American medical system is pure gotcha capitalism and extortion with an ostensible patina of restraint. Medical shouldn't be for-profit and shouldn't be a driver of bankruptcy, but those with legislative ability are on the take from big pharma and big medical to make it even more lopsided, anti-choice, expensive, and anti-consumer. There can be no reform from within a political system that refuses to restrain itself with campaign finance reform. There isn't much hope but large scale, grassroots, nonviolent rebellion to first remedy the political operating system that is a prerequisite for enduring change on any issue that cannot be bought and undone by crooked politicians.
I couldn't agree more. We pay top dollar for second-rate healthcare in the US, and the involvement of a wide array of for-profit corporations is a very large part of why that is.
It's more like third- or forth-rate. The US healthcare has worse outcomes than many other countries. Michael Moore's "Where to Invade Next?" and "Sicko" dive into this issue. The US ranks last in healthcare amongst top economies.
