Reply #49: I don't believe that [View All]

[Ron Mexico]

a system in which you NEVER have to worry about your medical bills is possible in a country of this size and population. There's no such sense of security in England, and in Canada the list of things not covered continues to grow. The system you describe - no bills ever again, seeing any doctor, etc, is something that sounds great but I can't see it as feasible. I also see it as working only as long as we have the White House and the Hill.

I further disagree with your "bad coverage is indeed better than no coverage at all" IF the bad coverage is the only legal option I have. If you think it can never come to that, then the Bush Administration has taught us nothing. I may be a bit Oliver Stonish on this, but I don't trust the feds to run this right especially if participation (other than taxpaying responsibility) is mandatory, and regardless of what nice and sweet promises we're given at the beginning (like the benefits you claim we'd get), the end product would be the result of continuous tax increases and cuts in benefits. Look at the original promises of Social Security and look at it now - all those tax increases and benefit cuts later.

You may think my fears are tin hat, but with all due respect (and I mean that), I think your dreams are pie in the sky. We'll eventually have a program in which everyone has to participate, but the doctor choice and lack of bills you cite is just not realistic. I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree on this one, but I really do enjoy the talk.