3:04
Interview Transcript
Edward Crane: Well, I don’t think equality is a proper goal of society; I think freedom is. And I think when you talk about the right to health care, you’re talking about forcing people to provide it. But I think one of the problems that’s not recognized in the current move toward more government control over health care is that a lot of very smart people who might be wonderful doctors are becoming investment bankers, because they just don’t want to be a government employee. And I think the freer and the more open health care system we have, ultimately the cheaper health care will be. It’s interesting that two years ago the Canadian Supreme Court overturned the prohibition of private health insurance in Canada. And the rationale was a case that was brought that some guy who had an immediate need for hip replacement was told by the National Health Service in Canada that he had to wait two years. And so his doctor actually went to law school to figure out how to do this and took the case and went to the Supreme Court, and they voted four to three, and I’m sure all seven of them were Socialists that you’re right. Even though the Canadian Constitution says you have a right to health care, it also says you have a right to life. And if you’re standing in line for your free health care and die, then your right to life is denied. And that is true in England. The waiting lists are appalling. As P.J. O’Rourke once said, “If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it’s free.” And I believe that. I think we need health savings accounts. A major way to reduce the cost of health care in America would be to get rid of the restriction on only buying health insurance within your own state. If there was competition for-- between the states for people to buy health insurance, there would be a demand for health insurance plans that met the needs of consumers. I mean, if you’re in New York, you’re paying for God knows what in terms of mandated benefits. And so it’s incredibly expensive. So I think that would be an instant way to do it. But the main problem with the cost of health care in America is third-party payers, whether it’s the government or insurance companies. And that’s why we have always supported health savings accounts and people having control over their own health care expenditures.
Edward Crane and the Libertarian Perspective on Healthcare
President and CEO, The Cato Institute
Edward Crane on why government should stay out of the health business.
April 18, 2009 | In Health & Medicine
Discuss
tim hall on May 5, 2009, 3:37 PM
Ed, you are absolutly wrong. The free market allows insurance companies to profit from our misfortunes. If your analogy really worked then we should get rid of the armed forces, police and fire depts. We should just buy insurance because those are misfortunate situations also. If someone attacts you, you just simply call up the agency and they will look at your policy and see how much security they can grant you.
The idea of having national security is to be able to provide the very best service for the lowest price. When was the last time you had to go out and purchase or rent your own fighter jet? However, you should be able to purchase your own security and many do.
As far as waiting on surgery, There are things like, defence, finance, social programs, that we do a lot better than the rest of the world. So stop trying to compare us to other governments, we do it better.
I would rather have a pay-go system than what we are dealing with now. Doctors would not have to charge as much if the thieves did not have their stinky little hands in it. There would not be anymore malpractice suites than we already have. The insurance does nothing to stop or regulate malpractice.Why should I have to keep paying some jerkoff CEO 70 million dollars per year to lobby my government? I could be using that money for prostrate screenings. With the current situation, I have to lie to my doctor and tell him that I saw blood in my stool so the insurance(ignorant profit takers) will allow a screening. Insurance companies have no business in healthcare, education, or national security.
Folks are so afraid that they will have to pay for some poor slobs healthcare. We all ready do, whithin our insurance rates. We already supply national security to every poor slob in the nation. I wish all the greedy jerks would just take their stupid wealth and leave our nation then mabe they would be happy with our social programs. We are nation builders. Not glutinous pigs.
Socialized medicine- people uniting for a common cause.
How Two on June 2, 2009, 10:27 AM
It was difficult for me to listen to the rest of this commentary because of the opening sentence, “I don’t think equality is a proper goal of society; I think freedom is.”
You cannot have freedom without the diligent search for equality for all members of society. (one must define the term equality, it does not necessarily mean “exactly the same,” – equality means that each persons needs are met. – not their selfish wants, but their needs – love takes care of the wants as one’s needs are met.)
We are an interconnected global society that must look out for the benefit of everyone else, instead of only looking out for ourselves.
Here’s a thought to think big about: What kind of world would this be if every person in it was concerned for the care and benefit of everyone else? You would never have to worry again about anything as long as you looked out for the well-being of others, because your needs would all be looked after by others as well. Do you see how this change in perspective, when it takes off (and it will, because it must) will bring balance and “freedom” to society?
Healthcare is a basic necessity for all, and it is selfish greed that keeps its deplorable systems running. The solution: No more insurance companies. Free healthcare. I know it sounds radical, suggesting that everyone love one another and provide for one another in a united way, but it’s the only way to align with Nature, and it is how to create peace.
tim hall on June 7, 2009, 11:28 AM
How Two,
You are so right about: “and it will, because it must”
Intelligence will prevail over greed. The largest problem that stands in our way at the present is our social structure. Our social structure is based on primitive needs to protect our own clans from invaders, in order to secure hunting and gathering real-estate. We are still primitive in our social thinking. We hold many unjustified fears.
The advancement in electronic communication has helped to bring thinkers like us together in our thoughts of our future. The problem is that human social solutions are built from grass-roots or from in to outwardly.
When large urban areas were built, it gave us proof that by working together we could create a better life for more people. But as things got better, we lost that community asset. We became totally self sufficient, so we thought.
To think that we can rebuild communities electronically, breaks the laws of human nature. Humans, by design, connect physically. What we do here in electronic communication is more in the form of wishful thinking or agreeing. It helps, but is far from the solution. However, we can use this technology to help promote grass-roots community. If we can evolve into physically meeting and sharing ideas within local community by use of local web-sites, we could advance quickly. Humans need to be able to put a face to sharing and helping others. We need things like coffee carts roaming the suburbs, bringing folks out of their homes. We need local parks full of families on weekends enjoying life separate, but together. This is how we are designed. Can you imagine how stimulating a public park full of families would be? The aroama in the air? The sounds of laughter and shrieks? all of the beautiful colors and faces? It is worth the trouble isn’t it?
Kirby Madden on September 7, 2009, 8:34 PM
Kirby Madden on September 7, 2009, 8:34 PM
this is a video of a very simple minded man.
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