Socialism: the evil that threatens to destroy the republican and free market values that make America great.

If this is actually what you think about America, then I hope you will not go to receive a free vaccination for the swine flu (H1N1) in October. This socialist handout of vaccines for a virus that is spreading very quickly across America and the rest of the world is sickening.

Okay, so that was a little sarcastic, and I hope that everyone goes and gets the swine flu vaccine when it becomes available.

Socialism is a word that has been thrown around lately to describe the dangers of health care reform, but the argument is beyond flawed; it's completely broken. The free swine flu vaccines are a perfect example of how a public safety net (socialism) can benefit all American people and can even save the country money in the long run.

America has been a social welfare state for a long time. Poor laws have existed in America since before the Revolutionary War. During the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security bill into law, giving assistance to millions in desperate need. America provides tax-based help to the elderly, the disabled and veterans. Supporting programs like Medicare and Social Security does not make America a socialist nation, but a nation that is capable of supporting its citizens through difficult times.

Health care reform has a huge appeal to people in college or about to graduate from college. Most students can stay under their parents' medical insurance while they are still enrolled in college, but many students are independent and do not fall under this category.

The average student will not be able to afford health insurance after graduation. It seems unlikely that I will be able to afford decent health care after college, and I will probably have to continue my current health care plan, which involves a bottle of NyQuil, a shot of Jack Daniel's, and my Futurama DVD's.

Supporting programs like Medicare and Social Security does not make America a socialist nation, but a nation that is capable of supporting its citizens through difficult times.

President Barack Obama's health care reform could significantly help those without adequate insurance (like students), cut overhead costs and help eliminate problems with the current system. The health care system in its current form is seriously flawed and cannot adequately support the American people.

One major issue is the so-called "doughnut hole" gap in Medicare coverage. This gap is related to the financial help provided to Medicare patients for prescription drugs. In the current system, Medicare only helps pay for prescription drugs up to a certain point (about $2,400).  Then the patient has to pay for all costs out-of-pocket until they reach what is called the "catastrophic limit," which is only after they have had to pay thousands of dollars for prescription drugs.

This "doughnut hole" is just one of the many things the new health care plan proposes to change. The health care plan will also stop health insurance companies from strong-arming people out of coverage for preconditions or dropping their coverage when they become sick. The plan will provide money for preventative medicine like flu shots or mammograms, which can help prevent future illnesses and lower health care costs. It will provide feasible options for the uninsured and the underinsured in the form of "The Exchange."

The cost of health care to the average citizen is too high, which is causing millions of citizens to go bankrupt from costs or forgo any coverage at all. According to the National Coalition on Health Care, 62 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007 were linked to medical expenses. According to the Census Bureau, 46.6 million Americans were uninsured in 2005.

This sort of data seems to indicate not only that the American health care system needs reform, but that it needs major reform, and soon. Health care reform could prevent millions of Americans from having to declare bankruptcy. Without so much bankruptcy, creditors will be paid, people will have more financial security and the economy will improve. Better health for the uninsured would help our economy as well. Less sick people means more active and healthy people working jobs and contributing to society.

In the end, health care reform is not a socialist issue or a partisan issue - it's a human issue. People need help and they deserve it too. Veterans and the elderly have worked hard to support this country, and the country should do more to help take care of them when they need it. Children should not be expected to go without medical treatment; the country must take care of its youth if we expect them to grow up and help contribute to our Social Security funds when they are adults. A new health care system could potentially save our country millions of dollars and lives - does that sound socialist to you?