Health Care and capitalism a match made in heaven

January 8, 2009 · Posted in Government, Health Care, Social Issues, Society 
Some people think this is the future - Unfortunately it is the present and it must change

Some people think this is the future - Unfortunately it is the present and it must change

Health Care and capitalism a match made in heaven – seriously if you believe that you are more likely to go to heaven sooner rather than later.

There are truly intelligent people out there who say things like “Our rights were correctly identified by the founders of the United States: we are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If we study these rights, we can see that they are negative rights. Essentially, we are granted the right not to have our lives, freedom, or property taken away. These are our moral rights. Period. The proper (and original) role of our government is to protect the rights, or true entitlements, of its citizens.”

They then follow up that logic with beauties like this “We are not entitled to the materials or services (labor) of another person without that person’s consent. In a free society, those providing a good or service are compensated for it by receiving fair market value. This is the value set by free exchanges in the open market place. To quote Leonard Peikoff in “Health Care is Not a Right,” http://www.bdt.com/pages/Peikoff.html “Health care in the modern world is a complex, scientific, technological service. How can anybody be born with a right to such a thing?” “You have the right to work, not to rob others of the fruits of their work, not to turn others into sacrificial, rightless animals laboring to fulfill your needs.”

So let’s take a minute and think outside of the wacko box.  Let’s imagine a world where the government is not involved in health care at all.  In this imaginary world government does not participate in research, grants, medicaid or medicare, city or state or county run health programs and each person and corporation is totally responsible for funding their health care.

Now almost no one can afford to have a hospital in their home.  How often do even the super wealthy use a CAT scan machine?  Not often enough to purchase their own in most cases, and to have a surgery center on hold just for you is also not logical, because how often do you actually need surgery.  Additionally, not many people would want to go through the rigors of becoming a physician when so few people could actually afford to use their services.  There would simply not be enough job openings to make the field attractive to the masses.  The reduction in doctors would just be the start of the trickle down. Obviously there would be fewer medical devices built, so fewer people would be employed in these industries, and with no grant money available there would be very few research facilities at our universities and colleges.

Essentially with no government involvement in health care the industry would be virtually unsustainable.  My guess is it would revert back to the early 20th century and 19th century type of service.  Where your local doctor would work in your town and provide house calls.  They would be able to tell you in large part what actually ailed you, but they would have to send you to a centralized hospital in order to receive “traditional” services, because local hospitals would be nothing more than doctors offices with very limited technology.

In this world no research would be done into drugs or treatments that do not effect large portion of the population, because any discoveries would not be profitable and pure capitalism will not support philanthropy just for the sake of philanthropy. Additionally, the truly wealthy would be the only ones who could afford most long-term care services.

Now this is all doom and gloom, and to some people this world will sound horrific, but here is the really scary point of this story.

For 40 million Americans this ridiculous scenario would probably offer better health care than they currently receive.  The local doctor would probably be affordable, and the billing process would more than likely be reasonable, so you could pay a reasonable fee for the services you receive.  Additionally, if the doctor gives you grave news, and informs you that you will need to pay for centralized medical care you can just thank them and die.  This option is not much different for many people today.

Some people seem to believe those without health care are demanding health care services as a right, or an inherent right as a U.S. citizen.  I the vast majority of cases this is not true.  People do not believe health care is a right, just as they do not believe fire departments, police stations, libraries or city halls are built and staffed because it is a right.  People believe these services are provided for the betterment of society, and to protect the people who can not afford to purchase and staff these facilities on their own.  The truly ironic part, is no one is claiming we should stop funding these core services, because they just make since.  Virtually no one can afford to purchase a fire engine, and most people do not want every Tom, Dick and Harry running around with a firearm keeping the peace.

As an educated society we have determined that “some” things are better handled by the People for the People, and it is time we add health care to that equation.  We need to work on systematic reform.  We need to address not only the process of dispensing health care, but the foundation must be rocked.  We need centralized health care goals in research, infrastructure, personnel, disbursement and education.  These goals should be centralized one four levels.  There should be a national plan, a state plan, a county plan and a city plan.  Individual citizens should have a say in the elected officials who oversee their health care priorities, and be able to help their local officials help prioritize health care issues that most effect them.

If someone is sick or needs counseling they should be able to go to their local health care facility and visit their local physician who will assist them in the next steps required in their health care process.  Health care needs to be handled locally, but it must have the power of a nation behind it when that power is required.  Such as with epidemics, natural disasters and other unforeseen major events that would overwhelm local communities and in some cases even states.

This goal, nay this requirement is not some belief or desire that one man is dreaming.  This is something that a nation of great people must demand.  We can not watch people suffer.  We can not watch friends and neighbors go without treatment when treatments are available.  This is not what made us who we are today.  We are a great nation, and it is time we stopped putting dollars, and selfishness ahead of the common good.

I hope to readdress this issue in the near future, and I believe there are sound financial reasons for making these changes as well.  I believe once these changes are implemented it will have a positive affect on the economy, and if the entire process is implemented it will save money for the vast majority of businesses and people, as well as generating great strides forward with major health care issues.

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