Universal health care is paid for by the taxpayers, we are one of the highest taxed countries on earth. But heathcare doesn't put food in people's mouths, and neither does going to war with whatever country The USA deems 'the flavour of the month'. If the US government took all the money they spend 'bullying' other countries around as they see fit, and re-directed that money to feed, clothe, and shelter the poor, there wouldn't be an economically poor person in the entire US of A. Solution may be simpler than people realize, however 'unrealistic' it may be. You see, here in Canada, we don't spend all the taxpayer's money to go to war, (although Im certainly not saying that money doesnt get 'wasted' in other ways from time to time), it gets spent creating wealth and jobs for all Canadians in the form of education grants, grants for starting businesses, encouragement to get off welfare and putting less reliance on social assistance. We do have subsidized daycare, and women on mother's allowance are given opportunities to get free education, along with subsidized housing. In this country, poor people are given encouragement and opportunity for self-improvement, not simply handouts and pity.