farmers profit off of people's hunger.
to paraphrase Adam Smith, "It is not from the benificence of the Butcher, the Baker, or the Brewer that we get our dinner, but by appealing to each of their self-interests"
Or in shorter form, profit=incentive.
IN order to become a doctor in our system, your looking at a minimum of 8 years. A general surgeon, add two years to that. Cardiac, neuro, or eye surgeon, add another three years. So what makes at least some of the best and brightest among us willing to take on that burden, when becoming a lawyer takes only seven, or a bond trader six years of schooling? The idea that they wil likely have a high and stable income when they get out.
The equation works the same way for the other specialties in the health care field, down to the guys who design and build CAT scanners and MRI machines.
Our society as a whole sends a lot of resources into healthcare because as a society we value good health and long life. We also value the independence that comewith not being required to care for elderly or infirm family members ourselves. Until one or both of these values changes, the upward pressure of healthcare spending will continue to increase. |
