Applying Conflict Theory: Access To Universal Health Care

1.Conflict Theory: Conflict theory is based off of ideas from Karl Marx (Tischler, 2014), and its focus is on the struggle between societal classes to obtain limited resources (Morris, 2015). They believe strongly that those whom are in power will use any means necessary to maintain it (Tischler, 2014), thus reinforcing the “have” and “have not” mentality (Morris, 2015). They act usually not out of benevolence, but with what will get them the furthest ahead, focusing little attention to constancy within society (Tischler, 2014). Functionalist: Functionalism is a macro-level theory (Morris, 2015), that is primarily based off of Durkheim and Spencer (Tischler, 2014). They believe that different groups within society exist in order for us to see

Those who opposed Obamacare could be seen by a conflict theorist as denying universal health care as a form of oppression, yet they could also be seen as greedy for not caring about the health of others because they previously had insurance (Tischler, 2014). Those who belong to a racial minority groups experience lower life expectancy rates, which are often correlated with the unequal opportunities to accessible health care (Tischler, 2014). One might argue that the individuals whom are higher up within society who previously had accessible healthcare would deny this act potentially for maintaining dominance (Tischler, 2014). They might also argue that by using legislation to keep social separation, there will always be an unequal distribution within the service of health care, and conflict theorist believe heavily in unequal distribution of resources (Morris, 2015). These individuals might be viewed as having the authority to keep laws from passing, thus furthering their own agendas (Tischler, 2014). Overall, a conflict theorist might view these individuals as those who want to keep the separation between the wealthy and the impoverished (Morris, 2015), and because they have access politically to resources (Tischler, 2014), use that as an advantage in order to keep healthcare in their