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The United States Government ought to provide Universal Healthcare for its Citizens

First off, I would like to thank my opponent for accepting this debate. I would like to thank any viewers as well. Your input is greatly appreciated. And I would like to say that all my sources are at the bottom. Judge, any preferences? Judge ready? Opponent Ready? The United States has witnessed skyrocketing health care costs. Due to out of out of control health care costs, there has been a rise in the number of uninsured Americans. Our current health care cost is twice as much as other developed nations, and far less effective than other countries. Therefore, I Affirm the Resolution. Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee universal health care for its citizens. Definitions Ought:Used to express duty or moral obligation (Dictionary.com) Guarantee: An assurance for the fulfillment of a condition (Merriam-Webster) Universal Health Care: Universal Health Care is defined as health care provided to all individuals regardless of gender, race, region, age, health status, income, or wealth. The state can provide universal health care in many ways including: Paying health care providers from a single organization, subsidizing coverage through the private sector, or providing vouchers or refundable tax credits to obtain health care in the private sector. How it is done, is not our concern for the purposes of this debate (House Legislative State) Citizen: A native or naturalized member of a state of nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection (Dictionary.com) Value and Criterion The Value of this debate is Morality. Morality is principle or system of morals; the conformity to the rules of right conduct. Therefore the criterion of this debate is the Utilitarianism. [Utilitarianism is the ethical doctrine that virtue is based on utility, and that conduct should be directed toward promoting the greatest happiness for the greatest number of persons.] Contention 1: Assuring Health Care would Increase Welfare for the Majority of Citizens. a) A study released in late June of 2012, the consumer advocacy group Families USA estimates that a record high of 26,100 people aged 25 to 64 died for lack of health coverage in 2010, up from about 20,300 in 2005 and 18,000 in 2000. It was also stated that the research concluded that 3 people die per hour, or 72 preventable deaths per day. The same instituteestimated 22,000 deaths nationwide in 2006 due to no health care. There is overwhelming evidence that Americans without health care get less preventive care. (David Morgan, Washington Post). b) Over the years, health care costs have increased to help the 50 million Americans without insurance. Today, health care accounts for one-sixth of the economy - more than any other single aspect or organization. Health care has grown by about 427,000 jobs - nearly 3 percent - since the beginning of the recession in 2007, and now accounts for more than a total of 15.5 million jobs. Most of these cares are mainly from ambulatory care services and hospitals (Daily Herald). With healthcare, the economy grows in number of jobs, in return, reducing the number of debt by having more working citizens. By providing health care, the total cost to the system comes down. Because everyone would receive treatment, the overall price for health care would go down. Therefore reducing the debt. Contention 2: The Government is required to Encourage Growth and Activity in the Economy. The US government is here to provide stability and promote the best for its citizens. The US government is based on capitalism. Capitalism is an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, especially as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth (Dictionary.com). Without the government helping our everyday life, we wouldn’t be able to use government property such as busses, metros and many more. Contention 3: Too Many People die because they cannot get Proper Care It isn’t moral for someone to not get health insurance just because they can’t afford it, Nikki White is proof of this. White suffered from a severe form of Lupus (an auto-immune disease), as her health slowly deteriorated, she became unable to work and lost her insurance. She was unable to pay for each doctor visit as it costed her more than 2,000 because she was out of work for four years. She died of complications secondary to a failed health care system. Many experts say that if White had received the care she need when she needed, she would have survived. Many people like her, avoid the doctor because of the cost. Then, when they get too ill, they go to the hospital and can’t pay the huge bill. Well, someone has to pay it. The hospital sends it to insurance which sends the cost other places and eventually adds to the debt. If health care is provided, then the overall cost will go down and people will actually be able to afford it. Birth rates and life expectancy are beyond AWFUL in USA. But aren’t we supposed to be the best country ever? Yeah, then how come we have the worst birth rates compared to all other developed nations? US’s health care right now is BAD, too many people are dying. So judge, I urge you to vote Affirmative (Pro). Thank You. Sources: UHC - http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us... - (House Legislative State) - September 2007. Contention 1a - http://www.msnbc.msn.com... - David Morgan, Washington Post – June 2012 Contention 1b - http://www.heraldextra.com... - Daily Herald - June 2009. Contention 3 - http://www.dailykos.com... - Daily Kos - July 2009