Dave Russell, who describes himself as a healthcare worker in Texas, shared Hacker's view about greed, profits and big business.
"As long as there is an uncontrolled profit motive available to the insurers and the drug companies, they will play by the rules and take full advantage. The insurers and pharmaceutical giants make record-breaking billion dollar profits year after year after year, and they spend those profits on making sure that our government actively supports them."
He continued, "We will not get any improvements in our healthcare as long as big business is in charge. Whether we like it or not, some form of socialized healthcare works because it controls what is totally out of control."
Jeffrey Taber, an MD based in Minnesota, might have touched the rawest nerve of all when he suggested, "No one ever thinks it's them, it's always the other guy. Even the patient blames everyone else but their own use or misuse of the health care system," Dr. Taber wrote.


That's a point endorsed by Ken Hunter who expressed somewhat of a minority opinion when he said, "I just don't believe that healthcare is as broke as some people--and the media--would like us to think. Yes, we have people without health care but look at the number who have it available and opt out." Echoing Dr. Taber, Hunter said, "there are too many people who make poor decisions and then want the rest of us to bail them out when that decision turns on them." Hunter also added this bon mot, "Any time the government gets involved prices go up and the quality goes down and that will be the fate of our health care."

DOTmed reader Allen Zacher concurred with the notion of an individual's culpability. "Health care will not be fixed until, and unless, the public starts taking responsibility for their own health by quitting smoking and excessive drinking, getting exercise and making smart personal choices." And, Zacher added, individuals have to agree to become more financially responsible for their healthcare.

Again personal responsibility was a point that resonated with Dr. J. Matthew Durham who wrote, "One of the core problems in our system is that it is not healthcare, it is sickness care. We were told growing up that, 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,' but when the caregivers are getting paid huge sums for 'cure' and nothing for prevention, guess which one gets treated. Our sickness care system has degenerated to the point that it is so bought and paid for by the drug companies, I don't feel that true healthcare will ever emerge out of it. Look at CMS's definition of prevention care. It sounds great. Then the last sentence says, 'but we don't cover that.'"

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