Liveblog debate: Should the U.S. adopt universal health care?

Health care reform has become one of the most polarizing issues in the United States. DigitalJournal.com has launched this liveblog debate to explore the pros and cons of government-backed health care plans. Read the liveblog transcript to see what happened. Canada has it. So does the UK. Now the controversial health care reform bill (often dubbed ObamaCare) America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 is the topic everyone's talking about in the U.S. and beyond. It's raised many questions -- should the U.S. follow Canada's lead and adopt a single-payer system? What will happen to private insurance companies? Will a public option expand the number of Americans who get their health insurance through the government? We've heard about town hall debates erupting in heated arguments over how health care may be reformed in the coming year. Many Democrats are pushing for the bill to pass, while many Republicans oppose the idea. Just take a look at the editorials found in newspapers across the U.S. Some decry the current broken system, saying reform "will result in a healthier America that will be less burdened with inadequate health care or crushing health care bills." Others want Democrats to "focus on getting everyone into the insurance pool, giving all government health programs the power to bargain on drug prices, targeting uninsured children as the first to get coverage and turning the fee-for-service system into one that more resembles the Mayo Clinic." Have your say on this important issue, no matter where you live. Let us know if you think socialized medicine is a good fit for the U.S., and offer insight on what kind of expenses you've faced in paying for health care. The liveblog is now over, but hover over the widget below to replay it in full and find out what people had to say on this contentious issue.