understanding opportunity and risk

minimising future risk       creating sustainable advantage       creating opportunity

THE HEALTHCARE DEBATE August, 2009

We all hear many, many people talking about "doing the right thing" and helping "one's fellow man" in which ever particular circumstances their words may be relevant to. In reality, however, talk is cheap and actions really do speak louder than words.

The reality we experience across many societies is the rule of self interest above all else, even when this is to the obvious detriment of others. People are largely motivated by self interest. Not all the time of course, but we have to face facts - it is a major driver towards action or inaction. Self interest drives people. Short term self interest drives them even more - hence the global financial crisis ... and it would seem lessons have not been learned.

A much more major crisis is looming. This will be a crisis that will affect the long term viability of the US economy.

Completely leaving the moral imperative to one side, I cannot help but watch the healthcare debate in the US unfold with fascination and - to be honest - incredulity. Someone once told me that the US was the most progressive country in the world ... I guess they were not quite telling the truth, not if the current healthcare debate is anything to go by. It is embarrassing to see such a great country squabbling over greed. From this it is also very clear their economic might is not sustainable. This statement may be a shock to some for they consider the US to be economically invincible. But they are wrong.

Why?

Both education and healthcare are fundamentally linked to the productivity of a country. The level of access to good education and healthcare for a population is a major factor in determining the productivity of that population. If a country - any country - strives to be successful in these crucial times of a fast changing world they MUST have a healthy and educated population (and workforce) in order to produce in a sustainable manner, and in order to meet the increasing challenges we are all faced with. Any factor that undermines the wellbeing of a population and its ability to respond, it's ability to be productive, will decrease the sustainable economic performance of that population.

If the US seriously strives towards sustainable economic performance then it must address the range of factors feeding into the sustainability of success - and access to free healthcare is at the top of the list, or very near the top.

Ironically the people who employ shameful scare tactics to persuade against the implementation of free healthcare are usually those same people who frequently complain about migration into the US from the far flung regions of the world. And yet the main "pull" reasons for migration is the lack of capability and the lack of skills required by the country in order to continue with high levels of output, combined with an underproductive "underclass"  who do not have access to decent healthcare or education, who feels completely detached from and resentful towards the benefits of economic sustainability.

Imagine what might be achieved if the energy and ability of these people were harnessed?

It's simple really. Success works both ways. Individuals cannot expect the state to do everything for them. Likewise, the state cannot expect its population to be continuously productive if it receives little in return. As a first step, if a country wants to be economically successful it must look after the health of the country. Failure to do this will ultimately create a decreasing economic performance. Take a good look around the world today. Take a look at economic performance (including debt) and take a look at the health of the people who produce this performance. Can you see a link?

There can be little doubt. The world needs a strong and vibrant US. I can say this even as I'm not a US citizen. I am in a completely different part of the world - and this world would be a much darker place if the US was sickly and feeble. Take my word for it ... massive healthcare challenges and changes are on their way - soon. As a matter of necessity each country must be prepared for these. Free healthcare creates massive and widespread economic benefits. A lack of affordable healthcare creates benefits for a few - yet widespread economic disbenefit for everyone else - and undermines the sustainability of everyone.

The choice is clear. Profit will nearly always come before people. Yet the overall economic performance of an entire country is by far more important than the massive profits made by some in the health industry which consigns people to a dismal underclass. Surely we are all better than this.

Regards

JS

If you don't understand the risks, how can you prepare? Can you afford to let the issues be blurred?

The turbulent 21st century

life isn't black and white

central@alt3.co.uk