National Health Care

Dear Victorious,

What do you think of socialized medicine? Is it necessary? Would it be better?

R.L. - Santa Cruz, CA

Dear R.L.,

I'm not sure what I think. I don't have enough facts to feel like I have an educated opinion. I've read many pros and cons. It appears to me that most Americans get what medical care they need most of the time. So in that sense, it seems as if our current system (of private health care) works.

On the other hand, I'm not blind to the fact that millions of Americans are being marginalized economically ... forced to the periphery of fiscal society. So it seems likely that their access to health care will also be eroded.

Is socialized medicine necessary? I suspect it may be. The alternative is for them to be deadbeats, not paying for the medical services they get - and raising the prices for the rest of us. Or we could let them die earlier. To be honest, I don't see such alternatives as being very rational or sustainable.

It may be that socialized medicine in some form or fashion, is the lesser of the evils.