toomuchtime said:Are you saying you want a national healthcare system like the UK's national health service or a national health insurance system like Canada's?
Neither. I am saying we should take a long hard look at a variety of the differing systems that are in place and make decision on which policies work best and which do not. Personally, I have looked at many different systems and believe that several parts of each can be succesfully emalgamated into a cohesive system. Specifics would include a small neighborhood clinical/hospital system with a general practioner available to take care of common issues, colds, flu, innoculations, blood pressure etc. This system would be a locally controlled system (i.e. municipal or county government) that would either supplement the clinic or provide a not more than pricing system. The second tier system would be a diagnostic/preventative health system that would be a part of either a single payer system. The third tier would be a serious illness/critical care system that would also be a part single payer system. These of course are just rough ideas of what an emalgamated system could look like. It would take a serious study of the numbers and best practices to come up with something viable that would work.