Okay, I'm not sure I can continue to lead this group. I see the logic and benefits of socialized medicine. That being said, I would much rather see the insurance companies go away completely rather than having state run insurance. But I wonder if, because there is so much money in health, if we're not just equating humans to money. Is that right? No. These are not wallets they are people. Not every illness is a consequence of behavior, in fact the majority of them are not. Yet we are fed the line that no one else should have to pay for the illnesses of people who smoke or eat a lot. Yes obesity is a problem, but not the huge problem we've been told it is, and the smallest number of people smoke now than ever.
I have seen some evidence to make me wonder if the cancer epidemic isn't the fault of irresponsible large corporate spin with regard to how certain hormones might effect people in the long term when added to food. As a consequence the public never demanded a change. I don't know. I want to think that the invisible hand of the market will take care of these things, but when the companies get too large aren't they then too big to fail? If the invisible hand of the market did smack these large businesses down, wouldn't the government just prop them back up in the alleged public interest? We have now set a precedent for this.
So there is no accountability.
I am not a statist, but shouldn't we use those entities that make the law (i.e. the government) enforce the law? I guess if these companies didn't have more money than some countries and states; enough to buy and sell everyone in the congress, we could trust them to take care of the problem.
Personally, and I know what you're going to say, I'm trying to buy locally. Getting rid of credit cards and quite possibly my account at a major bank. Buying in cash so I don't overdraw. And getting out from under car payments and the like.
I can't guarantee that the people I buy from won't shop at Fred Meyer or Target, but at least I can change me. I guess I'm voting with my dollar.