Altman Part 3

One of the recurring topics in class when discussing the cost of a universal healthcare is how expensive certain treatments are. Altman discusses how the Reagan administration dealt with these patients with extraordinary costs (outliers). Since one of the bigger concerns of the Reagan administration was "to reduce the budget deficit- or at least be budget neutral" (Altman 220). They decided to fund a portion of these costs, but not all of them. I think that this is fair because it would be extremely costly for the taxpayers to fund all of these expensive healthcare options. Of course, the hardest part of this option would be determining  how much the government should help out with. I wish that Altman had covered how they went about making this decision and all of the opinions that were brought to the table.

     While reading the first chapter of this book, it is evident that politics are directly intertwined into the discussion of a universal healthcare. This first part of the book provided information about the first healthcare proposal and other interesting details; however, more than anything, it made me realize that it will be impossible to discuss this topic without speaking of politics. I noticed that in the class discussion last week, it was encouraged to take politics out of the discussion. That is just simply impossible. For us to have a realistic discussion about healthcare alternatives, we have to be able to talk about the politics and economic factors behind all of it. I found this to be evident when he discusses how Ted Kennedy wanted to change the healthcare bill because he did not want republicans to get credit if the plan had success. This is the biggest bit of information because it shows how political this topic has always been and how political this topic always will be.

Rights and Rationing

I think the fundamental argument when it comes to right to healthcare is whether or not the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness includes that of healthcare. At the beginning of chapter six, the quote from senator Clinton P. Anderson indicates that healthcare and shelter should be included. I think that it is interesting to see that people want the poor to have these rights but when it actually comes time to take the tax dollars of the citizens and redistribute the money, people are hesitant to support these rights. I feel as if the right to be treated in the emergency room is very reasonable. Anything beyond that creates massive inefficiency and resentment to the poor.