Willravel

This is the first experimental branchoff of the Common Ground Project.

Rules of the following thread:
1. Absolutely no flaming whatsoever. This thread is about honest and open debate of the issue of universal healthcare. There is no need to be angry or feel threatened by anything written in this thread.
2. Constructive and on task posts. Again, this is about UH, and not larger issues surrounding it like party battles or paranoia. Please stick to the issue in every post.
3. Keep an open mind. Repitition will be considered as a lack of growth in the debate/conversation. New information and opinions should be included in every post and should take into account all posts preceding it.
4. Mutual respect and willingness to be sympathetic. A great deal of what moves politics forward (and a lot of what hurts politics by it's often absence) is mutuality and sympathy for the "other side". When you cease to understand your adversary or the other side of an argument, your own argument loses a great deal of perspective and the conversation spins out of control. In order to keep this a balanced and constructive debate, please carefully consider what everyone says, even if you have completly disagreed with them in the past. Wipe the slate clean and come into this surrounded by friends.
5. Enjoy yourself. Politics can be a very intense and sensitive area for people. Remember that you're just sitting at home or in the office posting on a message board on the internet. You don't really know who's going to read or respond to what you say, and their can be something free and interesting about that.

Background: Universal healthcare, or socialized medicine, is a publicly administered system of national health care. The term is used to describe programs that range from government operation of medical facilities to national health-insurance plans. In 1948, Great Britain passed the National Health Service Act that provided free physician and hospital services for all citizens. The system was later amended, now charging a small fee for the filling of prescriptions and the purchasing of eyeglasses and dentures; it is funded jointly by a health-insurance tax and by the national treasury. Doctors are salaried by the government and receive an additional allotment per patient and for the performance of special services.

Sweden maintains a compulsory health-insurance plan that provides for income compensation, hospital treatment, most of the physician's fee, and part of the cost of medicines. Maternity benefits are provided for expectant women. A large percentage of Israel's medical care is provided by the Histadrut, the national labor union. A number of private welfare organizations also provide care, and the armed forces maintain a number of military hospitals whose services are widely used since many citizens of Israel are military veterans. Canada has a federally sponsored system of medical insurance with voluntary participation on the part of each province; the system is funded by taxes and contributions from the government.

The United States is the only major Western country without some form of socialized medical care. However, it does sponsor Medicare, a federally administered program for those over 65, and Medicaid, a federally funded program of medical care for the poor that is administered by the individual states. Veterans have access to Veterans Health Administration facilities; care is free or partially subsidized, depending on whether injuries and disabilities are service connected.

The debate: How is Universal healthcare working worldwide? Should it be improved/removed anywhere? Would the US benifit from universal healthcare? If yes, how would America benifit from universal healthcare?