Actually, I think the United States government, as well as many of our more local governments work pretty well when managing programs for social welfare. The U.S. postal service is efficient and has never lost one of my letters. Social security is still taking care of our older people who have worked hard during their more productive years. (And many of these older people provide volunteer community service, and so, take care of us too.) We have a pretty good interstate road system, although I'd like to see transportation upgraded with interstate light rail and more public transportation.
This said, I think you propose many great ideas:
1. funding for medical education for public service, which we actually do have on a limited basis, to provide medical care for high needs areas such as rural and inner city areas
2. reforming the legal system so that malpractice doesn't run up costs in the areas of legal fees, malpractice insurance, and cover-yourself-unnecessary-medical-practices
I would add:
3. regulation of the pharmaceutical industry, especially for cost of medicines, which are cheaper in many other countries
4. allowing more over the counter medicines. For example, I have to go to the doctor every time I want to refill my asthma prescriptions. This is silly - no one takes these for fun. There are many medicines like this that really don't need a doctor's oversight every time one needs them.
Yes - By law, every one in this country can get emergency medical care. However, the hospital need only patch you up to the point that you are no longer "in crisis." That means our poorer neighbors don't have the follow-up care necessary for full recovery. They also don't get preventative care, which is known to lower overall cost to the medical system.
I believe the definition of a community is that it takes care of all its members, particularly the weaker among themselves. History will judge us by how well we do this most basic task of a society.
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Actually, I think the United States government, as well as many of our more local governments work pretty well when managing programs for social welfare. The U.S. postal service is efficient and has never lost one of my letters. Social security is still taking care of our older people who have worked hard during their more productive years. (And many of these older people provide volunteer community service, and so, take care of us too.) We have a pretty good interstate road system, although I'd like to see transportation upgraded with interstate light rail and more public transportation.
March 22, 2011 - 10:54pmThis said, I think you propose many great ideas:
1. funding for medical education for public service, which we actually do have on a limited basis, to provide medical care for high needs areas such as rural and inner city areas
2. reforming the legal system so that malpractice doesn't run up costs in the areas of legal fees, malpractice insurance, and cover-yourself-unnecessary-medical-practices
I would add:
3. regulation of the pharmaceutical industry, especially for cost of medicines, which are cheaper in many other countries
4. allowing more over the counter medicines. For example, I have to go to the doctor every time I want to refill my asthma prescriptions. This is silly - no one takes these for fun. There are many medicines like this that really don't need a doctor's oversight every time one needs them.
Yes - By law, every one in this country can get emergency medical care. However, the hospital need only patch you up to the point that you are no longer "in crisis." That means our poorer neighbors don't have the follow-up care necessary for full recovery. They also don't get preventative care, which is known to lower overall cost to the medical system.
I believe the definition of a community is that it takes care of all its members, particularly the weaker among themselves. History will judge us by how well we do this most basic task of a society.
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