In abstract terms, I would say single payer systems could (and should) work well. It sounds nice to me on paper.
I think an issue is that America has a system of government that lacks a long-term focus. Every 4 to 8 years, we get a new 40-100 year agenda. This leads to tinkering with these social programs and the original goals can get lost, muddled.
That, and our government is not structured very well to deliver services with a largely unaccountable bureaucracy overseen by a divided and paralyzed government. Our government in the process of failing to deliver a service right here (with the exchanges at healthcare.gov).
I could see single payer systems working well elsewhere. In the states, I think it would be implemented badly at 10x the cost. Just my opinion, but I think we should try developing a competitive market for healthcare and reduce government regulation in it and see how that goes. Then, when that flops, we can try out socialized medicine.
Comments
In abstract terms, I would say single payer systems could (and should) work well. It sounds nice to me on paper.
I think an issue is that America has a system of government that lacks a long-term focus. Every 4 to 8 years, we get a new 40-100 year agenda. This leads to tinkering with these social programs and the original goals can get lost, muddled.
That, and our government is not structured very well to deliver services with a largely unaccountable bureaucracy overseen by a divided and paralyzed government. Our government in the process of failing to deliver a service right here (with the exchanges at healthcare.gov).
I could see single payer systems working well elsewhere. In the states, I think it would be implemented badly at 10x the cost. Just my opinion, but I think we should try developing a competitive market for healthcare and reduce government regulation in it and see how that goes. Then, when that flops, we can try out socialized medicine.