I'd rather have cheap healthcare thanks
South Korea also has single payer and has equal gov't GDP consumption as the USA.
We know this is possible, because the USA used to have it in living memory.
The US social contract was largely predicated on the idea that subsidizing citizens to obtain housing would lead them to be stable and productive workers/consumers and avoid communist tendencies.
Of course, communism is not now a threat and we are likewise not seeing such public investment in any common vision for a renewed social contract.
The real driving force was that wage growth massively outpaced costs. After the war ended it was routine to pay off a 15 year mortgage a decade early, because real wages rose so much. Similarly, our current lousy situation is the result of median real wages staying flat for decades.
And there was a baby boom and a more economically engaged female population, creating new kinds of demands and opportunities for productivity.
If you look back at your history, you'll see that this only applied to the already wealthy part of the US for the most part, and for the most part the white people only.
This happy state of affairs was during the adulthood of the generation that grew up during the depression. The vast majority of the US population was poor, including those living in the cities.
> for the most part the white people only.
The USA was something like 95% white at the time, so how is this a helpful contribution to the conversation?
Is it really so hard to do simple research? In 1945 African-Americans were 10% of the population vs the current 12.6%.
-> Make premiums deductible for people, not companies, severing the tie to employment.
-> Require service providers to post prices so people know what the hell things cost.
-> Allow sales across state lines to increase competition.
-> Educate the public on what insurance is for (unexpected costs they can't afford). Your auto insurance doesn't cover oil changes.
The problem isn't lack of government - the problem is government.
Government provides services very poorly. And if you'd rather they did provide health care? Immigrate somewhere where they do.
The... somewhat jab at the end was directed towards those in the US constantly complaining about how "such and such country does it better." My reply has become: so move there! Virtually every country in the world accepts immigrants who are willing to contribute. If someone believes another country is far preferable based on their policies, I believe they should vote with their citizenship and move there.
I've moved once and I'm preparing at some point to do it again. But sadly not everyone can afford that, and that's the same people who stay awake at night worrying about their healthcare costs.