To the Republicans, that means "universally" available (it's there); but it doesn't mean "universally" affordable. That is the system we have now; if you can afford it, you can have it. (Except for the very poor, who sometimes [but not always] have Medicare {and in California, MedCal} to provide.) The real middle class (sometimes called the "lower middle class") can neither afford coverage by private, individually purchased, health care plans, or, with the rising costs of employer provided insurance or the loss of employment altogether, are left unable to purchase either health care services or medicine. The Republicans continue to see health care as a profit center (whether it is health care itself or health insurance). Some of us liberals, and some Democrats, see health care as a basic need; like national defense and national and local security. (Don't get me started on the exagerated costs of "security" for everything except the pay to soldiers, sailors, firemen, and policemen, etc.) The U.S. may (still a question) have the greatest health care system; but it isn't available to everyone because it is run as a profit center, not as a public service. And yet, it is as important to our national, as well as personal security, as is our expensive (if misdirected) national defense.

No one from either party is proposing universal health CARE.

So mrachmuth, you are an expert on what Republicans think and you speak for all of them?? I am Republican and I see health care as a basic need. As do all the Republicans I know. Though our system could stand improvement - I do not question that the U.S. has the greatest health care system. Other than that, I pretty much agree with what you are saying and it appears to me that you have common sense. So what makes you as a Liberal and myself as a Republican different?

Boob jobs on demand and free Viagra do not make a great health care system.

To me, it should be a not-for-profit enterprise and we should have a single-payer system run at the state or regional level and backed by the federal government.

The current system's a disaster for everyone but the big health-care providers and insurers, who are getting rich off of the rest of us through inflated pricing on drugs and services.

Obviously you're a Republican, or you wouldn't mindlessly repeat the GOP mantra that "the U.S. has the greatest health care system" in the world.

We don't, at least partly because, as the poster pointed out, only the very rich (and those with a great healthcare plan they can afford) and very poor can get regular access to health care here.