This is why they can complain about health care "bankrupting" the country. If health care really was a free market, it could not possibly bankrupt the government.
>> Doug Monday, August 10, 2009 12:11 PM

This is a great article. Thanks for identifying what the actual problem is. They're doing the same thing they did with housing, which is to blame the private sector and call for more regulation when excess regulation and it unintended consequences are the chief culprit. I guess we have to get to a point where reducing government, as opposed to saying "look what I did for you" gets people elected...ya'll keep up the good work.
>> Will Monday, August 10, 2009 2:39 PM

This is crap. Anyone with half a brain knows that even if this is true we only spend so much because corporations steal so muhc money from people when they're too sick to do anything about it. Everyone needs to stop worrying about profit - healthcare is a right, how can you be so stupid as to not see that!!!
>> Belle S. Darkin Monday, August 10, 2009 4:27 PM

Health care is a right? Is food a right? Food is more important than health care. I haven't been to the doctor in months, but I eat everyday, sometime a few times a day. Do corporations steal my food too? How do they do it? With a gun? a knife? threat of imprisonment? If I don't pay taxes I get thrown in jail, so the government can take my money which I could have used for health care or food. If I don't buy things at Wal-Mart they can't throw me in jail or kill me or do anything else to me. I have a job and they pay me in exchange for my labor and I use that to pay for my HSA and food, so they aren't stealing from me. Seems only the government is stealing, why do you want them to steal more from you?
>> TCH Monday, August 10, 2009 5:08 PM

@Belle While I'm not sure what people with "half a brain" think, I'm pretty sure they have corporations in France, too.
>> Corry Monday, August 10, 2009 5:40 PM

This is exactly what Obama is talking about,The Government,business and individuals are paying way too much in health care and we need reform. This article mentions Europe spends less, A SINGLE PAYER OPTION like in Europe cost everyone less money and covers everyone so we don't rely on the emergency room as the only public option. The health insurance companies raking in 12.9 billion per year in profit mostly be denying coverage.Health Insurance execs are averaging 11.5 million salary per year.Remember Ronald Reagen and the drug companies fought hard against medicare in the 60s and will do or say anything to stop reform. Medicare works, now we need to stop health care costs from ruining our economy.
>> Charles Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:09 AM

That's right, Medicare works great, that is why it is going to be bankrupt by 2017. We should totally trust the government with our health care. Just look at the bang up job they are doing/did with social security, Amtrak, Pan Am, the DMV, the VA (Remember Walter Reed and all the lovely mold? http://tinyurl.com/32sfbd), Medicare, Medicaid, Cash for Clunkers (took almost a whole week before it ran out of money), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, etc, etc. Can't wait until we can have that European health care; remind me again when is the last time a life saving drug/procedure/machine was invented in Europe? Strange how so many world leaders come here for treatment and not Britain isn't it?
>> TCH Tuesday, August 11, 2009 9:17 AM

TCH what if you did'nt have health care,what if you dont have a job to afford almost $1000 amonth to pay for private health care where would you stand on this subject.
>> Colin Tuesday, August 11, 2009 10:21 AM

What if I didn't have a car or a TV or a house? I would look first to family and friends to help me until I got on me feet and if they couldn't help I would turn to private, voluntary charity. I would not support stealing from others because I couldn't support myself. I actually do have private health insurance because I would never want be dependent on my job out of fear of losing my health care. I have a Health Savings Account that is very affordable, only about $100 a month and then I can put up to $3000 tax free in a savings account to pay for any medical bills I have. In a free market there are unlimited options available, with the government there is one option that forces all others out.
>> TCH Tuesday, August 11, 2009 11:05 AM

@Colin Yawn. People will readily agree that having the government give us stuff for free is awesome. But someone is stuck with the tab and assumedly they don't find the whole racket to be quite so awesome. If you really think health care is a right, you are assumedly shelling out all your disposable income for those people who don't have health care. If not, your claims that somebody who isn't you should have to pay for somebody else who isn't you aren't all that morally impressive.
>> Corry Tuesday, August 11, 2009 11:09 AM

Nothing is free we have worked all our lives and are productive workers only to see our jobs taken away by greedy corporations who along with CEO from banks and Wall street have put many of us in this plight.I choose not to apply for Government insurance and wait for an opportunity in the job market to get health insurance.Our fathers fought a war against extremists,little did they know they are alive and well living in the republican party
>> Colin Tuesday, August 11, 2009 2:31 PM

Colin, what? Let me try to understand what you just wrote because it was the most disjointed gibberish I have ever read. First, a corporation stole your job, somehow, no idea what that meant. Then you don't want government health care even though you are arguing for it. Then something about our fathers fighting extremists. Do you mean the Founding Fathers that fought against tyrannical government or actual fathers who fought against commies, fascists and National Socialists (Nazis)? The Founding Fathers were extremists; they were extremists for liberty. I am also an extremist for liberty, and not a Republican. So basically you have an irrational hate of corporations and Republicans and rather than think you just regurgitate nonsense.
>> TCH Tuesday, August 11, 2009 2:58 PM

hey tch go today fixnews(8-13) front page and see where the british say the rethugs are telling lies about there health system
>> mpp4400 Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:54 PM

mpp400, I don't even know what that meant, you have an outstanding comand of the English language. Must be from that government run public school system. I think you meant "their" not "there" and I don't know what "go today fixnews(8-13)" meant. Is "fixnews" your clever little poke at Fox News? I'm sure they are sad that you make fun of them while they destroy the ratings of all the other news agencies. Perhaps you meant to say "Go to today's (8-13)Fox News (or Fix News if you want to be super clever) front page..." Also, no idea what a rethug is. The prefix re- means to do something again or over, so is someone thuging again? Is that an equally clever bash on the Republicans? Good thing I already said I am not a Republican.
>> TCH Friday, August 14, 2009 9:48 AM

Healthcare is a right. If it were not a right it would not be given to prisoners in jail. The American Conference of Bishops considers it a right. It is considered a right by Israel It is considered a right by all industrialized and free nations
>> John ryan Friday, August 21, 2009 2:05 PM

Healthcare is NOT a right, it is a service. You must pay for products and services. MRI machines do not grow on trees. Prisoners in jail also get food, clothes and cable TV. None of those are "rights" either.
>> Ambi Wednesday, August 26, 2009 7:46 AM