The MASTERPLAN (Part 7c): Universal Health Care

I cannot understand why the world debates the topic of Universal Health Care.

It seems quite obvious to me that if people are unwell, find health care impossible to financially access or are otherwise deprived of what can only be viewed as essential and basic fundamental human rights, there will be problems.

These problems are not to be understated. Those in financial need will resort to all sorts of measures (some extreme) to help themselves or their families to simply stay alive. Some will also choose to go to further lengths to assist their family and friends to further their lives. This may involve committing crimes: it’s a sad fact of life for the marginalized or desperate.

So why have I put Universal Health Care as a topic in the MasterPlan series on how to resolve the crisis the world currently finds itself in? Well, if we do not resolve this issue or at least put a meaningful action plan in place we will constantly be faced with the myriad of issues that a permanent world-underclass endures. We will see more terrorism, more crime and a never ending need to increase spending on defense and associated areas.  The current global concern over swine flu (#swineflu) makes this issue more pertinent than ever.

The more I see the actions of Lobbyists in attempting to sway the votes of those in Congress or the Senate in the US, the more concerned I am by their motives. They are employed by drug companies to influence law makers to make decisions that are economically beneficial to their companies, not the country or those most in need.

In Australia we are fortunate to be covered by a Federal Government scheme called “Medicare”. This covers all Australian citizens and subsidizes health care for everyone. People can choose to take additional cover through private health insurance, however, it is a “choice” rather than a “necessity”. As with all systems it isn’t perfect and Australia isn’t the only country in the world to offer Universal Health Care. There are many others, especially in Europe.

When I see countries spending endless amounts of money bailing out banks, insurance companies and various other entities it certainly makes sense that they can also help to look after the health of their people. A healthy workforce can only drive economic growth and make for a healthier country over the long-term.

A vital part of the MasterPlan is the provision of Universal Health Care. You never know when the next leader of the nation may be born into a poor family, unable to pay for expensive health care. The cost to any nation in ignoring this is impossible to calculate. Do we ignore the next Obama because the family cannot pay for health insurance?

Summary Thought
Universal Health Care is an essential part of any long term economic recovery plan. The health of any nation has an enormous impact of what it can achieve. Self interest will not fix this crisis: Capitalism is about self and whilst I love democracy a mix of Capitalist and Socialist concepts is required to look after society, with the aim of preventing this mess from ever happening again.

Michael Marquette

Marquette Turner Luxury Homes

Next in the Masterplan series:

Part 8 – Property and Real Estate

Previous parts in the Masterplan series:

The MASTERPLAN part 1 – My “Solution” to the Economic Mess (with podcast)

The MASTERPLAN part 2 – Credit Cards, Consumer Credit & Endless Economic Growth (with podcast)

The MASTERPLAN part 3 – Government Debt (with podcast)

The MASTERPLAN part 4 – Banking, Company Regulation & Limiting the Size of Corporations (with podcast)

The MASTERPLAN part 5 – Capitalism, Nationalization, and Executive Pay Limits (with podcast)

The MASTERPLAN part 6(a) – The Car Industry

The MASTERPLAN plan 6 (b) – Climate Change

The MASTERPLAN part 7 (a) – The Cost of War & Foreign Policy

The MASTERPLAN part 7 (b) – Foreign Aid