Not Everything in America Has to Make a Profit
How about this for a New Rule: Not everything in America has to make a profit. It used to be that there were some services and institutions so vital to our nation that they were exempt from market pressures. Some things we just didn’t do for money. The United States always defined capitalism, but it didn’t used to define us. But now it’s becoming all that we are.
Did you know, for example, that there was a time when being called a “war profiteer” was a bad thing? But now our war zones are dominated by private contractors and mercenaries who work for corporations. There are more private contractors in Iraq than American troops, and we pay them generous salaries to do jobs the troops used to do for themselves – like laundry.
Prisons used to be a non-profit business, too. And for good reason – who the hell wants to own a prison? By definition you’re going to have trouble with the tenants. But now prisons are big business. A company called the Corrections Corporation of America is on the New York Stock Exchange, which is convenient since that’s where all the real crime is happening anyway.
The CCA and similar corporations actually lobby Congress for stiffer sentencing laws so they can lock more people up and make more money. That’s why America has the world;s largest prison population – because actually rehabilitating people would have a negative impact on the bottom line.
And finally, there’s health care. It wasn’t that long ago that when a kid broke his leg playing stickball, his parents took him to the local Catholic hospital, the nun put a thermometer in his mouth, the doctor slapped some plaster on his ankle and you were done. The bill was $1.50, plus you got to keep the thermometer.
But like everything else that’s good and noble in life, some Wall Street wizard decided that hospitals could be big business, so now they’re run by some bean counters in a corporate plaza in Charlotte. In the U.S. today, three giant for-profit conglomerates own close to 600 hospitals and other health care facilities. They’re not hospitals anymore; they’re Jiffy Lubes with bedpans.
America’s largest hospital chain, HCA, was founded by the family of Bill Frist, who perfectly represents the Republican attitude toward health care: it’s not a right, it’s a racket. The more people who get sick and need medicine, the higher their profit margins. Which is why they’re always pushing the Jell-O.
Because medicine is now for-profit we have things like “recision,” where insurance companies hire people to figure out ways to deny you coverage when you get sick, even though you’ve been paying into your plan for years.
When did the profit motive become the only reason to do anything? When did that become the new patriotism? Ask not what you could do for your country, ask what’s in it for Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
If conservatives get to call universal health care “socialized medicine,” I get to call private health care “soulless vampires making money off human pain.” The problem with President Obama’s health care plan isn’t socialism, it’s capitalism.
5 users commented in " Not Everything in America Has to Make a Profit "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI am a union brother not a war profiteer but a man earning a living, a man who believes in sacrificing for my family in order to give them a better life. I do not expect to be given a “stimulus” job that is paid for by my neighbor’s children and grandchildren. My healthcare is part of my negotiated package, want the same, join a union. I hope when you look at those who put themselves in harm’s way you will think about why we are here doing what used to be standard MOS positions, do you know why? To look it up start with William Cohen, LOGCAP One, or Kosovo.
I am certain your article meant no disrespect. But it hit a nerve with a Brother on the ground doing the job I was hired to do for the pay they offered. 7/12’s for 7/12’s, just like home.
A Brother In The Sand!
I am a union brother also . I don’t want the government controlling anything with my health care . They have screwed up evry single thing they have ever gotten their hands on . Do you want your health care to work like the public school system ? They spend three times the amount of our tax dollars per student , to do less than half as good a job . Do you want the ” elected Vampires ” sucking all of your money dry with all of their pet projects and pork barrel spending before you even get a chance to see a doctor ? I think not !
No . I’ll take my chances with capitalism , thank you . As long as they are Americans making money on wall street , and hiring Americans , I’ll stick with good old American capitalism . If you want commie health care , then I suggest you start a union in Cuba .
You deleted my comment from yesterday ! How typical of communist !
Wayne or Shockhazard, not sure which name you prefer. Noticed both messages came from the same IP and email address.
I didn’t delete your reply it’s still there.
Although I may disagree with you on some of the issues, I respect your opinion.
My opinion is that health care in this country should be a right, not a privilege. The insurance companies are making billions while regular hard working Americans are going without health care.
We simply can’t afford to continue on the path we are currently on. Everyone in our country deserves health care and shouldn’t have to worry about going bankrupt trying to pay for it, or having to choose between medical care and buying groceries or paying rent.
Mark,
Your right no disrespect was intended for you or anyone else serving overseas. The War Profiteers the article spoke about are the corporations that make up the military industrial complex. Something that Ike warned us about in the 1950’s.
Corporations and corrupt government officials that hide behind patriotism and propaganda, mostly concerned with their own agenda, making money.
In brotherhood,
Hallslug
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