[liberallarry]

As I've said repeatedly the problem is more cultural and political than economic.

Yes, R&D costs plenty of money but even without new drugs we can do much better than we do now by adopting changes such as you suggest...or others similar.

But can we or anyone else muster the will to make the changes? Can we even agree on what they should be?

Currently we believe that our system is the best and that proves that democratic capitalism is superior to socialism or communism. But democratic capitalism failed many times in the past. It took special conditions to establish our system and no one knows how durable it will be. Historically, aristocratic, slave-holiding tyrannies have been the most durable because they best reflected innate human differences. Does that apply today? Who knows...and who knows what will best accomodate future conditions?

[americanbychoice2]

Again, this is an extremely complex issue.
There are facts that enter into it from training for the future, to medicine, to funding promised social systems.
While there is a degree of politics involved, funding any kind of social system is economic in nature.
In order for us to be covered against health problems or be compensated if we can't work anymore due to old age or disability, money has to be available.
Remember, we all also live longer which is already being felt in the EU.
There will never be a perfect world or situation. We can only hope that we can tackle these complex issues and adapt to make them more manageable.
This subject could require discourse for years.