I agree that's not socialism and anything that cuts down on bureaucratic costs cannot be deemed socialist. The only thing is that procedures like by-pass surgery, which is being done now with regularity even on very elderly patients, ends up costing over 100,000-150,000 when you add in all costs. America is getting "Grey"....baby boomers are going to become retirees and health costs are going to sky-rocket. The government, if it does adopt a socialized health care system, will have to become "Rationed Healthcare". Life extending procedures for those over a certain age or health status could get clipped in favor of funding "curable conditions".
I tend to think it's the governments involvement that screwed things up from the start.
If it is the governments responsibility to make sure everyone is taken care of, then the providers and the insurance companies can AND WILL charge whatever they damn well please, because they know the government can just print whatever dollars or checks it takes to get the job done.
This is not "free market economics" in any sense of the phrase.
You're kidding, right? This is the Baby Boom generation we are talking about. (I'm right at the tail end of it).
We're collectively numerous enough and selfish enough to have all of Washington quarreling over who gets the honor of planting the most obsequious, expensive kiss on our arses. Just look at the Medicare drug bill for a small foretaste of what is to come.
We will vote ourselves a lavish gold-plated health care system even if it means poverty and indentured servitude for our children and grandchildren. It's a shocking disgrace, unworthy of the sacrifices our own forefathers made for us, but it's true nonetheless.
-ccm