10. There are many sources for healthcare statistics. You don't reference any that support your statements, so let me in answering you.

According to WHO, the US ranks between Costa Rica and Slovenia in the world
http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

The US spent 16% of its GDP on healthcare. The often slandered as "socialist" countries in the European Union, none spent more than 11.2% and most were under 10%. The US spends 2x what Canada does on health care.
http://www.healthpopuli.com/2009/07/us-vs-world-in-health-c are-failing-at-1.html

More details comparing US to the rest of the...

9. Given how weak the economy is, spending a trillion dollars should improve it. The strength of the dolloar has little bearing on this, as this is a domestic issue; ignore our future costs, especially the increasing costs, will not help us reduce our debt, so fixing healthcare now makes perfect sense. The state of the economy, and the positive economic effect of implementing national healthcare, is a very strong argument for implementing it now. Even Walmart agrees.


Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
John 13:14

7. Doctors and medical professionals frequently complain that the profit-motive and pressures of being in HMOs prevent them from giving the care that they would like to offer. An insurance executive with no medical training is currently rationing treatments based on profitability. That can't be good for most of us.

8. Surely there are many inefficiencies in the current oligarchy (group monopoly) system that insurance companies have created. Trying to fix all of them at once would be nice, but most likely too big a bite to take all at once. The current national discussion healthcare is about changing how the heart of the system works. Fix that, then worry about the peripherals.


Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have...

6. Ask Fedex or UPS. Christian and Catholic hospitals are run as non-profits, as are others (St. Jude's network), and this hasn't hurt the insurance industry. Why should we, as people, care about the effects on the insurance industry? Business models change all the time - just ask newspapers, the record industry, logistics companies, .....

As living, breathing people, isn't our health and general welfare more important than the continued existence of one specific business model? Insurance companies can and will evolve, possibly to reflect the way they have in Europe or perhaps in a whole new direction. As people, that's not our problem.



Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash...

3. "Care" properly reflects that the morality of healthcare is more important than the profit-motive. Bald statements need to be supported with evidence. If most Americans, as you state, lack health insurance, then where are they getting health care from and how are they affording it?

4. The moral rationalisation is that our government is by, for and of the people. Therefore, we are rationing ourselves. This is much more morally justifiable than to have a corporation, which is bound by law to but shareholders' profits above else, do the rationing for us.

5. The Manhattan Institute is largely funded by big drug companies.You should find more neutral sources. It's also worth making clear that Dr. Gratzer has a PhD in...

2. Because health insurance is mandated, you won't be going from having none to buying some after the fact. This simply allows people to change providers and to get on the system in the first place.

The whole point of insurance, if you ask anyone in insurance, is to mitigate risk. You are right that the less risky make the system more affordable for the higher risk. This is another reason why it should be mandatory for everyone.

The easiest way to enforce it is through a single-payer system. That's how most countries do it.




Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
John 13:14

1. The US Post Office, FDIC, VA health care, the interstate highway system, FEMA, .... are all examples of broad-based programs that are considered good value for money by most Americans. Pick on Medicaid and Medicare if you want, but because they only help the most vulnerable of people, they have become highly politicized. The AARP spends more money lobbying both sides of the aisle for extending those programs than anything else in its budget.


Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
John 13:14