Paul Krugman has an editorial in the Abbreviated Pundit Roundup today, and as usual he delivers a clear, concise, and informative piece of writing. Mr. Krugman is a brilliant economist whose ability to explain complex situations in simple (but not over-simplified) terms is a true gift. His piece today says basically what we all know already
... the government is already deeply involved, even in private insurance.
And that government involvement is the only reason our system works at all.
The comments that accompany Mr. Krugman's article contain within some of the saddest fables of the right-wing, and some out and out zaniness. I wrote my own comment but fear that my passion might be moderated away, so I thought I would post here as well.
C. Terry from Vermont has this helpful suggestion
Remove the government completely; bring us back to where the doctor and hospital are paid directly by the patient -- have insurance for catastrophic events only; and then, the price of healthcare will drop cataclysmically --- out of necessity.
What an absolutely wonderful idea, according to the author of the comment this "solution is correct and rational" but I see things differently. The price of healthcare will not respond to classic market forces, simply because people will pay whatever it takes to survive. We are hardwired to survive. Don't believe me, do you think the market's magic invisible hand will keep people shopping, how do you explain this researchers at Harvard University have concluded that medical debt contributed to 62 percent of U.S. personal bankruptcies in 2007
ProfElwood from Indiana writes
"But unregulated markets don’t work for health care — never have, never will."
Before World War II, when few people had health insurance, as we know it today, the "unregulated" market worked quite well. My Dad told me about the outrage when his local hospital raised the daily room rate from $23 to $28.
And liberals are the ones with their heads blissfully in the clouds.
Richard from Stateline, NV
Yes, we understand the government is involved in private health care, we get it. You don't get that that involvement is a major part of the reason there is a problem with private health care.
The way to fix the problem is to let health care professionals run the system not trial lawyers turned politician.
If only there were some sort of MedPAC of health care professionals that would determine care...
The important thing to note is that there are more comments, a lot in support, and that this is the NYTimes, so the people on the right responding are going to be thoughtful and moderate enough to read the NYTimes. These delusions about a functioning system are widespread and the most important thing that must be dispelled to move forward.
Finally here is my comment:
It is amazing to me the number of comments carrying water for these predatory insurance companies and the so called miracle free-market that just got through annihilating the working class' savings and robbing the taxpayer. The Global Financial Meltdown was precipitated by the profit driven free-market completely unregulated CDS and financial derivative trading markets.
America is the ONLY first world nation without Universal Healthcare, we pay more than any other UN Nation and have worse results. Universal Single Payer Healthcare is the only moral and sustainable course forward. We have ample evidence that this system is functional and affordable from the multitudes of other nations that have implemented Universal Single Payer Healthcare.
This is the measure by which this generation will be measured, did we do the hard thing and fight for the moral imperative, like the greatest generation that came before us in defeating fascism. But, I fear, it becomes more and more clear that we will end up with a compromise that brings us no closer to solving the real problem, those on the left will be left deflated, those on the right will be able to cheer with joy because "socialized medicine" is a failure. Of course, this will be because they so severely handicapped the reform in committee to ensure its failure. And in the end we will continue to have the poorest most vulnerable section of society suffer and die needlessly in the wealthiest nation on earth. Those with wealth and power will continue to be able to get the best care on the planet, there will be no rationing for them, just the status quo. Those without, well pull yourself up by your bootstraps (I know we took your boots to sell to give a bailout to Goldman Sachs, but try anyways) buy yourself a lobbyist, and with your influence maybe you too can get care. And if the stars don't align, if your efforts fail and fortune is not on your side, well you're poor and no one gives a shit if you die, as long as you do it on the cheap so that you don't negatively impact the 3Q report, you selfish selfish bastard.
If this is the future we leave for our children, I shudder to think the moniker that this generation will get. "The Foolish Generation", "The Mistaken Generation", "The Frightened Generation", but maybe they will get it right and go with "The Most Selfish Generation." Our McMansions, Cribs, and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous will attest to the monument to personal wealth that we erected to distract from the horrors that were inflicted upon the poor and the weak.
Thank you for reading my rant, let's work together to make healthcare reform a reality. Don't let up, call your congress critters, I have and will continue to pressure them to vote for meaningful healthcare reform.