After my post yesterday I got to thinking about it more and I think it comes back to where do you draw the line. Like many controversial issues the fine line between what should or should not be done is the heart of the matter. I have a real big problem with the ability of the heath system to bankrupt people literally overnight if a major procedure is required. The problem is at what cap do you place it? Some treatments can cost over 10k A MONTH- and just don't know how that can possibly be covered by a family pulling 50k a year pre-tax. I wouldn't have a problem with a government safety net to AT LEAST heavily supplement these expenses.
On the other side however are people who are always looking to get the most out of the system. Universal health care for children was tried in Hawaii last year- the system went bankrupt in one month. Issues: suddenly everyone was taking advantage and taking kids to the doctors for checkups or for ANYTHING- and why not? They weren't paying for it. Further those insured children under their families were being dropped from their paid programs to the freebie adding additional - and (somehow) unexpected costs. Realistically though why would you pay for what you could get for free- how could this not have been expected?
Yesterday there was a big union rally in NYC where the workers unions were crying out for higher taxes on the rich- I felt I was watching a scene out of a "Tale of Two Cities" and it was a more than a little frightening. These people were visibly angry and demanding people making over ___ well they were vague on that but that they should pay more to cover the budget gap- but oh-by-the-way-we're-not-making-any-concessions union mentality. I thought it set a very ugly spectre. Madam Defarge wasn't that far away....
Trip Dates Decided
13 years ago
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My problem with out whole health-care/drug/medical care situation is that good healthcare should be a RIGHT of everyone, not simply those working for good companies that provide good benefits. The problem is that the richest people pay the LEAST for required healthcare, while the poorest people often pay the MOST - that's a serious problem! Our insurance/drug/medical care institutions should have their first priority be caring for and developing the best systems, drugs, and procedures possible for caring for our nation's citizens. However, instead their first priority is MAXIMIZING SHAREHOLDER VALUE... SAD. It's tough to turn back time, and start from the ground up with a completely non-profit healthcare system, but I think that's truly what is needed. If our healthcare system's main goal is making a profit, they are doing so at the expense of the sick and needy, which in my opinion is wrong. Yes, doctors should get paid what their services are worth, as should drug companies for the products they release, but earning additional profits (drug companies making 40% profits!) is just not right... One can argue that a non-profit doesn't have the same responsibility for maximizing efficiencies that a for-profit company does (same argument as for government), but is the increase in efficiency of a for-profit arrangement worth the costs on society? I don't think so...
On to education, you really don't believe that a good and decent education is the right of all? Even the least intelligent of individuals can be made better off through education - which may not be college, but vocational training or apprenticeship-type education. These types of education are incredibly uncommon in the U.S., but in Europe are much better utilized, as college truly isn't for everyone! And Barack Obama didn't say that everyone should attempt to take at least one year of college, but that everyone should attempt to take at least one year of post-high school education or training. I think the European, Indian, and even Latin American systems of sending the best and brightest on to a FREE university system, while the rest are fed into various vocational and apprenticeship systems, makes so much more sense, and maximizes the benefits for each individual's future. Yes, some that miss the cut get left behind, but you put the majority of your resources behind those who will end up giving back the most down the road in terms of taxable income. This, hand-in-hand, speaks to my feelings on taxation - those that have benefited most from our societal structure have a responsibility to pay back the most to it, in kind, so that others might be offered the same opportunities to succeed. It's that simple. Many of the rich, (Warren Buffet, Bill Gates) don't complain about paying taxes, understanding this point, and in fact give back even more. However, too many feel like they deserve everything they've earned, and have no responsibility or debt to society, which I firmly and absolutely believe they do.
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