I don't know which would be worse, not having access to a service on a timely basis, or not having it available but having no means to pay back the costs. Thankfully, I've not yet (knock on wood!) been put in a position where I have needed a medical treatment I haven't been able to, somehow, pay for. In an ideal world, that wouldn't be an issue.
I think socialized medicine could work, theoretically, but only if the government is willing and able to pay for the real costs of providing high quality care--and so far no governments are willing or able to do so. Part of the issue is that people resist the high taxes required to support such a health care system, and part of it is that people with higher incomes, and who pay higher taxes accordingly, resent subsidizing health care for people who don't and can't pay as much for it. But it's a very complicated issue, and there are no simple explanations, let alone solutions.
(By the way, I didn't meant to imply that you felt there were easy answers--it's just an issue that is near and dear to my heart, both personally and professionally).
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Date: 2007-07-25 07:58 pm (UTC)I think socialized medicine could work, theoretically, but only if the government is willing and able to pay for the real costs of providing high quality care--and so far no governments are willing or able to do so. Part of the issue is that people resist the high taxes required to support such a health care system, and part of it is that people with higher incomes, and who pay higher taxes accordingly, resent subsidizing health care for people who don't and can't pay as much for it. But it's a very complicated issue, and there are no simple explanations, let alone solutions.
(By the way, I didn't meant to imply that you felt there were easy answers--it's just an issue that is near and dear to my heart, both personally and professionally).