The health care system is a
necessity for any country, developed or developing. In the United States, there had been several
arguments on health issues to illegal immigrants. Dwyer wonders whether
societies should provide health care and therefore promote the health of the
immigrants. Nationalists disagree while
humanists agree with the heath care program for the immigrants. Based on his
analysis, Dwyer comes with his opinion that societies have a moral obligation of
providing healthcare to its citizens.
Dwyer notes with concern that
migration is not a new thing since it has lasted for hundreds of years. What is
new is illegal immigration as nations and societies tend to regulate
immigrants. He notes that governments were more concerned about managing the ‘citizenry
than residency.' In practically all cases, migrants do the worst paying jobs
under tough conditions, and as time goes
by, trafficking of humans has increased, females becoming more of the principal
victims.
Recently, laws have been
passed or proposed against providing, social services such as education and
healthcare for illegal immigrants. Those supporting such laws argue that
illegal immigrants should be denied health care because they are in their
countries illegally, breaking the law. But Dwyer responds that breaking the law
doesn't mean that one should abstain from
receiving healthcare. The proponents of such laws further argue that due to
limited public resources and public budget, the residents are more deserving of
getting the benefits. Dwyer reacts by bringing up the idea of desert.
On the other hand, opponents
support the issue that illegal immigrants should be accorded with social
services such as health care because they significantly contribute to the
economy by paying taxes. For example, a young
illegal Mexican alien who follows the farm work from spring through late. He falls
working out in the fields under the hot sun (strawberries, sweet potatoes,
tobacco, soy, and corn), often working
10-12 hour a day. Also, spends a good chunk of his earnings on rent, local
property taxes, food, gas, and entertainment with friends. All the taxed amount
from this immigrant contribute a lot to building the economy than a young American
wife of a wealthy millionaire who sleeps until 11 a.m. and Pilates until noon and lunches with friends
at expensive restaurants until 2 p.m and playing a few sets of doubles with
friends at the local country club until 4 p.m. She shops at elite boutiques
until 6 p.m, eats a lavish meal with her husband prepared by their private
chef, then hangs out in elite clubs with friends until 1 a.m
Sound ethical responses
require some understanding of the work that the illegal immigrants do. They do
challenging and disrespectable jobs at small remunerations in the informal
sector that the citizens avoid. In short, they do the worst jobs in the most
dangerous conditions for example in areas such as agriculture, construction,
manufacturing, and food industry. They wash dishes, move dirt, and sew clothes.
The more money, schooling, and power the women have in some societies -just
like the young American wife of a wealthy millionaire- the more they are
unwilling to work in the informal sector or as prostitutes and the demand for
such jobs is supplied by undocumented workers from developing countries.
The professional ethics of physicians
requires that everybody should be subject to health care. The standards bar
them from reporting the facts about patients whether citizens or illegal
immigrants. In other words, the physicians should not play the role of the
immigration agents and police. Dwyer supports the expression that universal
healthcare should be for all the people. He strongly supports health care for
illegal immigrants because it is a global, ethical responsibility. He reiterates
that providing health care for illegal immigrants is indeed a noble gesture to
the families such as the illegal immigrant Mexican who does all forms of hard
work in bringing out collective responsibility and respect.
The people move around
because of political, environmental, economic and familiar reasons. The workers should be given more voice, power and opportunity to develop their
capacities. Illegal immigrants, though not citizens may be tireless workers,
good neighbors and busy parents and active participants in community life just
as the Mexican immigrant. Dwyer's social justice and responsibility dismisses
the augment by nationalists that health care system should be localized to the only Citizens-an idea which
I too support. Both deserve the health care system as one way or the other help
in building the economy as much they have entered the country illegally.
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