Is our US privatized health system worth it if it means losiing US jobs?

Question

I just learned that 3 years ago that some US car makers, after making cars in the US for 100 years, have started manufacturing more cars in Canada than the US.

The reason? US health costs tack more than $6,000 on to the manufacturing cost of each car while in Canada health care costs only add about $800 to the cost of each car.

It stands to reason that few people around the world are willing to pay $5000 extra per car just to support health care costs for Americans, so American car manufacturers made a 'survival' decision by building factories up in Canada--and Americans have lost jobs in the car industry, just as we have in other industries.

Is our US privatized medical health care system worth it if it means costing US jobs? Isn't this a case to be made for socialized medicine?

Answer 1

I think it might actually create jobs in the long run.  Heres how:  Many talented people are stuck working for a lousy company because they need the health insurance.  If they didnt have that headache, they would be free to start their own busineses and produce products here instead of overseas.  

Answer 2

People are going overseas to get the job done, World is getting flatter honey.

Answer 3

Where did you get these figures? Canada does not tack 800. onto car costs for health care. It is paid for out of taxes such as GST etc.

As for you losing jobs to Canada think again.USA car manufacturers

have just closed factories in Ontario and thrown 10s of thousands of

auto workers out of jobs If they just did that why would they built

more factories.I think your reasoning and your stats are lacking

evidence.

Answer 4

I wouldn't say socialized medicine. That conveys the poor examples of socialist theory like the USSR. A single-payer system would allow private practices but at regulated and fair prices, all paid by our taxes.

To answer your question, no, it's not worth it to keep what we have. It's worth it to the profit-making health care companies and its stockholders, but not to the majority of US citizens and a large sector of business. For decades public opinion has made it very clear that a majority favor a significant alteration of our system of health care, but now that businesses like car companies are raising the issue it is covered more in the press and appears somewhatwhich politically feasible. That tells you how meaningless our democracy is.

Answer 5

Very good point. If only you could get the conservatives to understand that their waiting times are not the only issue in existence.