Regarding Health Care In The United States?
Government's Role in Health Care
by John Mark Adrian
Homewood High School
Homewood, Alabama
In recent years, government has become increasingly involved in health care. In its desire for a better America, government has infiltrated almost every aspect. However, the best interest of the country in the long-term would be served if government had no part in health care.
Over 200 years ago, the U.S. was formed by molding several philosophies and ideas together. A philosophy held particularly high came from John Locke. He maintained that every man has a natural right to liberty and the protection of his property. In order to best secure these rights, our forefathers turned to a capitalistic or free market economy. By implementing capitalism, they hoped to provide an atmosphere for all rights to grow and flourish.
The free market system is founded on a few simple principles. It recognizes first of all, that everyone has a talent. If individuals develop their talent and make it marketable, then that individual as well as all of society is helped. Adam Smith says that each individual becomes more expert in his own particular branch, more work is done upon the whole, and the quality of science is considerably increased by it.
In order for everyone to interact and trade easily, it is obvious that only a minimal government is necessary. Government, Carnegie believed, must not interfere with this competitive struggle. "The only role of government," he said, "was to maintain order and protect property."
This system is desirable for a number of reasons. First of all, it creates freedom for all because it gives all people the chance to become what they want, regardless of their place in society. Secondly, it leads to better products and a higher quality of life. Competition pits people against one another and gives them incentive to succeed. An individual must strive to create new and better things to top his opponent.
Anne Smead points out that competition is reflected in acts of striving to excel, often in order to obtain an exclusive goal.
Therefore the quality of life on the whole is bettered. For years this simple system worked.
Health care, as any other business, has been conducted in this same way in the past. However, in recent years, the government has begun to overstep its bounds and intervene in the system. Although the intrusion is slight, its' effects can be seen clearly.
A simple but relevant example concerns generic and name brand prescriptions. In earlier days, each time someone got a prescription, he paid for all of it out of his pocket. Later, he sent in the receipt to his insurer and received 80 percent of it back. Therefore the consumer didn't get many unnecessary prescriptions. A few years ago, however, government mandated that certain prescriptions be $3 generic and $5 name brand. Because of these cheaper prices, some individuals would go to the pharmacist every time they had a runny nose! This abuse has drained money from insurance pools and helped to jack-up premiums. The government has actually caused more harm than good. This is merely one specific example.
On the whole, intervention has caused cost increases. In the interest of all, federal guidelines for pharmacies have been set up. Much money has been spent to adapt. Insurance has been increased even more because many states specify that various items be included in coverage. Malpractice suits have lead to excessive tests and increased costs for the consumer. Finally, the simple thought of the entire industry being under one roof (the government) would mean excessive paperwork and regulations. All of these things can and do increase costs.
Intervention also affects the productivity of the system. Government guidelines and mandations lessen competition. This would lessen incentive and ultimately the betterment of the industry. A single model for all independent companies to confirm to would encourage the companies to do just that: Do only what the government requires and not go above and beyond expectations for services and growth.
Obviously, health care is more efficient when the government is not involved. Leaving health care up to independent companies would increase competition and therefore produce better health care. It has been proven that the system actually takes care of itself. For if one company raises prices and attempts to form a monopoly then consumers move to another company. Adam Smith again clarifies that without any intervention of law, therefore the private interests and passions of men naturally lead them to divide and distribute the stock of every society.In this way the economy would basically take care of itself and if there were any major problems, the government could step in and take care of it.
If the health care crisis is to be solved,it must be returned to free market principles, principles decided long ago to be the best at protecting the liberty and property that are held so dear. Quality health care is a vital part of life and it must be made cheap for all people.
The Foundation for Economic Education concludes: It (the right way) is the way of welling exchange, of common consent, of self responsibility, of open opportunity. It respects the right of each to the product of his own labor. It limits the police force to keeping the peace. It is the way of the free market, private property, limited government. On its banner is emblazoned 'Individual Liberty.'"