Hi wavydog,
How is your incredulity justified?
Here's a chart showing how, on its own, the private sector in the US manages healthcare costs (measured as a share of GDP).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Health_costs_USA_GDP.gif
Here's a chart comparison between the cost of government run or government-private sector mixed systems (basically everyone else) and the current US insurance-run private system as a percentage of GDP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:International_Comparison_-_Healthcare_spending_as_%25_GDP.png
In the face of this, I find myself astonished at your basic assumptions! You think a comparison between Obamacare and the status quo favours the status quo?
Is the US government uniquely incapable amongst governments? That is what you are suggesting, I suppose.
Obamacare is not the system I would have selected (I think Medicare expansion is probably the best option). But it is one small step better than the awful, expensive system in place right now. Apparently anything else is described by Republicans as socialised medicine. Oh well. I guess the label is meant to be scary.
If you want to learn about healthcare economics, try Kenneth Arrow.
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