08-28-2008, 04:13 PM
Hi,
And, it is exactly in this respect that socialized medicine fails. Either the availability is too restricted, thus opening up a gray market in medicine, or it is not restricted enough, thus breaking the economy. Usually, the second is how it starts and the first is how it ends when the government tries to solve the cost problem.
As someone that is a quarter of the way to being a 'six million dollar man', I'm the last one who should be speaking against unlimited health coverage. But I do think it is wrong, regardless of whether it is through an insurance company (as mine is) or through the government. However, like car pool lanes (which I'm also against), I'll use it if it's available. Call me pragmatic or hypocritical.
--Pete
Quote:Then we don't need doctors. We just need algorithms.We need both. The doctor is (or at least should be) the expert on the diagnosis and treatment. But on prognosis, doctors are extremely optimistically biased. To them, any chance of success is sufficient justification to try a cure, regardless of the cost in money and in pain. While the HMO and insurance industries are equally callous about the pain, at least they do monitor the cost.
And, it is exactly in this respect that socialized medicine fails. Either the availability is too restricted, thus opening up a gray market in medicine, or it is not restricted enough, thus breaking the economy. Usually, the second is how it starts and the first is how it ends when the government tries to solve the cost problem.
As someone that is a quarter of the way to being a 'six million dollar man', I'm the last one who should be speaking against unlimited health coverage. But I do think it is wrong, regardless of whether it is through an insurance company (as mine is) or through the government. However, like car pool lanes (which I'm also against), I'll use it if it's available. Call me pragmatic or hypocritical.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?