Healthcare Reform and Free Market Economy

In case you hadn't noticed the last year has proved that it's time to issue our condolences to Adam Smith and Milton Freidman because not only is a free market economy dead, it's a outright joke. Think about it… the really big, politically connected banks were bailed out in what will be a massive shift of taxpayer wealth to a wealthy few. Automakers were also bailed out… don't forget they also make military vehicles. Finally, the straw that breaks the camel's back is the health insurance companies who are griping today that in our supposedly free market, not enough people are being forced by penalty of law to buy their overpriced, under delivery products. Oh yea, and when it comes to trickle down economics… forget it. People are still being thrown out of their houses by the same people who are getting 10.5 million dollar bonuses as a result of the bailout.

Is the world really better and do we enjoy it more? I don't mean do we have more stuff and more gadgets or do we get to fly to more exotic locations from time to time. Really, are you happier now than you were last year… or 5 years ago… or 10 years ago. I doubt it because the data shows that you are working longer hours, making less money, spending less time with your families, and having much more stress. I remember seeing a cartoon that showed primitive people being told to worship a technologically superior "god". They had to spend their whole day going into the hills to mine gold to give to their "god". Well, they were rescued by the federation of planets who gave them lots of technology, money, banks, and credit cards. All they had to do was spend all day going into the hills to mine gold to give to the bankers.

So, the bottom line is that it's going to be very very difficult to make this world a better place that we can enjoy more until we all start to believe that the purpose of government and economy is not to benefit a few and the expense of everyone else. No, I am not advocating communism because that is simply a government who rewards the few who are strong enough to stay in power, and they maintain power through oppressive strength. You might say that we have entered into an era of communism for corporations. Capitalism, and in particular the incentive that you can do better if you work hard is a fine thing. However, it's important to understand that there is, in fact, evil in the world. Did you go to Sunday School? Did you pay attention there? Then you know what evil is. You see it in the movies and you read about it in books. Remember doing unto others as you would have them do unto you? Well, by any stretch of the imagination, the wall street, health insurance, and other executives who make huge fortunes at the expense and misery of others are simply evil… and if you support them, then the truth is that you are supporting evil.

And the greatest skill of evil people is that they are ultimate professionals at using language and media to distract you from their evil and convince you to act against your own interest. Don't do it!

The fact is that there are millions of people suffering in the United States and many more millions suffering in the world and mainly that suffering goes on because of relatively few greedy SOBs. The common belief we have about our country is that it was founded for the overall benefit of all the people. It's time that that is true. Government should not exist to create legislation to make the few even wealthier. It should exist for the overall benefit of everyone and that means keeping the reins in on the evils and excesses of corporate greed.

Make your world better by making the world better for everyone around you too.

I invite your comments.