Reply #159: I think they need to survive because their stockholders can't afford them to go under.

[lostnfound]

I personally don't WANT them to survive; I personally think I would rather see an NHS etc. But I do wonder how you go about dismantling them or making them worthless without causing significant immediate financial losses for stockholders and for their employees. I'm not saying that it SHOULD stand in the way, but is that entering into the political calculations for Obama or other Democratic leaders?

On edit: "Can't afford" isn't meant to be literal -- Bill Gates can afford it clearly. But there are many out there who are middle class holding a large portion of "medical" stocks in their 401K etc.