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In Reply to: Let's all build a rocket & go to Mars posted by Observer on January 21, 2004 at 19:01:56:
I tend to agree with Alan that the manned Moon/Mars venture is likely to produce some positive technologies. Like Teflon. No sarcasm intended, it's just the only thing I could think of early this morning. And believe me, I use my no-stick pans every day.
HOWEVER, as long as 16% of the public has no access to health-care insurance and I continue to pay for their costly care in emergency rooms out of increases in my private insurance premiums, I cannot support any significant spending on programs that do not address this issue. Our current way of financing healthcare is extremely inefficient and wasteful--as well as unfair.
Did you ever think about how many people would go into business for themselves if they didn't have to worry about how they would pay for healthcare coverage? Or, how many small businesses might expand if they got the same kind of corporate welfare on health insurance that Big Business gets? It seems to me that lack of access to tax-payer subsidized healthcare coverage for EVERYONE is having a huge drag on the economy. Don't forget, big business and government already feed at the public trough of tax subsidies for the private insurance coverage they provide their employees. Is that fair?
OK. I've been in meeting hell for three days on the topic of healthcare coverage. Solutions are not that difficult, but the political will to make meaningful change appears to be lacking. Same problem as going to Mars, I guess. Some bold leadership could make a difference. After all, someone's ox (profit margins) will get gored if we level the playing field.
Does anyone have a problem with the ethics of exploiting sickness and suffering as a "for profit" enterprise?
