If one look at American History, it is pretty clear that we have moved further and further away from true capitalism as Adam Smith intended it. Many necessary social structures have been put in place- such as social security, welfare, and food stamps- that give American society a more balanced distribution of resources. We’ve come a long way from the days pre FDR’s new deal.
For some reason, however, up until very recently, our healthcare system has stayed outdated throughout the second half of the twentieth century. As our European counterparts implemented healthcare structures to ensure that health was something available, America simply stood by and watched as it got more and more privatized. As the reading stressed, we simply have not, as a nation, viewed healthcare as something that society owes to its populace.
As we move into the future, placing healthcare on the same level as our other social works project is a necessity. We have subsidized housing, food stamps, and unemployment insurance. How can it be that only the very poorest among us get assistance from the government in the most vital area of all, our health?
