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[–] Proeliator 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Being right of centre and a socialist may not be mutually exclusive depending on the political climate. I think the overton window is probably further to the left in Australia than the US.
You got a college degree, three years of rent, and life long medical coverage for free. That's great for you, but it isn't really free. Your government had to take money from other people to be able to give you those services. That's the issue that I have with socialism. When a government provides services it does it using money that it took from people by force, and it doesn't do it as efficiently as a free market, because there is no profit incentive, because it can take money by force.
[–] Melbourne43 [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I agree with you but I'm sceptical about the efficiency of the free market. Also, whatever I cost back then I have more than dutifully paid back and then some in taxes ever since. I 'think' I believe in small government, although as you point out, the definition depends on perspective. For me, the government should manage the basics: health, education, welfare, defence etc. So, whilst I believe in public funded education, I'd significantly cull the number of available places.
When I was studying economics in the mid-'80s (UK), all the discussion was about how the privately funded health model in the US was so efficient, what a disaster our crumbling NHS was comparatively etc. Now, looking back, it looks like the American model is broken and the NHS is exemplary. The 'invisible hand' of the free market is definitely the most efficient on a theoretical level but breaks down at large scale with corruption/lobbying etc.
[–] Proeliator 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
I have not studied the NHS or had much any experience in the healthcare system in the US either, but I can tell you that the American model is far from a free market. Health insurance companies can't even sell policies across state lines. In my opinion one of the reasons that the health care system in the US is so screwed up is because of insurance and regulations about it. It obfuscates costs and leads to incidents where there are exorbitant costs for things like band-aids and aspirin because of caps on repayments to insurance companies.
I would like to see an end to health insurance all together, and see more places like the Oklahoma surgery center. Health insurance only began because of wage controls put in place by FDR. Companies weren't able to offer employees higher wages, so they gave them health coverage instead. The only time that I see the invisible hand break down is when the government interferes; for example, granting corporate status and special benefits that come with it. Getting rid of some of those special status's is something I can agree with Sanders on.