Funny clip, but it kind of pissed me off. Jon Stewart is pretty left biased, but I'll give him credit in that he asks hard questions and seems pretty thoughtful and passionate about the issues. More than I can say for almost any commentator.
However, I was saddened to see him still using the establishment's framing of the healthcare issue - as a dichotomy: either you're for universal healthcare & higher taxes, or you're for limited private healthcare. They act as if costs are given and unchanging. As if the system were a single knob to be turned one direction or another. It's not actually like this, however unfortunately these are the two most likely equilibria.
Politics is an interesting game of power dealing where you have to find support groups that are willing to back you, and unfortunately for us the framing of the media is influenced by political realities - not real ones. People would be quite receptive to the true though: that the healthcare problem is a series of monopolies (patents, the AMA, the Bar Asso., corporations, unions, etc.) that each have an interest in maintaining a hold on their part of the system. Truly good change, disruptive change, could only happen if these groups weren't able to manipulate politicians and the people via the mainstream media - not likely.
Where are the open source activists? Why isn't their voice heard? I'm sure if you told people that these groups are extracting massive profits by manipulating the healthcare market, in the process harming millions of people, you'd get them as riled up as the banking issue. The MSM can't rock this boat though - read Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent" for more info on why not. I can't wait to see them die off!!! These companies need to die, and the good reporters need to come together to form less biased new. I'm not sure if this is naivete, but I think it's a very possible (and bright) future.
To reiterate my solution:
1.) Kill patents, increase research spending, subsidize FDA tests, have X-Prize for widepsread illnesses. This will vastly lower the true costs of medicine, consumables, and equipment - at the same time we'll get more research in solving real problems: not eyelash lengtheners!
2.) Split up every monopoly healthcare labor association under the Sherman Act, prime suspect: the AMA. This will increase innovation in types of medical personnel, health treatment facilities, and med schools. All of this will encourage a broader market with vastly lower price levels due to increased supply, competition & innovation.
3.) Crack down on frivolous lawsuits. This will decrease the cost of care, as well as encourage new models, techniques, etc.
So Jon, I just made it sunny without bringing the heat. What trick would you like me to perform next?
Agree? Think I'm crazy? Give me comments!
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