Clearly our health care system needs to be fixed, but more government action isn't the solution. Before you try to defend your argument with red herrings, non sequiturs, and ad hominem attacks, listen to my argument:
There are a few main reasons why our health care system is broken:
1) We don't have tort reform. Because patients have the advantage of being able to sue for virtually anything with no economic loss to them, doctors must go through every unnecesary procedure to make sure the 0.00001% chance that they screw up doesn't happen. These procedures add to your medical bills every time you visit.
2) Patents. Because drug companies are able to reapply for patents with ease, our drug costs rise. This is of course bad for the patient, but if the unfair monopoly benefits the drug companies, who cares, right?
3) Government intervention. Because of government's Medicare and Medicaid programs, patients don't have to pay as much for a check-up. This leads to more people getting check-ups when it isn't of dire importance, meaning that he people who actually need to go to the doctor have to wait in line behind these people.
1. According to a 2004 Congressional budget Office Report malpractice costs make up 2% of total healthcare costs, and a reducting of 50% would reduce the cost by 0.5%
2. Without Medicare and Medicaid the system would be in even worse shape, granted Bush's little escapade didn't help matters. Where government intervention has hurt is making importing drugs from Canada illegal and making the negotiating of prices illegal.
3. The way the system is set up being a for profit industry is the biggest problems. Decisions on not based on how it can benefit the most people, they are made on how it can help the corporate fat cat. Its profit and profit only, and they will squeeze out ever penny possible to get there. if maximize profit means more people with no insurance, not being able to afford it, less coverage, et so be it, they make more profit. That is what is wrong with our health care system.
