And again you are right. Corrections need to be made but the noise about ‘reform’ almost always indicates government meddling which rarely if ever solves the problems.

Our alternative may need some rework, but the type of rework that is almost always proposed will spell the decline of care quality. It’s better to pay for insurance and occasionally have to do battle with the bean counters at the insurance company than to be taxed for other peoples health care and have to do battle with the bean counters in a federal bureaucracy that could care less about quality of care.

A cottage industry evolved whereby third party vendors handle much of the admin of healthcare. That and the general administration of healthcare accounts for as much as one third of the trillions we spend each year. That’s wrong. Just plain wrong.

A good example of what you say about government meddling in these affairs is borne out by the fact of things like damn ED meds being paid for by medicare. That’s right, get your woodie courtesy of the American taxpayer. That’s wrong. The list of such things is very long. Those late nite ads for what are essentially motorized wheel chairs for any fat ass who can’t walk cuz they are obese, etc., are paid for courtesy of Mr Taxpayer. That’s wrong.

In addition most hospital admins cannot tell you what things cost. How they set their prices is a mystery. But what they do know is that while the free market can control prices that is less at play when people are faced with paying for items that are not viewed as discretionary and when they are under duress due to the nature of seeking medical treatment.

Universal healthcare or socialized medicine as it is typically referred to is not the answer. But there is much wrong with the way we deliver healthcare in this country. And yes, the public shares in the responsibility by not taking good enough care of themselves and adopting lifestyles that are hazardous to one’s health.

I think it was Frontline who has a great documentary on healthcare around the world and much of it is government run. You can view it online at their website. I recommend it.

Also, a recent edition of Reader’s Digest has a piece on how to reform healthcare in this country. They offer 18 suggestions or more. It is also worth reading.

My point is healthcare is not like other commodities or products and services we buy. The decision process is entirely different and the gotta have it mentality or complete indifference to making choices that lower risk of need for such things exacerbates the problem.

In summary, you are absolutely right about government run health being a bad idea. But the alternative needs some serious rework also.

After my recent hospitalization, paid for by my insurance plan, one of the many that I have paid into for my entire working life because I understand the need for it, I was shocked to learn that one of my coworkers with the same great coverage available to him opts out of coverage to save a little money. I would have faced financial ruin without the coverage I had, and still face some bills that my insurance provider wouldn’t cover completely. It amazes me that people, especially young people elect to opt out of coverage.

Whats worse about this is that if they find themselves in similar circumstances, their financial life WILL be ruined. To foist the bill off onto the taxpayer because of their personal negligence is shameful, but that’s exactly what universal health care proposes to do. It takes away the ability of the individual to decide for themselves what level of health care coverage is right, imposes a burden on the taxpayer to cover everyone, and simultaneously rations what care may be provided, resulting in lower quality care for all, especially the elderly and the very young.

Still worse yet, when the government (actually the taxpayer, through government extortion) pays for all health care, costs will continue to rise as the population rises, but the government will use this coverage as justification for regulating and further reducing the choices that individuals have available to them. In New York City, it’s illegal for restaurants to use trans fats. The government puts “smoking” bans into personal vehicles with children in them. Soon, there will be forced labor camps for the overweight.

It’s tyranny. When government gets its hands into the system it reduces the quality of service, quality of life, and liberty of the people. It’s an evil that isn’t really necessary, especially when the system we have now works so well for those that elect to participate in it.