SOC week 1: Healthcare Right or Privilege

The first week of class we jumped right into discussion about healthcare and the possibility of universal healthcare and whether it should be a right or privilege to a person. Before reading any of the material I had no idea which side of the argument I stood on, truthfully I never paid much attention to it so I was a little nervous for the class. However, after reading the first section of assigned readings I have a pretty clear view of where I stood.

Basically and most simply put I believe healthcare is a privilege. Agreeing entirely with Peikoff healthcare is not a right, simple as that. Peikoff states very simply that “legitimate” rights are rights to action NOT rewards from other people. I could not agree more. A person has a right to go out and get a job, work, provide for themself, and then in turn receive healthcare. A “legitimate” right imposes no obligations from other people. 

Whether it was the way I was raised and the values I have been taught or it’s just what I believe I think there are no “free” handouts in life and if you want something then you need to go out and work hard to get it. With healthcare I believe the same if you want to have good healthcare one day you need to go to school, work hard, go to college, work hard, earn a degree, and get a job that will enable you to get the healthcare you need. Period. End of discussion. Honestly, I think if the United States goes to a universal health care where healthcare is given to everyone then eventually something else will come along and people will start to think they have a “right” to that as well.  

While this has only been the first week of class I feel like I stand pretty firmly in my belief on this issue. Continuing on with this class it will be interesting to see if my view changes as I learn about and try to understand the other side of this argument. One thing that is for sure though is no longer am I a little girl; healthcare is an issue that I should definitely learn to understand because very soon I will need my own healthcare and I will need to know both my belief on this issue and also the facts on this issue.

GL 350 week 1

 I'm blogging and it's the 25th of Oct. so that means I have made it five days here in Rome. No getting lost or kidnapped or any other of the things that happen in movies like Taken. I call that a SUCCESS. Well maybe I got a little lost a couple times but being lost in Rome isn't exactly the end of the world. Actually it's more of the complete opposite,it's like an adventure which so far has led to shopping, seeing different sights and cute balconies covered in vines and flowers, and eating gelato. See I told you, definitely not the end of the world; more like a whole new better world.

In his book Barzini writes about the nature and beauty that is Rome.What he writes I can't help but agree with and nod my head along. Just the train ride into Rome looking out the window is at most times gorgeous. Seeing rolling hills with century year old trees growing and the sun shining is like something out of a picture it almost makes me think that this can't be real life. In fact the first day I was pretty positive this wasn't real life until we walked out of the subway station and there was the Coliseum. Like that really isn't something the average person sees everyday, but honestly it isn't even the big ruins and sites that make me think this isn't real life, it's the crowded streets with tiny cars lining the way, and cats and dogs wandering the market streets. Basically it's this everday Italian life that I can't comprehend is real and that I'm actually here.

There are some aspects of this Rome experience I do realize are real life. For example I comprehend that I can't comprehend anything anyone is saying to me. My greeting, goodbye, and answer to everything right now is "Ciao." Hopefully this changes soon because I'm pretty sure I can't survive on just one word for 8 weeks. Another aspect of Rome I realize as real life is dinner time. Dinner time was and still is a important time in my family and having dinner here together is like having dinner at home, it's nice.

Obviously everything I have been talking about is real life but it just hasn't hit me yet. This weekend I'm headed to Spain and I'm sure during the whole weekend I'll have my camera glued to my hand and it will be another experienceof me thinking there is no way this is real life. I'm so excited for everything that is coming and can't wait to keep taking pictures, using my map, and seeing the world that is Rome.