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I have no idea whether to be for against government regulation in health care because it's a complicated issue and I am nowhere near an expert. But I would like

I have no idea whether to be for against government regulation in health care because it's a complicated issue and I am nowhere near an expert. But I would like to ask you if you think the same logic applies to food. Can the food industry extract as much money from me as they want? I will give you the shirt off my back in order to avoid starvation. If no, what is the magic happening in the food industry? Could similar magic apply in health care?

jablan 14y ago
There's a big difference here. Basically, anyone can grow food, while not many people can make their own antibiotics or CPAP machines in their backyards.
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twomills 14y ago
The magic is a balanced equation. Either the consumers and producers are both capitalists and strive to create the best value per dollar, or the profit has to be taken out of the equation with public healthcare, with the best value per tax dollar being dependent on the good will of the bureaucracy. Right now, we have an unbalanced equation where producers strive for the most profit and the least liability, and insured consumers have absolutely no reason to even pay attention to how much money their insurance company pays in exchange for treatment, the quality of which the consumer feels is almost totally out of their control. Put the power, and the responsibility, back into the hands of patients who until now had no reason to care, and you will see a vast, rapid improvement in the state of healthcare.
flashingleds 14y ago
The reason your analogy breaks down is competition. Usually it's pretty easy to obtain food in some shape or form, so there are near endless alternatives if you face steep pricing. It's really quite difficult to be a competent doctor, so you've got limited alternatives. The magic you would need to apply is reducing the barrier to entry to medical competence somehow.

jablan 14y ago

There's a big difference here. Basically, anyone can grow food, while not many people can make their own antibiotics or CPAP machines in their backyards.

deleted 14y ago
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twomills 14y ago

The magic is a balanced equation. Either the consumers and producers are both capitalists and strive to create the best value per dollar, or the profit has to be taken out of the equation with public healthcare, with the best value per tax dollar being dependent on the good will of the bureaucracy. Right now, we have an unbalanced equation where producers strive for the most profit and the least liability, and insured consumers have absolutely no reason to even pay attention to how much money their insurance company pays in exchange for treatment, the quality of which the consumer feels is almost totally out of their control. Put the power, and the responsibility, back into the hands of patients who until now had no reason to care, and you will see a vast, rapid improvement in the state of healthcare.

flashingleds 14y ago

The reason your analogy breaks down is competition. Usually it's pretty easy to obtain food in some shape or form, so there are near endless alternatives if you face steep pricing. It's really quite difficult to be a competent doctor, so you've got limited alternatives. The magic you would need to apply is reducing the barrier to entry to medical competence somehow.