Crystal balls are for witches and warlocks. They're unbefitting for
Presidents and their economic advisors or cabinet members. They
may work well with occultists but are impractical for pragmatic
Christians. Nation-states has a better chance of following in Gilgamish's
path, that of finding everlasting life, than solving the healthcare
problem of today. One country thought it knew the answer, but has since
resolved the effort as just a whimsical ploy.
On the issue of healthcare, it is very nail biting. Countries around
the globe choose to pin the bull by the horns best they can, then breathe
a sigh of relief, and forget another go round with the beast altogether.
For example, Sweden's healthcare system is nationalized but not
centralized. And everyone in Sweden is entitled to free healthcare. Sounds
like make believe but it's not. However, in order to provide, what's in
appearance only, comprehensive healthcare, the Swedish government must
increase taxes. That is to say, Sweden's tax rate is one of the highest in
the world.
Moreover, the opportunity cost for such a system means less disposable
income for Swedish consumers and consequently a rather modest GDP. In the
short and long-term this has to impact capital investment because there will
be less savings during inflationary phases. In addition, on the other hand,
Sweden is moving toward an overall healthy nation-state, but one that consumes
less. Which should be judged as marginally satisfactory.
What is needed are preventative healthcare programs in Sweden to encourage
better healthcare management, in diet, exercise, reduced cigarette and alcohol
consumption, while the government enacts stricter environmental controls on air
pollution, dumping, emissions, and toxic waste. (Bear in mind companies that
use oil to run their factory machines, fossil fuels, such as, grounds keeping
equipment, gasoline generators, etc., must for the short run continue to use
these fossil fuels or risk production loss.) Collaboratively, such a plan for
better health has a chance of working. As people become habituated to regular
exercise, quit smoking and drinking, while companies curb chemical dumping and
smoke stack pollution, cost to the consumer for healthcare should start to go
down. And as more people become healthier and less dependent on physicians cost
all across the board should rationally decline. This theoretically should
eventually drive government taxes down too, while increasing disposable income
providing the consumer with more purchasing power to buy more goods and
services.
Thus stimulate production and subsequently investment and open the door to
greater urban development and jobs for the poor.
All these components I mentioned working together should overtime create a
healthier nation-state, with people living healthier, longer lives. But
something this simple couldn't possibly work. Well not totally anyway. Everything
said above is possible but in Sweden's case things are not as they appear as I
made mention in the beginning. For one, their [Sweden's] resolve to raise or
lower taxes is decentralized all the way through to municipalities. So while
taxes for the wealthy may be high at the apex of the income pyramid, progressive,
taxes for the middle to lower classes at the other end may be low to next to
nothing, but may only be marginally regressive. And that will depend on such
things as migrations, production costs, job loss to competition, healthcare cost,
immigration and a whole host of other factors that can influence a change in the
tax rate and its affects.
Sweden's healthcare system based on high taxes has been marginally successful
at most. Meaning the government will need to refine the system or get nowhere as
unforeseen consequences continue to develop, and take its toll on defeating the
poverty crisis.
Note: These unplanned for consequences are often unforeseen as well as
unbridled. They consist of doctor's fees, high cost of medical technology,
specialists, surgery, hospital stays, and insurance. A cap on all these
components of rising healthcare cost will drive cost down, but could undervalue
quality healthcare as a result. Further, the competitive component serves only to
drive cost down, but can't forecast economic trends.
Thomas Malthus said, "The power of population is indefinitely greater than the
power in the earth to produce subsistence for man." I think he meant that the food
supply will forever lag behind the population growth. If this is a true maxim, than
healthcare for every person everywhere in the world may never seize the bull by
the horns and bring him down permanently.
Sweden has learned that as taxes dwindles in the cities, towns, counties and
municipalities taxes at the other end also dwindles, which weakens the overall
tax revenue base needed to provide quality healthcare for all. Sweden's healthcare
model of high taxes to resolve the healthcare issue of every Swedish citizen is an
unsuccessful one, and should be studied for its marginal gains only. That is to say,
where they have fallen short one should analyze these shortcomings for their benefit
to other reformers in other countries, meaning not as what you should do, but as
what you should not do.
Finally, the fact that the imbalance between population growth and the food
supply does have a strong direct correlation to the health of the nation-state,
since technology is unable to eliminate this nemesis totally. Therefore, to
discourage men and women from producing large families within the state could bring
about a proper balance. And in the end may produce the objectives each nation-state
is seeking. Overall quality healthcare for nearly all of its citizens.
In addition to writing commentaries, poetry and novels, I am one half of the macbrothers, Inc. We are songwriters and not artists or performers. We write music for others to perform or record. I do not do tours since I am not an artist. Like I said, we write & record our own songs and release them for purchase online. However, we are interested in nonprofessional or professional artists seeking songs. If you are an artist interested in songs for your album please email me. I will send you the demo and lyrics (and any changes to the lyrics), or you can listen online to our songs readily.
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