Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain - and most fools do Dale Carnegie It is much easier sitting in front of my computer throwing stones at the glass house of Obamacare than actually fixing health care in America.
Ardent critics such as myself have an obligation to offer alternatives, particularly because I agree the medical system has serious problems.
Coming back to my analogy, which characterizes the American health care system as a huge house of cards, changes must be made without destroying the foundations of the edifice, as the system must still function during any transition.
First, I would make sure all children are insured, using medicaid or some variant.
Access to vaccinations, routine checkups, and treatment for childhood diseases would be relatively inexpensive and have widespread benefits.
Treating children, and avoiding the complications of childhood diseases is a moral imperative, and will probably save money.
It is also the only change that would receive universal bipartisan support.
Secondly, I would address the problems of Medicare.
Medicare commitments have been made by the government, and millions of seniors are dependent upon it for care.
Nevertheless, the funding projections are based upon completely unrealistic assumptions, such as yearly reductions in doctor compensation and stable levels of diabetes.
The medicare system is due to run out of money in the near future, and a clear path to addressing these problems must be discussed.
Raising taxes, changing the age of eligibility, placing income restrictions or limiting care levels have all been suggested as solutions.
However, Congress has refused honestly debate the impact of these alternatives, and seem to be ignoring the impending implosion until it manifests.
My suggestion is to slowly raise the eligibility age, a month at a time, until the funding shortfall is overcome.
The negative consequences would accrue slowly and could be easily anticipated, especially if such a program is implemented soon.
Finally, I would remove all cross-state restrictions upon insurance companies.
Allowing companies form one state to sell in another would increase supply and increase coverage options.
Although not a panacea, the increased competition would probably lower costs and make coverage easier to obtain, at no new cost to taxpayers.
These reforms will be an improvement, but will not solve our health care problems.
Large numbers of Americans would remain uninsured, and costs would not be reduced.
In my next posting, I will make amore radical suggestion, more to come.