Major differences in opinion on how economics is supposed to function, I suppose. I think I see where you're coming from, but I guess I just view that as a less efficient path.
No matter who gets the job done, we are talking about the efforts of individuals. If every individual works as hard and effectively as possible, the job will get done well in either situation. The only difference between my way and your way is the motivation of those individuals to do the work well.
I agree that the goal should be Health, but I don't trust people to be motivated by unselfish goals. They should be, but they aren't ever in any reliable way. I would not set out to build a structure as important as Healthcare on a foundation of trust in something I don't believe exists.
Don't get me wrong... If you and I were to be solely responsible for Healthcare, and somehow were able to get the job done, we would have pure motivation and I'm sure everything would be just peachy. Most people aren't wonderful like us. They don't get out of bed every morning because they can't wait to lend a helping hand. They get up to get to work so they can sell their time yet another day, in hopes of one day being able to buy a jetski.
Profit motivates people. Lack of Profit is a clear indication your methods for attaining it are flawed. Bankruptcy is the last step for stubborn and prideful companies. There are no negative consequences for the Healthcare system in your Social plan. My Capitalist plan forces the companies that participate to constantly tailor their methods to fit consumer demand better than their competition.
I understand all the old reasons why we should be scared to death of cold, heartless Capitalism. Here's a link to an incomplete concept you might appreciate.
http://www.4ranters.com/detail.php?id=20
The problems we associate with Capitalism do not stem from it's application. The problem is that we won't let it be fully applied. It's just too scary, I guess.
That's a whole nuther discussion, however... As I said above: I see your point, but I disagree that government control of anything that can be handled privately is in any way good or better. The closer the solution is to the problem, the more appropriate the solution is to that particular problem. The furthest thing from any of your problems within America is the Federal Government.
I'm going to go re-evaluate the beginnings of this thread. I'm starting to think that if I were to stop reading "Socialism" into everything I might be close to agreeing with whomever started this thing...