Access to Healthcare is a Right

Is access to health care a right or a privilege? Personally, it is my opinion that access to health care is a right. We are privileged enough to live in a powerful and influential country, and there should be no question of whether or not the people of this great country are entitled to receive health care benefits. Our government, thus far, has stood on the side lines while underprivileged citizens have suffered tremendously. Health care should not be a commodity only for those that can afford its benefits. Most of the individuals living without health care in the United States are women and children. The people who need it the most are not being given the opportunity to live healthy lives. Children are most vulnerable to health risks. Shortly after birth children should begin on a journey down a immunization schedule. Without receiving such immunizations they are left susceptible to various illnesses.

I understand that our government has hesitated in creating a universal health care plan for our citizens due to the large dollar amount that is attached to such a policy. However, I find this argument almost laughable in the current culture of our government. It seems that our government is capable of pulling billions of dollars out of no where to bail out industries such as the financial markets and large automobile manufacturers. The government has decided to throw our tax dollars at companies who have made poor management decisions and shown a complete lack of discretion. Instead, those companies should be left to learn from their mistakes and accept the consequences. It is the citizens that deserve to have billions of dollars handed to them so that they can receive the benefits that they are already entitled to, health care.