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Consider is starving. such action is considered

Consider the following case. Jim was saving his moneyfor his healthcare, but on his 40thbirthday, he decided to use all his lifesaving on a new Corvette. Six months later he realizes that his poor lifestyle choices have resulted in him in having a series of health problems: emphysema, diabetes, and kidney failure.

Due tothese health conditions, he now needs chronic care for the rest of his life. Theretwo possible healthcare solutions for Jim. The first solution is to put him in auniversal healthcare system where the governmentwill pay his medical bills.

However, even though his medical needs will be met, he will not be treated with thelatest and greatest medical technology. The second option would be to placed Jimin a pay-for-service system where he can pay for his medical treatments, but the service will not treat him until he pays. So which solution would be the best forJim?            Is health care a right? According to Peikoff, health careis not a right. Merely being existed in this world does not grant us the right tohealthcare. It is only a right to healthcare if one can pay for it. From theAmerican viewpoint, the only rights wehave are the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

They areconsidered a right because they requireactions and efforts and the results of one’s actionsare for them to keep. One does not have a right to the other people’s propertyjust simply because one needs it or wantsit. For example, a homeless man can’t steal food from others or commit crimes simply because he is starving. Such action is considered as violating people’s right andproperty. However, it is permissible when the others are voluntary agree toshare their products. It is evident thatthe homeless man can’t afford his health care. According to Peikoff, it ismorally wrong for him to rely on the government for his health care because to pay his healthcare, the government gets itsmoney from the citizens through taxation. The homeless man did not provide anyaction or effort for him to receive his rights to healthcare.

His needs tohealthcare simply show that it is theothers’ responsibilities to provide him with health care. This contradicts the principles of liberty. Peikoffstates those who can’t afford their healthcare haveto rely on charity.             One of the significantvalues in America is the equality of opportunities hence it should beprotected. Healthcare plays a part in protectingthe equality of opportunities, therefore, according to Bradley, healthcareshould be a right.

Healthcare is also necessary for the enjoyment of our basic negative rights: life, liberty, and thepursuit of happiness. An individual who is not capable of providing themselvesthe basic needs, such as healthcare, to succeed in life will not have the equalopportunity to pursue their life goals and happiness. Therefore, in order theprotect our negative rights, we sometimes require the positive action from others. We all have individual goals and life plans, andmost of our goals can become tangible when we are healthy.

However, since we live in an imperfect world, sometimes our journey may have setbacks. Illnesscan be one of them. It can restrict our opportunities and life plans. Healthcare, therefore, helps ensure that our setbacks can be eliminated to ensure that wehave at least the minimum level of opportunities to succeed.

Not all of us haveto luxury to make sure that our liberty isprotected therefore some have greaterneeds from the government.             Considering the case above, Peikoff would place Jim in apay-for-service system because Jim’s poor life choices resulted in him havingthose health issues. He is responsible for his actions and the result of his actions. It would be immoral if the government were to pay for his medical treatments. It would also be unjust for the citizens to pay for someone else’s action. Justbecause he is sick and needs help with medical treatment, he doesn’t have theright to someone else’s property.

So Peikoff would suggest Jim pay for his treatment along with charity help. As forBradley, he would place Jim in a universal healthcare system because treatingJim by providing him with his medical needs that will help restore him as closeas possible to his normal function. Even though Jim has made poor choices inhis life, he still has the right toliberty that must be protected by the government.

For Jim to pursue his life plans, he must be healthy, and therefore it ismorally right for the government to pay for his medical treatments.             Peikoff’s solution to the case can be view as more successful than Bradley’s because Jimshould be responsible for his action. Every individual is entitled to the basic rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit ofhappiness, and it is that individual’s responsibility to protect those rightsfrom others. One can’t depend on others to fulfill their needs or happiness.

When Bradley’s response to the caseby saying that the government should pay for Jim’s medical treatment just forhim to be to pursue his life plans again, one could consider his responsemisleading. If the government is responsible for making sure that citizens areat least at the minimum level of opportunity to succeed in society, then onecould ask why do we still have homeless people in our society? They are clearlyunder the minimum level of opportunity tosucceed.             I would agree with Peikoff’s solution to the case and place Jim in a pay-for-service systembecause he should be responsible for the consequences of his action. He had theoption of saving his money for hismedical needs, but instead, he decided that a new Corvette is moreimportant than his health. It is not fair for the people who have worked hardto earn money and are being forced through taxation to pay for Jim’shealthcare.

It is unfortunate that Jim is sick, but everyone is responsible fortheir health, and it is our responsibilities to find a way to pay for own health care.

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