Sunday, July 12, 2009
Post No. 125b: TV Broadcast of Interest re Guaranteed Healthcare, A Simple Solution
In just a few minutes, at 9:00 am EDST, C-Span Book TV will air a book discussion with the author of Healthcare Guaranteed, A Simple Solution.
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This is one special discussion. It challenges the positions of virtually every side and special interest in the current debate.
ReplyDeleteIt's a complex subject. I worry more about the unintended consequences and opportunities for corruption and power-grabbing than I do about the inequities in care.
ReplyDeleteIt is impossible to prophylactically remove all opportunity for corruption from any program or organization. The opportunity for corruption is therefore no reason not to do something. One simply must try to build safeguards into the structure of the thing. As for the "power-grabbing" aspect. How could it get any worse than the power that the insurance industry currently holds over politicians on both sides of the aisle? It is rapidly becoming obvious that even the supposedly mad-dog socialist, Barack Obama is afraid to take them on. I would rather have the power in the hands of people whom I can vote out of office if they displease me than in the hands of people who have unopposable power over me--which is how it is now. We are all currently at the complete mercy of the insurance companies any time something goes wrong in our lives.
ReplyDeleteSo much of this discussion between this side or that, and whether there should be government intervention or the free market be allowed to operate, reveals a basic personal philosophy about human conduct. Either you have a basic, overriding faith in the goodness of humans, or a basic distrust that humans will screw it up and pursue selfish and malicious goals.
ReplyDeleteNote how much "bunching up" of individuals into groups about which we should be concerned is taking place these days.
Rodak wrote: "It is impossible to prophylactically remove all opportunity for corruption from any program or organization. The opportunity for corruption is therefore no reason not to do something."
ReplyDeleteWe see the issue somewhat differently. If the issue is change or adjustment or trying something new, and there is a concern about the opportunity for corruption, then it appears to us that the issue is really whether there will be more, less, or the same amount of corruption. The reality is that no one really knows. However, trying to improve a situation in society should not turn on one's fear of corruption. Additionally, letting things continue as they currently are does not address corruption either.
Where does that differ from what I said?
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