JB>  ML> regardless of one's ability to pay.  In order to pay for this
JB>  ML> "right," you're willing to forcibly take wealth from others in
JB>  ML> order to pay for your "right." That's socialism and borders on
JB>  ML> totalitarianism.
JB>
JB> Sorry Mark, you've got it wrong.. When the hospital increases rates to
JB> cover their costs for the folks that can't pay, you aren't looking at
JB> socialism.. Sounds like free-enterprise to me..
It's socialism whether it is government mandated or not.  When it is
government mandated, which it usually is, then it is especially
evil.  Unfortunately, hospitals are generally forced to take
indigent cases.  This coercion often comes from any of the three
branches of government.
JB> I noticed that I didn't get an answer to the last question I posed.
JB> What's the solution to the problem, Mark?
You're operating on the premise that there is a problem and that
government must solve it.  It's just more of your hand wringing
again.
The solution is to promote free enterprise and charity and to stop
socialism.  Let hospitals choose freely whether to offer "free"
non-government subsidized health care.  Let the others choose freely
to run their hospitals as *TRUE* FOR PROFIT enterprises.  Let
charity take care of the indigent.  Sadly, in this country
government has stymied charities and at the same time has taken over
the work of charities.
Finally, get the government totally out of health care.  Period.
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