There is no perfect health care system.
Is the push for health care reform of the variety being discussed growing out of genuine concern for the people or about seizing more control?
Its hard to know the motives of people so the best we can do is take a look at both sides.
Here is an essay on the side that says the health care we have in the USA isn't as bad as the picture painted by those who want massive reform. (HT: Jude at HH)
Might it be possible to fix up the broken parts without breaking the parts that work?
Ideas I have heard:
(1) More usage of non-MD health care professionals for primary care. I wonder how many percent of the cases your typical family doctor takes care of can be treated by a nurse practitioner or physician assistant?
(2) Establishing more community clinics to deliver care to lower income patients who have lower budget insurance plans or who are uninsured.
(3) Level the playing field between those who get insurance through work (premiums are pre-tax) and those who have to buy it on their own (premiums are post-tax) by removing the tax differential between the two groups.
Might some of these more modest (though still costly) proposals be better than a massive overhaul?
UPDATE: Thomas Sowell has an essay with a similar title "Care Versus Control."
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