"+le d"n*t have
insurance c"verage, "r the !eans t" +a, such c"sts) 4here are studies "n "th sides "f this deate
sa,ing #)$) det deficit %ill increase "r decrease) A state!ent "n 4he 7hite :"use %esite sa,s;
:ealth insurance ref"r! ends the %"rst +ractices "f insurance c"!+anies, %hich %ill
reduce health care c"sts and !ake c"verage !"re aff"rdale f"r all A!ericans) And ,
curing the c"st "f unc"!+ensated care, and ending un%arranted susidies, health ref"r!
reduces the deficit , "ver C1 trilli"n "ver the ne.t t%" decades)
Alth"ugh, 8a!re%, de+ut, assistant t" the President, f"r health +"lic,, %r"te in a l"g +"st "n
the 7hite :"use %esite; B4his ne% !ath fits the "ld +attern "f !ischaracteri0ati"ns a"ut the
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Aff"rdale &are Act %hen "fficial esti!ates sh"% the health care la% reduces the deficit3 'Ernst()
7ith the A&A eing enf"rced, usinesses are re6uired t" +r"vide insurance f"r full1ti!e
e!+l",ees) 4heref"re, !an, usinesses are cutting ack "n A"s, "r "nl, hiring f"r +art1ti!e,
ecause the, cann"t aff"rd t" +r"vide insurance t" all "f their e!+l",ees) 4here are negative
c"nse6uences %ith this Act that the g"vern!ent is tr,ing t" !anage, t" %hich the, sa,; 27hile
the Aff"rdale &are Act %as an hist"ric ste+ t"%ard getting health care c"sts under c"ntr"l, there
is still !"re that %e can d" t" reali0e efficiencies, cut %aste, and i!+r"ve <ederal health care
+r"gra!s3 '4he 7hite :"use() :"+efull, the, f"cus !"re "n hel+ing +e"+le find full1ti!e A"s
s" +e"+le can su++"rt the!selves, instead "f !aking the +r"le!s %ith e!+l",!ent %"rse)
Perha+s +e"+le have the %r"ng idea a"ut health insurance these da,s) A +ers"n ec"!es
de+endent "n their insurance t" +a, f"r even all s!all !edical ills) -n a %e article f"r the
@ati"nal ?"urnal, $helle, Matthe% re+"rts a"ut a s+eech that Eick $ant"ru! gave, sa,ing;
&a!+aigning in 4i"ga, @)D), the f"r!er #)$) senat"r fr"! Penns,lvania c"!+ared the
current health insurance s,ste! t" aut"!"ile insurance, suggesting that the latter %"rks
ecause c"nsu!ers !ake clai!s "nl, %hen the, have car accidents, n"t %hen the, incur
r"utine e.+enses like an "il change) :ealth insurance, he said, *isn=t t" +a, all "f ,"ur
ills)*
$ant"ru!*s +"int eing that +e"+le sh"uld n"t c"nstantl, de+end "n their insurance f"r r"utine
!edical needs) Pe"+le sh"uld e treating their health insurance like the, d" %ith aut"!"ile
insurance, and "nl, de+end "n it f"r !aA"r accidents) :e sa,s, 24hings that are unantici+ated
e.+enses, that is %hat insurance is f"r 11 unantici+ated c"stl, e.+enses) -t isn=t t" +a, all "f ,"ur
ills3 '$helle,() @"% da,s, +e"+le e.+ect the g"vern!ent t" +a, all "f their ills, resulting in a
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de+endenc, "n the g"vern!ent)
An"ther inevitale effect "f the A&A is that !"re +e"+le %ill e %aiting l"nger f"r
d"ct"r*s visits) @"% that health care is !"re aff"rdale, !"re +e"+le %ill have the chance t" visit
the d"ct"r, and theref"re there !a, e a sh"rtage "f d"ct"r*s in the future) 4he g"vern!ent %ill
n"% als" have !"re influence "n the decisi"n !aking "f the d"ct"rs) A +r"visi"n in the ne%
health la% estalishes the -nde+endent Pa,!ent Advis"r, B"ard '-PAB(, %hich is a 1D1+ers"n
"ard that %ill c"ntr"l Medicare s+ending) -n !, research - f"und that F0 +ercent "f +h,sicians
are c"ncerned that the ne% la% %ill negativel, i!+act +atient care) Pe"+le %ill receive health
care, ut that d"es n"t !ean it %ill e the est health care that can e "ffered , c"!+etitive
d"ct"rs)
Pr"al, "ne "f the !"st c"ncerning issues is that the G"vern!ent n"% has c"ntr"l "ver
h"% the +e"+le*s ta.es are s+ent, even if the !"ne, is s+ent "n things that the +e"+le d" n"t agree
%ith) 4he citi0ens !"ne, %ill e distriuted h"% the g"vern!ent dictates, and 2$ince the health
care la% is s"cialist and estalishes the -nde+endent Pa,!ent Advis"r, B"ard t" hel+ c"ntr"l
Medicare c"sts))) in "rder t" !ake Oa!acare t" %"rk, the -PAB !ust l""k and sa,, *4his c"sts
s" !uch, this c"sts s" !uch) 4his %"rks "ver here and %ill save a l"t "f +e"+le, ut this "ne %ill
save !"re3 'McAuliff() 7e sh"uld e ale t" trust h"% the G"vern!ent is s+ending "ur ta.
d"llars "n health care, ut h"% the !"ne, is eing s+ent is n"t as trans+arent as President Oa!a
said it %"uld e)
4he idea that all +e"+le have their health care +r"vided t" enA", a g""d, 6ualit, life is a
c"!+assi"nate g"al, ut %h, %as health care left "ut "f the &"nstituti"n9 2#nlike life, liert,,
and ha++iness, %hich are +r"tected , the Declarati"n "f -nde+endence, "r the right t" free
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s+eech, %hich is +r"tected , the &"nstituti"n, "ur health is see!ingl, "n its "%n, and therein
lies the +r"le!)3 '$angh"ee( 4he #nited @ati"ns, estalished in 154D t" +r"!"te internati"nal
c""+erati"n, adv"cates using the g"vern!ent as a !eans t" +r"vide universal health care, and
sa,s;
4he right t" health c"ntains entitle!ents) 4hese entitle!ents include; 4he right t" a
s,ste! "f health +r"tecti"n +r"viding e6ualit, "f "++"rtunit, f"r ever,"ne t" enA", the
highest attainale level "f health/ 4he right t" +reventi"n, treat!ent and c"ntr"l "f
diseases/ Access t" essential !edicines ':igh &"!!issi"ner()))
4his has een the sa!e reas"ning f"r the A&A t" e +assed in A!erica) A G"vern!ent s"cial
health care +lan like 2Medicaid3 never e.isted in A!erica until 15FD, ,et +e"+le still survived
%ith "ut it) @"% %ith the A&A, +e"+le %ill de+end "n the G"vern!ent f"r their survival, and n"t
the!selves) 7hen the G"vern!ent is +r"viding all "f the needs "f its citi0ens, the +e"+le are
!"re +r"ne t" ause the s,ste! causing e.+enses t" drasticall, increase) Als", the G"vern!ent is
ale t" ause their "%n s,ste! h"%ever the, see fit) 4he citi0ens individual freed"! is sl"%l,
dissi+ated until their freed"! is Aust an illusi"n) Overall, +e"+le are sacrificing their +reci"us
freed"! in "rder t" de+end "n the G"vern!ent, and the G"vern!ent is +erfectl, fine %ith this
situati"n as l"ng as the, have the +"%er)
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7"rks &ited
McAuliff, Michael. "Obamacare Is Socialism: Reps. Louie Gohmert, Steve Kin
Attac!."The Huffington Post. "he#uffinton$ost.com, %& Mar. %'(%. )eb. %* +ul,
%'(-.
Sanhoee, San.a,. /)h, 0niversal #ealth 1are Is Our Inalienable Riht.2 The Huffington
Post. "he#uffinton$ost.com, %* 3ov. %'(4. )eb. %* +ul, %'(-.
"5eficit6Re7ucin #ealth 1are Reform." The White House. "he )hite #ouse.ov, %'(-.
)eb. %* +ul, %'(-.
$etrinovich, Le8is. "#ealth 1are in a +ust Societ,." Health Care in a Just Society. "he
Montana $rofessor, ( Oct. %''-. )eb. %* +ul, %'(-.
An7erson, Larre,. "Articles: 3o #ealth 1are in the 1onstitution."American Thinker.
American "hin!er.com, % 3ov. %''9. )eb. %* +ul, %'(-.
1ommissioner, #ih. ""he Riht to #ealth."United Nations; World Health rgani!ation.
ohchr.or, (4 +une %'':. )eb. %* +ul, %'(-.
;rnst, +ohnathan. "Stu7,: #ealthcare )oul7 Increase 5ebt.""ree S#eech T$. <S "=, ('
Apr. %'(%. )eb. %* +ul, %'(-.
Shelle,, Matthe8. "Santorum: $eople Shoul7 $a, "heir O8n Me7ical >ills." National
Journal. 3ational +ournal Group Inc. (* <eb. %'(%. )eb. %* +ul, %'(-.