Free market is not always the answer. Just look at health care

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

‘‘The free market works just fine when left unfettered by government interference.” Summarized: Government intervention in health care has increased prices and lowered quality.

And finally: ‘‘The good news is the free market works regardless of one’s mentality.”

The armed forces are a socialized, government-run organization. Should we privatize our military and outsource it to Taiwan? If the free market is so great, we should abandon the socialistic programs this country has for police, fire departments, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and the Coast Guard, and then make them free-market corporations so we can save money on their operating costs and increase quality by eliminating government intervention.

I would like to reduce my taxes the same as Ms. Jones recommends saving on health-care costs. Perhaps we could have saved a lot of money if the CEOs for the military forces decided not to invade Iraq.

Perhaps these corporations could ‘‘outsource” to Mexico, India, Korea or China to save even more money and increase quality by eliminating government intervention.

These examples should show anyone, no matter their mentality, how inefficient it is for using the free market for our protection from fire, criminals and anyone or any nation that threatens our freedom.

The United States is ranked 37th by the World Health Organization and we pay more than most of the other nations that have some sort of ‘‘socialized” universal health care.

Many of these nations pay half of what we pay for our health care.

The most recent identified cost is about 16 percent of the gross domestic product. Germany, Japan, England, Taiwan and Switzerland were used as examples in a recent PBS ‘‘Frontline” episode about how to operate health care. They provide health care for all and spend a lot less than the United States does for a health-care system ranked 37th.

Thomas Kettelle, Lexington Park