[liberallarry]

That's true.

Unfortunately it doesn't address the issue of how the poor, and much of the middle class, are to get medical service. The basic, underlying, irreduceable reality is that medical care is EXPENSIVE. No modern society will tolerate a situation in which some people drive Rolls' while others watch their children die of easily treatable, easily prevantable diseases because they can't afford to see a doctor.

[ottothedog]

I almost completely disagree. The middle class are the ones getting all that elective surgery. Healthcare is getting cheaper. Take a look at all the things they can treat with drugs now that used to require surgery. What is actually happening is that the quality of healthcare is going up. The problem is that w/ third party payers, people are willing to spend large sums of money for minimal improvements, so we are spending more. Regulations and trial lawyers add to the costs.

Dealing with the poor is a problem for the gubmint, as they can't enforce any discipline on welfare recipients. For instance, drug use among the poor probably causes a signifigant part of their health problems, but the ACLU would wig out if we started mandating drug testing for them.