“The Healthcare Fix” – Laurence Kotlikoff. The book is clear and concise, an easy read. Mr. Kotlikoff very plainly explains the mess that our health care system is in and gives us detailed plans for starting our way out of that mess. Think that we don’t have universal health care coverage? Of course we do it just isn’t pretty or fair and it is very expensive and inefficient. Think that he government isn’t very involved in our health care? Of course they are to the tune of covering 100 million people in some way with Medicare and Medicaid (that is one out of every three people). In addition to covering their care our government spends another 200 billion dollars supporting the system that covers the rest of the population. Are you of the opinion that the government has no business providing or ensuring such a thing as medical coverage for the people? Is that thought too “paternalistic”? Then what about our already paternalistic activities that I bet you don’t mind? He is talking about our government assurances and provision for protecting private property, providing a basic education, supporting housing (and that includes tax subsidies for every property owner in the country), providing for legal representation, ensuring a safe and healthy environment, providing for equal opportunity in education and employment and already providing health in the form of mandatory immunizations for children and emergency medical treatment (just call 911 and you will not only get care you will even get a ride to the hospital)?
