A Free Market in Health Care Is the Only Solution
The debate over the health-care monstrosity that Congress is considering enacting raises some fundamental issues about our lives, liberty, and health.
There is one reason why there is a health-care crisis in America: socialism and interventionism, both at the federal level and the state level. On the demand side, there are Medicare and Medicaid. On the supply side, there are regulations and occupational licensure of physicians and other health-care providers.
Yet, virtually all of the discussion about how to solve the health-care crisis takes place within well-defined parameters in which Medicare, Medicaid, regulation, and licensure are the given. The discussion then focuses on how to resolve the crisis within those parameters.
Just look at any health-care editorial or op-ed in the establishment press or just listen to any news-talk program on radio or television. You will inevitably notice that hardly anyone ever calls for a total repeal of Medicare, Medicaid, health-care regulations, and medical licensure. Instead, virtually every one of the commentators has his own favorite plan for reforming the status quo.
All of this is a ridiculous waste of time and effort. Socialism and interventionism are inherently incapable of working. No matter how much time and energy are put into solving the health care crisis, it won’t matter one iota as long as the reformers are operating within the parameters of socialism and interventionism. The results will be same, no matter what the reform: chaos and crisis, which will only produce the need for more reforms down the road.
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