KMA-628

I haven't had time to pose an argument yet, but here is the core of my feelings on this.

As a free-market capitalist, the very notion of Universal Healthcare goes against my beliefs. (Note: I use the "free-market capitalist" term loosely).

However, the system created by the "free-market" has become so corrupt that it goes against my beliefs as well. I have this really wacky belief that the "healthcare" I receive be mandated by my doctor, not by a bean-counter.

So, that leaves me with two choices: Fix the current system or take a look at a replacement.

How do you fix a corrupt system? I don't think you can. I think once a system has become corrupt, it is usually beyond fixing as the power players that led to the corruption have a vested interest in keeping said system corrupt.

So, I approach it from a different angle.

I come in from the money angle.

According to research, the American gov't spends more on healthcare, per person, than any other country in the world. So, what we have is, other countries are able to provide a Universal Healthcare system to all of their people for less money than we spend--and we don't even provide healthcare for everybody.

Something is wrong with that formula.

In this case, I would be willing to consider a Universal Healthcare system if:

a) It provides healthcare for all legal citizens of the U.S.
b) It ends up costing less, per person, than our current "system".
c) The quality of care does not go down.

Am I abandoning my principles here? No, I don't think so. I realize that my primary principle isn't working and isn't going to work. I realize that I may still be able to get what I really want, less government spending. Plus, I get the warm-fuzzy knowing that something I supported was actually thought of as a betterment to society.

My primary concerns with switching to a Universal Healthcare system is:

a) The switch itself. How does a country like the U.S. make a 180 degree change in a healthcare system? What do we do with all of the privately owned hospitals? What do we do with insurance companies? I realize there are problems in our insurance companies and hospitals, but by shutting them down are we going to take a major economic hit? We are talking about an industry that pumps billions and billions of dollars into our economy. Is socializing the system going to hurt us in the transition?

b) How do we keep research and development at current levels? How do we keep the incentive on the private sector to create new medicines and technologies? Or, do we leave that up to the gov't now? (not something I would be 100% comfortable with).

c) No new taxes. If we are already spending this incredible amount of money per person on healthcare, we should have no problem designing a system that provides healthcare for all, for less money, using exisiting funds. Now I realize that there would be start-up and transition costs, I don't include that in my "equation". I am referring to an operating system that is less per-person than our current expenditures.

So, as you can see, the devil really is in the details here.

The first, most important question to me is how to actually make a succesful transition--any ideas?

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Before you criticize someone, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. That way, if they get angry at you.......you're a mile away.......and they're barefoot.