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Initial Positions
mAineAc
Negative. Helath care is not a basic human right because it is a commodity. It is a basic human right to care for yourself and it is wrong for that to be infringed upon. Perhaps it can be argued that insurance infringes on that right, but it does not change the fact that health care will never be a right. Health care comes at a high cost and to pay for it money will need to be taken from others. When a right infringes on other's rights then that negates it from being a right.
Riley
Positive. Health care is a right in this country, just as owning a gun is a right. However, the government does not pay for you to own a gun, nor should it pay for your healthcare. This is your responsibility.
Ill Logic
10:46 a.m. oct 26, 2009

This debate is between Riley and mAineAc. Riley didn't specify a political stance, but mAineAc is a (unenthusiastic) Republican, possibly with libertarian leanings. I myself (the Mediator) am a libertarian. Hopefully that won't get in the way, but given that, at least from what I can tell, both posters are arguing from a similar political stance, but disagreeing on the concept of rights, I'm guessing this won't be much of an issue anyway.

I will quote the positions posted by the debaters, starting with mAineAc:

"Negative. Helath care is not a basic human right because it is a commodity. It is a basic human right to care for yourself and it is wrong for that to be infringed upon. Perhaps it can be argued that insurance infringes on that right, but it does not change the fact that health care will never be a right. Health care comes at a high cost and to pay for it money will need to be taken from others. When a right infringes on other's rights then that negates it from being a right. "

And Riley:

"Positive. Health care is a right in this country, just as owning a gun is a right. However, the government does not pay for you to own a gun, nor should it pay for your healthcare. This is your responsibility."

We should have a lively debate, and let disagreements form naturally, even if it may seem a little off-topic. As long as you let me do the "organization" aspects, which is my job.

mAineAc, given this opposing position, I'll leave it to you to make the opening post. (Feel free to use your above positions as your initial posts, if you have nothing more to add yet)

mAineAc
4:39 p.m. oct 26, 2009

Health care is not a right. Health care is a commodity. To use the example that Riley used, we have the right to bear arms, but we do not have a right to be given guns to uphold that right. So in those terms we have the right to preserve our health by any means necessary, but we do not have the right to be given our health care products or services to support that right. Health care is the commodity just as guns are the commodity, we should not give these things to people just because they have the right to be able to use them.