School Lunch

The local High School District decided to privatize their cafeteria lunch program this year. This was done as a way to trim salaries from the school budget.

My son tells me that, all in all, the new meal program is a significant improvement from the one that was run by the school district. The overall quality of the food has improved, and the students can now choose from two different menu items. In addition, depending on the student’s appetite and budget, they can choose either a regular or double-sized portion. The students really prefer this new system. On the downside, the cost of the meals has risen by 10 or 20%.

Many might see some parallels between this school lunch program and health care reform. By instituting ‘Obama-Care’, the country will be moving in the opposite direction of the school district, converting a system that currently is largely privatized and converting it to one run by the government. The end result will be some minor savings, but we will loose a lot of quality and freedom of choice in the exchange.

While both sides of the health care reform argument has their pros and cons, neither side addresses the third side of this argument – the side that I wholeheartedly support. Namely, why can’t we have both?

Proponents in both camps like to think in absolutes – it’s one way or the other. Plus, they will try to convince that there is no middle ground. But there is really no reason why we can’t have a basic, government run health care system and the option to pay for more preferential service.

My daughter is spending a semester abroad in a country with nationalized health care. While she is finding the quality of health care to be excellent, she is challenged and frustrated by the bureaucracy associated with the system. For example, you can only call to make an appointment between 8AM and 9AM. While this ay be fine for most people, some might find it oppressive, and be willing to pay extra for the privilege of having better access to the health care provider. Actually, this is already happening in our current system – many entrepreneurial physicians are limiting their practices to just 400 or 500 patients, and charging them each a substantial annual fee for 24/7 access to the doctor. Many patients are more than happy to pay for this kind of service. While some may find these doctor’s actions repulsive, I see nothing wrong with this approach – why shouldn’t a doctor be able to offer this kind of service? This is America, after all, and we should be able to let the free market decide if this type of arrangement should exist or not.

Opponents to this type of arrangement might argue that health care should not be treated like a commodity, but why not? After all, if everyone is getting the health care that they need, why shouldn’t everyone be given the option of paying for the same health care being delivered in a little nicer package? Do you really think that a US Senator would agree to be restricted to making an appointment between 8AM and 9AM? Don’t kid yourself – whatever national health care entails, there will always be people who are able to rise above the system. Why not embrace the idea?

It’s like the new school lunch program. Every kid is getting the nutrition they need. Some are getting it in the basic lunch of chicken croquets, and others, who are willing to pony up the additional 50 cents, are getting it in the form of Kung Po chicken. The most important thing is that no one is starving.

Pass the ketchup, please.

***** Found this Interesting, Entertaining or Informative? Please read the complete blog at: *****
http://healthcarehullabalo.blogspot.com/


Free Blog Counter