Legalize Health Care
Yes, that’s right–legalize health care. What’s that? It’s already legal, you say? Hmm…nope…just checked. I’m still not allowed to go out and buy any medication that the FDA hasn’t approved, since it’s illegal for a producer to sell me such items. Even then, I still can’t buy a great many FDA-approved medications that government says I need a prescription for. Oh, and that prescription has to come from a government-licensed doctor, and the medication has to be dispensed by a government-licensed pharmacist.
And if I need hospital care? Well, at least in my state (North Carolina) the government prohibits the very existence of any medical facility that doesn’t follow all the government rules, including (in most cases) treating patients that can’t pay and thus raising the fees for everyone else in order to cover it. And if I need an urgent MRI? Well, I might have a long wait because even private hospitals have to get permission from the government just to add a new MRI machine to their facilities! I swear I’m not making this up.
And then there’s insurance premiums, which continue to soar due to the fact that government rules have resulted in insurance morphing into prepaid medical plans that cover every little doctor visit and stubbed toe; not to mention the fact that insurance companies are mandated by government to cover certain things that some might choose not to cover when not coerced; and the fact that governments flat out tell insurance companies what they’re allowed to charge.
I’m sure I’m leaving out all kinds of coercive government actions that are responsible for the high cost of our health care, but you get the idea. It’s government coercion that is responsible for the mess we’re in. The state has engaged in aggression against would-be willing buyers and sellers and prevented their value for value trade from taking place. This is simple destruction of wealth and immoral initiation of force.
So the next time you hear Michael Moore or his minions going on about the desperate need for nationalized/socialized/universal health care, ask why they think more government is going to fix a government-caused problem.
P.S. I’m no health care expert, so if anyone sees anything I’ve left out or in some way misstated, do let me know.
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