Funny that capitalism and profit motive have such an evil reputation when, historically, bees were revered by several very civilized nations, such as Persia and Greece, for being a symbol of mutually beneficial interaction and how business should be done as a civilizing force.
There are inherent challenges in monetizing healthcare. It isn't better to expect it by default to be "free" as the solution to that. But I don't think that means we can't keep our eyes on the prize. Ultimately, healthcare should primarily improve health and welfare.
I once read a witty piece that I only poorly remember that used the expression the bottom line to make the point that while a business does need to be profitable, profit should be its lowest priority. Accomplishing something useful and beneficial should be the main goal. Money is a necessity to keep the doors open, but you shouldn't actually be in the business of milking your customers for every penny, especially if that means doing other questionable things to get there.
> very civilized nations, such as Persia and Greece
Eh, maybe back then, but today they would be seen as worse than ISIS. Pederasty and slavery are wholly intolerable. We've taken their good ideas and run with them, leaving the vast amount of horrible ones behind.
That said, you are totally correct. The modern corporation would be anathema to people from 150 years ago. Corporations were very tightly controlled by the state for a very long time due to the potential for vast profits to warp politics (also due to antisemitism, class-ism, and racism; the usual)
One of my favorite college professors gave me the expression "I am the primitive of my way."
Whatever else was going on in Persia and Greece, there are reasons they were considered shining beacons. I think one of those reasons was their concept of trade as a civilizing force, superior to, say, raiding your neighbors and just taking whatever you could get.
That concept of trade as a civilizing force seems somewhat lost these days and I think we are worse off for forgetting it.
I realize you are mostly agreeing with me. This would no doubt go better in person. Conversational tone is really hard to convey online.
There are inherent challenges in monetizing healthcare. It isn't better to expect it by default to be "free" as the solution to that. But I don't think that means we can't keep our eyes on the prize. Ultimately, healthcare should primarily improve health and welfare.
I once read a witty piece that I only poorly remember that used the expression the bottom line to make the point that while a business does need to be profitable, profit should be its lowest priority. Accomplishing something useful and beneficial should be the main goal. Money is a necessity to keep the doors open, but you shouldn't actually be in the business of milking your customers for every penny, especially if that means doing other questionable things to get there.
To my mind, that should go double for healthcare.