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A Single Payer Healthcare System

Decent Essays

Health is a human right. A positive right. Not just for certain countries, populations or individuals, but for all human beings. While some people may view this statement as apparent and non-controversial, others may view this statement and contend that health is not a right, but a privilege or a good. A good given to those who can afford it. In this essay, I will push politics aside. In doing so, I will argue that health is a human right. Though not explicitly stated, it is a right that the United States recognizes in their Constitution. It is through exploring the foundation upon which the United States was built and describing the current healthcare system, that I will advocate for adopting a single-payer healthcare system in the …show more content…

While I argue that health is a part of welfare, some people contend that as employed in the Constitution, promoting the general welfare, does not include the government providing healthcare for its citizens. Opponents further argue that the only other time the phrase “general welfare” appears in the Constitution besides the preamble is in Article 1. Section 8. Clause 1. This Clause states that, “the Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States” (law.cornell.edu). Now, regarding this clause, two things are apparent; one, that the United States government has a taxing and spending power and two, that this taxing and spending power extends to the general welfare of the people. Since the Constitution was signed in 1787, government money has been spent on social programs for the general welfare of the people. These programs include, but are not limited to; pell grants and other federal student loans, social security, veteran’s benefits (e.g. VA healthcare), supplemental security income (SSI), supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP), women,

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