Okay, I am reaching far back in my memory here to when I was a little girl and there was only one phone company available to American consumers. Here is what I remember:
* I remember my dad slamming down the corded phone onto the receiver when he was disputing a bill that Bell wouldn't negotiate on. My dad doesn't slam down receivers on phones. For those of you who have met my dad, you surprised?
* I sketchy remember when the whole debate was before Congress to de-monopolize the Bell system and allow for other phone companies to compete for phone service.
* I remember if you needed/wanted a new telephone, you went to the Bell store and got to choose from the eight models they had. Most families chose a desk or wall mounted model in white, cream or black because it was the cheapest. When some of us became teenagers, our families bought the 18 foot curly que phone cord so us teens to stretch it to the hall closet and have privacy.
Remember those days? What has happened since the de-monopolizing of the phone system
* Technology has increased more in the last 25 years in telecommunications that it did in the 25 years before the de-monopolizing. Telephone companies are now competing for my dollars and I want the latest and greatest in my phone service.
* Technology includes, cordless phones, caller ID, cell phones and that encompasses, satellite phone services, choices in phones and what they can do for our individual needs, free long distance is as a standard, etc. None of that was even on the horizon as a thought to offer consumers in the 25 years preceding the de-monopolizing of Bell. Why? Bell had no reason to make phones better at all. They just provided their service and if you didn't like it, tough.
Why go down history lane and talk about this piece of modern history?
Simple......
Why in the world would I want to rely on a government monopoly of health care for my health care?
Scary.
Not because I am afraid I would lose the ability to use caller ID.
Maybe because when I need have a medically cutting edge need for health, I'll have more than the Bell customer service gal on the other end telling me "tough!" because companies are competing for my health care dollars, thereby having cutting edge technology for my needs.
Just a thought.
2 comments:
Should health care be dictated by capitalism?
I don't think it should be dictated, it should be driven by capitalism. Capitalism isn't all bad. It isn't at all perfect, but it certainly isn't bad. Goods and services competed for in a marketplace creates excellence in goods and services because there is competition for business.
Do I think there needs to be reform in health care? Certainly. I have had my share of frustrating phone calls with my insurance over what they will and will not cover, and I am the consumer. Not too unlike the call my dad had with Bell.
Do I think the answer is to end insurance companies and go to a non-market driven system? Slam dunk, no. Absolutely not.
I do not understand such extreme thinking on this issue from the proponents of universal, government controlled health care. Why can't we reform a system that 87% of consumers are happy with? We haven't even tried to reform it. Why throw it all out to create a monopoly that time and time again has shown does not work?
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