Locke and Load

"Every day about 155,000 people die. They die in Europe too."

I love this point that Tyler Cowen makes. "We could spend the Laffer-health-maximizing percent of our gdp on health care and these people still would die, sooner or later. Most would still die sooner."

Some scattered musings on health care:

1. You are a nation of one and your health care system is in your hands, and yours alone. Everyone knows (yes, everyone, no matter how much money the food companies spend on advertising) that a calorie-restricted diet with heavy emphasis on vegetables, whole grains, some fruits, and very lean meats is the optimal diet. Everyone knows that -- to a point that most of us will never reach -- more cardiovascular exercise is better than less. This is the "universal health care system" that John F. Kerry was afraid to talk about. You can keep yourself well by treating yourself well. And before you come unhinged....

2. Yes, some people live healthy lives and still get sick anyway. And for those unfortunate souls -- and for those who do not live healthy lives -- we have a health care industry. (Not system. Industry. Our health care industry is not the fourth branch of government.) Putting aside individual property rights for the short-term gain of a few is not a valid function of government. And it will stifle development, which will pose a long-term detriment to many.

3. "But Canada...! But France...!" When dealing with different cultures, we cannot only compare longevity this to dollar-spent-per-extra-year-lived that. This is like comparing apples to Apple Jacks. We are more violent and shoot each other more. We love our cars and choose them over planes and trains whenever possible, even though cars are more dangerous. We have more residential swimming pools and spend more time intoxicated around them. We eat ourselves to death more because we are more free to do so. We do not wear motorcycle helmets to a man. This is only my speculation, but I imagine that we do not obey the law as much.

4. Tyler Cowen is right. The poor will still fall toward the left end of the bell curve and receive below-the-bar treatment. Remember Katrina? The most scandalous bipartisan fumble in memory? It is logic, not political affiliation, that says a disenfranchised few will always slip through the cracks. Remember the reason article that estimated how Kerry might spend $1 trillion on Medicare without improving the coverage of one person? When I find the article, I will update the post.

5. Lastly, people will still die. If there is no meaningful end result between the socialized systems of Europe and the still somewhat-capitalist health care industry here, doesn't that by default score an intellectual victory for the still somewhat-capitalist health care industry here? If all else is equal, isn't "successful and free" preferable to "successful and not-free?"

posted by Immanuel Can't @ 5:52 AM