If you were talking about the Socialist party, yes, you would capitalize it. But talking about the philosophy itself, it is not supposed to be capitalized anymore than conservative or liberal.
Don't get into a pissing contest with me about proper English grammar, the last fool who did, is still looking for his ass. Yes, when referring to the ideology or philosophy, it CAN be capitalized, and often is.
Yes we can. We, along with every other developed nation in the world, have had ample capability to provide universal coverage since the 1800's. It is just because of a stubborn defeatist do nothing attitude that we have stalled this long. It will not only help out the poor, it will lower our total costs, since we no longer have to worry about insurance companies spending half their money denying people benefits and profiting at insane rates.
No, it's because we aren't a Socialist country. We allow "free enterprise" and the market place to determine value and worth, and set the price for things in America, it is called Capitalism. "Helping out the poor" in the way you want to, requires us to spend money doing something for them, which they can't afford themselves. Again, this is a Socialist philosophy. It will not "lower total costs" because it can't, it is inherently impossible, it costs money... lots of money... to insure and care for every American. Insurance companies do not make "insane profits" they are like every other Capitalist business in America, they make profits based on what the market allows. If you tell them they have to cover people who are a high risk for claims, it will drive their premium rates up, and if you try to restrict those rates, they will close down and go out of business. No insurance company in America is in business to provide free shit to you and people who want free shit. Sorry, it's not a 'candy store' where you can just help yourself.
Dixie, if they do not cover pre-existing illness, who is supposed to? If we have a system in which only the healthy can get reasonable health insurance premiums, that is nothing but a massive boon to insurance companies, and it effectively renders the entire system useless. Anyway, under universal coverage, everyone is covered from birth. There will be no such think as a pre-existing condition.
Do you understand what "insurance" is? What "insurance companies" do? You pay them a 'premium' per month, week, quarter... and they agree to cover any claims you have. The premium they charge, is based on a set of criteria. If you are a high risk to file a claim, your 'premium' will cost more than average, and if you are a low risk to file a claim, your 'premium' is less. Someone with...say, Cancer or AIDS, has a very very high risk to file a health insurance claim, therefore, their 'premium' would likewise be very very high. You want the government to mandate that the insurer HAS to accept pre-existing conditions, but charge as if there wasn't this risk. That means, the offset goes to those who are now paying less because they are lower risk. It's the only way the insurance company could stay in business. Now, maybe you think all is okay, because the federal government is going to pick up the bill for this extra cost, but seriously dude... we don't have that kind of money! There are not enough rich people in America to pay for this, even if you took every penny they have!
This is, at best, wild conjecture Dixie. It also stereotypes New Zealand, which has a very modern, urban, and industrial economy. It's very difficult to actually get to know 4.2 million people. But the universal coverage system in France and Germany works just as well anyway, and they each have nearly 100 million people.
Well Waterhead, you can proclaim something conjecture all day long... I just got finished addressing a bunch of your wild conjectures about insurance, socialism, and the English language. As for health care systems in other countries, why the heck do you suppose they ALL come here to have surgeries done and be treated? It's because, in France and Germany, you may have to wait 10 years to have a triple bypass, and in the meantime, hope you don't die waiting. That's what is coming to America, because left-wing radicals like you, won't be satisfied until you turn America into Eurotrash Socialism.
