Comments on: Beware Ken Henry’s Tax Reforms

By: Kim Willis

Kim Willis — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 02:32:48 +0000

The US health system is anything but a free market. It’s a rigged market in favour of the vested interests that control it, and make money from it (eg medical equipment suppliers).

I would like to see a completely different approach, in favour of a free market model. Now that would be a welcome change. It works in other industries, so what’s so special about the health care sector?

By: Nanette

Nanette — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 04:39:11 +0000

I completely disagree with you in regards to the health care system. Yes there is a tremendous amount of money waisted – mainly in the managment/middle management section and yes the private hospitals run many times more efficiently than the public ones, but we do not want a health care system than runs as a free market if it looks anything like the USA health care system. I don’t know what the answer is but at the moment every person in Australia has access to health care and if the condition needs urgent attention then it is seen to straight away. I do agree that the system needs major improvement and needs to be much more efficient.

By: Alan M

Alan M — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:18:25 +0000

RE: Distribution of wealth
The Government is basically a spending body, a group of people that during their term must be seen to be doing something. Before you can do stuff you need to have money so you need to collect it!
Spending this collected money allows them to collect even more money…hmm…bit like compound interest.

By: David

David — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:04:43 +0000

To compare health care and plasma televisions for an efficient market economy is a very simplistic argument (disappointing to see you would put them side-by-side). They aren't Oranges and Oranges. Health care involves citizens lives and there many checks and balances to try and ensure a good quality services is rendered, although the Jyant Patel AKA Dr Death do sneak through the cracks. Undoubtedly if the supply of doctors was high, health care cost would be market-efficient but how many people actually get the study results to get into medicine and then actually make it though the process? We could of course let more people study medicine but what would the repercussions be? Plasma televisions on the other hand are a much simpler product to import and sell. If it fails, you'vegot consumer protection and warranty and most importantly you aren't going to die. In economics terms you are trying to compare elastic vs. inelastic items.