On American Healthcare

United States is often referred to as the most powerful country in the world. The president of the United States is often referred to as the Leader of the Free World. The opportunities for social mobility in United States are often referred to as the American Dream. Such strong names convey positive images about the entire country. Yet, a country founded on equality is a country of inequality especially when it comes to Health Care. Is this just another example of market failure or can other entities be blamed?
Capitalism creates inequality in many sectors of the social sphere but almost in one same type of occurrence. Those who have the resources have access to exclusive opportunities, which they pass on for generations, leaving out for generations also those with scarce resources. Although most of the forms of inequality cannot be regulated, I believe that for the specific topics of health and education it must not be left to the market but that the government should come in to make accessible for the entire country without discrimination of social class, capital, or possession of insurance.
In their article, Armstrong and Armstrong, give the example of Canada, a country similar to United States in socio-economic and political spheres, which has a universal health care plan which works in favor of the entire country. Even countries that do not go near to United States in the economic sphere (like Panama) have public health facilities administered by the government. With proof of success in other public health plans, one must wonder why United States does not offer public health to its citizens.
In his article, Vicente Navarro contradicts Enthoven asserting that United States is not a class dictatorship, supporting this opinion with testimony of his experience of living in Spain under the fascist rule of Francisco Franco. To this I must deeply disagree. Enthoven was not making a literal comparison but a metaphorical one where he indicates that the upper class has the power and leverage to impose their interests over the general interest. Even though the state would be the agent to regulate inequality in the market, people in high places with various zeros in their bank accounts may influence some decisions. Navarro said it himself, when the 1 million petition for public health care was not published by the media because 4 out of 12 New York Times’ board members are also directors of Health Insurance Companies. It is that same people that can “capture” the state to maintain the status quo where they have the power, resources, and opportunities.
It is in such situations when the real flaw of the market is seen. Even though it must be a terrible sight to witness how someone dying is denied medical attention, the inequality in health is not the market failure to worry about, but the unequal distribution of power that allows those who can prevent change by paying up.
“Short-Time Horizons” is an accurate description of a common human practice. People focus about lowering costs and making money on the now, rather than thinking about the consequences of their actions on the later. Every country is a chainlike system; somewhat like the food chain. Slowly, the lower classes are being driven to extinction. In a greedy competition for money and power, those without resources and their families through the generations are living with poor health and education. This is not only dangerous for the survival of the society, but on shorter terms causes social resentment that lead to violence and crime.
A country is nothing but the sum of its people. If the vast majority suffer from sickness the entire country should be considered ill. The virus of private health should be treated, and soon.