Health Care Rationing
One of the major arguments used by proponents of healthcare overhaul is that even if a new system creates rationing, it is no different than what we have—the current system rations healthcare. But the bigger picture is that when government rations anything it is within fixed limits. i.e., there is a budget for health care and then services are allocated within those boundaries.
Markets allow for much more flexibility, including overall expansion of the boundaries. And yes, that even allows any one individual to allocate all of their resources to a single budget item (health care).
Now I understand the repugnance to the notion that bankruptcy can result from health care costs. But that individual made the decision. They could have chosen to not purchase health care.
I agreed, that course unlikely and perhaps even immoral to suggest. But if it is immoral for a person to chose to deny themselves health care, then why is it not immoral to allow a government bureaucrat(s) to make the choice? And if your answer is that with government involvement everyone will get what they want, then grab your wallet–the costs will accelerate at an alarming rate.
Finally, the accusation that conservatives have no solutions is ridiculous. To begin with, let’s prove proposed savings within the Medicare system. I don’t know if corruption can be driven out of the system but there ought to at least be an attempt. Supply of labor and materials needs to be expanded. Tort reform enacted. And in the area of outcome based medicine, a lot more discussion needs to be carried on. It would be nice if outcomes could be deterministic but such is not the case in the very imprecision science of medicine; platitudes from the Presidential bully pulpit not withstanding.
And IF the government needs to be involved, then I would prefer a discussion in the realms of catastrophic care/government as a re-insurer…. This story continues to develop.
David James