ISBN39393242 t1_jcb2wgo wrote on March 15, 2023 at 3:54 PM

why are so many americans so protective of a health care system that is so transparently, objectively inefficient and cruel?

what would it take for bipartisan buy-in to a more civilized system?

Wicked-Skengman t1_jcb7pry wrote on March 15, 2023 at 4:23 PM

There are advantages of insurance based healthcare systems - the primary one being innovation.

It's no coincidence that the US has the largest dug companies at the cutting edge of research.

I'm not saying the US system is good by any stretch, but it has its advantages

Edit: we should also be careful with the data here - is the reason the US has a lower life expectancy a direct result of its healthcare system? I imagine theres a load of other factors such as lifestyle and diet that are more important

Temporary-Alarm-744 t1_jcdbmor wrote on March 16, 2023 at 12:30 AM

So what you're saying is the US is subsidizing the worlds research into pharmaceuticals by killing and bankrupting its own people. Nice. When you put it that way let's keep this system. It's only fair

xylopyrography t1_jccv1e1 wrote on March 15, 2023 at 10:33 PM

The last point is important.

Suicide, firearm deaths, deaths from obesity, deaths from smoking are all higher in America.

Opioid deaths are way, way higher, which pulls life expectancy way down because the age of death is tragically so young.

Your first point I'm not sold on. The US pharma system is beyond inefficient. They may output more but there certainly exists a system which could do 10x as much with the same funding.

OwenLoveJoy t1_jcckcot wrote on March 15, 2023 at 9:23 PM

Because those for whom the system works well (ie people with good jobs that provide excellent insurance) are afraid of a decline in their care and the groups which have an interest in the current system (insurance companies, doctors, pharmaceutical companies) influence congress to not change the system and promote fear about a replacement.