Reply #53: If you want to change the world, first you must kill all the freemarketeers

[wave_guide]

Shakespeare had it wrong. In countries without ruling freemarketeers, you see comparatively few lawsuits. Why? Because people's bad behavior is controlled through the legislative process. Here in the US, where we have far fewer legislative controls (regulations) thanks to the freemarketeers, the problems get dumped on the doorstep of the judicial process instead - in the form of civil suits. The knee jerk reaction then is to legislate limits to civil awards to put a cap on the negative outcome of the legislature not doing its job in the first place.

So now, if Ford wants to bring back the Pinto that incinerated its occupants after minor rear-end collisions, their "amoral calculus" may be correct: it is cheaper to get sued then recall the car. But unless you're a stockholder, you lose. I'm not sure how much Ford stock I'd have to own to feel better about the prospect of burning alive.

So, take out the freemarketeers, and the lawyers will diminish by simple starvation. If I was a lawyer specializing in civil suits, I'd be totally on board with deregulation! Then people would no longer be able to avail themselves of regulatory relief - they'd be on my doorstep instead. Sweet deal.

The same holds true for the current health care mess. The doctors aren't getting rich, instead it's the lawyers and insurance companies that are reaping the benefits of a free market. And just watch what happens if you get REALLY sick! You want to avoid "Death Panels"? Then how are you going to feel when you get that cancellation notice from your insurance company? Small comfort it'll be when you realize it was your private insurance company that killed you instead. How often do THEY run for re-election?

But let’s not change anything. We should leave those 50 million people to fend for themselves - while we pay for their health care indirectly in the higher costs for everything that gets passed on to those of us who have insurance. Oh yea, that makes perfect sense.

This is one opportunity to reap some small benefit from citizenship. In every other country that has socialized health care - non-citizens who aren't authorized immigrants are expected to pay in CASH.

Let's hear it for the Establishment and the Status Quo!