There is a world map online that shows some interesting details on which countries have universal health care, which are trying to obtain it, and which are avoiding it. Perhaps most interesting of all is where it is noted that both Iraq and Afghanistan have universal health care provided by U.S. war funding.
In a September 9, 2009 article for the Huffington Post by Mark Dorlester entitled Guaranteed Health Care in Iraq – But Not For You, more information comes out about how Republicans have historically behaved when it comes to universal health care. The Iraqi Constitution was carefully crafted to mandate universal health care and, in fact, notes: “Article 31 reads: “First: Every citizen has the right to health care. …” THE RIGHT! So, the U.S. can step in and demand that citizens of other countries have health care as a right, but it is a right denied to its own CITIZENS?
Here, in the United States we have people asking for this type of health care. Instead of providing it, our own government refuses U.S. citizens BUT forces the same thing down the throats of countries that have not asked for it?
I do not understand the difference in values here. The article above goes on to say: “In other words, the most senior members of the Republican establishment – and some Democrats like Max Baucus (D-MT) – have gladly spent more taxpayer funds to ensure health care as a Constitutional right in Iraq than they are willing to spend to give you any level of guaranteed coverage.”
I would certainly like to know exactly which of our elected officials voted to support and fund that war, then…ask them to explain why they feel citizens of other countries are more deserving of a Constitutional right to health care AND the taxpayer money to support it!
The author also provided a link to the full text of the Iraq Constitution…a very interesting read indeed!
