With all of the yapping, software problems and faux facts echoing in our collective political minds, let's get back to basics.  To do that, let's imagine we're back in high school civics and government class, and the assignment on the chalkboard is: "Access to basic health care – right or privilege?"

I think we can all agree that health is a key part of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," yet millions remain uninsured due to the design of our system. The Affordable Care Act intends to mend some of the issues associated with obtaining health care, if applicants can ever get past the second sign-on screen.

I recently asked some of the smarter people I know the basic question about rights vs. privilege, and was somewhat surprised at the simplicity of their answers. They all said the same basic thing – that the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 that requires hospitals to provide emergency room care to anyone is already providing basic medical care to all people in the U.S., citizens or not.