Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Sicko? Not in the US!

Far from being perfect (rather, far from being free), the health care system in USA has many advantages - especially when compared to the national health care systems found in most counties in the West. Let the numbers speak a little:

In fact, Americans played a key role in 80 percent of the most important medical advances of the last 30 years. Eighteen of the last 25 winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine either are U.S. citizens or work here. (#)
But what about the poor who can't afford health insurance? A classic question and answered in the same way for every poor in every market: Let the rich pay full price for the best treatment, thereby pumping money into innovation and technology, that eventually will filter down the price-ladder and become "standard practice" for the poor. This applies for glasses, food, clothes, microwave ovens and cars. It simply - applies! Not fast enough, you say? Much faster than any tax-funded centralized 5-year plan the State has to offer, and you know it!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Water for life? Why not!

I just finished reading a very interesting report about privatized water. A short quote from the (conclusion of the) Conclusion-section:

Market based solutions to poverty and development should not be ignored: water privatisation has helped millions of people in the developing world. We should not let ideology get in the way of it.
This should come as no surprise for the libertarian mind (ideology indeed!). Market prices will always find their way into either supply or demand. In the case of water, it usually effects the supply-side, leading to great un-met demand. And since its water we're talking about, this means diseases, death and miserable conditions of life. So how about directing the killing-force of Government away from water and give millions of people a hope for a better, cleaner and longer life? At market price, of course!

Sunday, September 09, 2007

What is government?

"Government is basically parents for adults."
- Seinfeld, episode 4, series 5
Couldn't have said it better myself!