[jpgvm]

That is part of the problem, you have taken something that can be measured objectively and instead politicised it. Not a uniquely American phenomenon but definitely practiced most commonly there.

The system is without pros but that doesn't matter because of the existence of lobbyists. The American political system assigns representation proportionally by wealth of interests, that is just how it is.

You can see it play out over and over again from tobacco, oil, healthcare etc. Preservation of outsized corporate profits at the expense of normal people is simply the norm in America and is ingrained in its political system.

It has nothing to do with the pros and cons of actual healthcare provided to people (or the cost at which that care is provided), simply that those that stand to lose from making the system more efficient are willing to spend anything and everything to prevent that from happening.

Unfortunately too much of the American population are happy to be duped into thinking the current system is good in some way AND that they should tie their political identity to it's preservation regardless of the facts.

It's a tragedy tbh but maybe one day logic and economics will win out. Spending this much of GDP on healthcare is just stupidly inefficient, especially when you still have so many simply not seeking care because of the financial ramifications of doing so - cheating the economy out of their productivity.

[frumper]

All doom and gloom. Having experienced some very good treatments and excellent outcomes for my daughter, I have a different opinion than "the system is without pros".