Stephan:   While the rest of the developed world already has universal healthcare, and has seen marked decrease in untreated illnesses, infant mortality, maternal mortality, STD rates, as a very partial list, as well as seeing health costs radically go down, the Republican Party in the United States has something very different in mind. In states where Republicans control state government they are doing everything they can to make healthcare a privilege not a right, and to reduce the social safety network. Their argument bizarrely, in light of the actual countervailing facts, is that these policies will reduce costs. They will not of course. But they will punish poor people and that seems to be important to Republicans, because they equate poverty with laziness. Here is the story from Kentucky where this is happening. Under the previous Democratic governor Kentucky led the country in adopting Obamacare (ACA). Now, under a Republican governor things are radically different. Here's my prediction for Kentucky: Increased costs, increased suffering, more people not getting treatment until late stage illnesses which are enormously more expensive.