ObamaCare: Is it really socialist medicine?

For the past several months, the United States of America has been gripped by debate, rows and controversy surrounding President Obama's ground-breaking plan to provide healthcare for the country's 46 million uninsured citizens. It is an issue that has divided the country like no other in recent memory.

For many the $1 trillion scheme would mean that for the first time, Americans would be able to get health care without resorting to expensive insurance firms. Currently, people are choosing to opt out of going to hospitals for fear of being slapped with a massive bill they are unable to pay. However, the Republican Party and critics of Obama's scheme have deemed it as 'socialised medicine' citing Britain and Canada's government-funded systems as failures of the plan.

Now, as someone who is a fan of the NHS, one has to wonder where the controversy is. Here in Great Britain, if I was to fall down the stairs and break a limb, I'd be able to go to hospital and receive treatment free of charge. I wouldn't be charged for using an ambulance which is often the case in America.

Also what these critics fail to mention is that the NHS is ranked higher by the World Health Organisation than the U.S. health system. A fact that is never mentioned by the Obamacare opponents.

Right-wing groups have been ranting and raving about how the new system would somehow lead to 'death panels' targeting people 'ripe for euthanasia', and the whole debate has turned into a circus.

President Obama has accused the opponents of his health care reform proposals of trying to "scare the heck" out of people, but it seems that many criticisms come from a minority getting far too much air time.

In fact the buzzword of these few at the moment seems to be 'socialism'. When it comes to discussing the health care scheme, town hall debates have been besieged by people standing up and accusing Obama of turning the country into the Soviet Union.

The biggest fear from the right comes from 'government interference' in the health care program with the Republicans citing that health is something the government should not get involved with.

However, you can't argue with the facts. America spends more than any other country on health care (16 percent of its GDP) and is still far less healthy than its European equivalents.

It is a issue that continues to divide the country and has defeated formers presidents such as Roosevelt, Kennedy, Truman and Clinton. Yes, it is costly and yes, it might put some private insurers out of business, but in the long term it will provide affordable health care for all... and how is that a bad thing?

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