By Curious George

I’m new to this field as a professional working in health care. Up ‘till now, I’ve only been its victim of its explosive costs; albeit one who has been brilliantly cured, helped and mended many times.

Before daring to make any suggestion about reform, however, I’d love to hear from others to see if I understand the problem. I’m a little confused. Do I have the following view of the situation right?

The United States is the last industrial nation that can’t seem to take care of the health needs of about a quarter of its population without squawking and sacrifice.

Despite this, we have a de facto health education system that ensures a constant undersupply of trained professionals in such a way as to guarantee constant demand and a large reading audience for such waiting-room pillars of culture like People and Us magazines.

Despite this undersupply, we’ve constructed a health care education system that guarantees the vast majority of graduates are so far in debt that their only choice is to become workaholic slaves to health care plantations. Of course, with steady work and a diligent effort they can clear themselves of this debt in time to realize that their only remaining choice is to stay in the system, make more money, and pledge that no one rocks the boat.

And setting the national health agenda, we have two giant industries whose only concern is our well-being: insurance and drugs. With record-breaking profits from an otherwise dysfunctional system, these two industries spread their wealth with obscene management salaries and much-needed gifts, contributions, golf and travel for our poor, over-worked elected leaders.

So, perhaps you can understand why I’m confused. Where’s the problem?