Michael Moore and Health Care

Michael Moore is attacking the US health system, and is advocating a socialized, universal health plan. He points out fact that that the United States is far behind many countries, mostly European in life expectancy, infant morality rates, and other health related stats. Many of these countries have socialized medicine. Looks like maybe Mike has a point, huh?

But this isn't the whole story. All of the countries ahead of us don't have anywhere near the population the United States does. It is obviously easier to take care of ten million than three hundred million. Throw in the fact that we have a high immigration rate, and that most immigrants are poor, and our health care system doesn't look so shabby.

These countries, for the most part, also have very high tax rates. Yes, high taxes provide for free health care, as well as providing governments bureaucrats with jobs, but they tend to stifle economic growth. This may be why the United States has a higher GNP than the whole European Union combined. Look at the industries of Canada, Denmark, and Sweden, all countries with high tax rates. What do you see them producing? Who is making all the electronic equipment? Cars? Not the near Socialist countries. Its is the United States and Japan. Is it worth sacrificing our economy on the altar of free, socialized health care?