Well, there are hidden costs in everything we buy.
Gas taxes are one such hidden cost. You pay “X” amount at the pump, but that “X” amount includes 18.4 cents federal tax, and state taxes are added in too. But they aren’t listed separately in the pump price.
Here in California, gas is also subject to sales tax, in addition to federal and state gas taxes. None of these taxes are broken out separately.
In retailing, we all pay hidden charges to compensate for security costs and losses due to shoplifting and inventory “shrinkage”, or employee theft.
In the medical area, we all pay more than we should because healthcare providers are charged such stiff premiums for their malpractice insurance. People such as John Edwards are partly responsible for those costs, with his huge malpractice awards he has gotten.
The end consumer ends up paying all of these taxes and fees in the form of higher prices than would be charged if these taxes and fees did not exist.
“In the medical area, we all pay more than we should because healthcare providers are charged such stiff premiums for their malpractice insurance.”
While I agree with your general take, I don’t agree with that statement. The size of malpractice premiums is really quite reasonable for most areas of medical practice if you believe this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9q1Id41wGo
Lengthy, about 1 hour, but worthwhile, IMO. I was surprised.
While I am a capitalist and I support the right of insurance companies to operate and to provide insurance; I believe (and you may or may not agree according to your sensibilities) that HC insurance (specifically, the miserable Doc compensation rates provided) is about 65% responsible for excess HC costs. The remainder (again, my opinion) is largely a function of federally and locally-enforced and ratified monopoly structures such as CON laws and the prohibition against importing Rx drugs.
They should be