Jul 3, 2012 -- 3:07PM, Jasr wrote:

Jul 3, 2012 -- 12:00PM, Bodean wrote:

Jul 3, 2012 -- 9:33AM, Cesmom wrote:

In a perfect world, health insurance and healthcare would all be nonprofit.

Well Cesmom ...

You could say in a "perfect world" healthcare, food, energy, shelter, clothes, transportation, communication, etc ... would all be non-profit.

The only problem is, in your perfect world, little would exists, because there'd be no incentive to create new medicine, better energy, more efficient transportation, or communication.

Mediocrity would be "good enough" in a perfect world.

Bo, I strongly disagree.

New medicines are not developed because insurance companies can profit from health care without adding appropriate value. They are developed because they solve medical problems. New Medicines are purchased by public and non-profit health care systems just as they are purchased by private ones.

The province of Quebec is almost completely powered by the massive hydroelectric assets of Hydro Quebec. The Baie James project was developed under the auspices of Hydro Quebec, a corporation wherein the province retains a controlling interest.

Train travel in Europe is quite efficient, and far from mediocre.

The internet was originally a DARPA project.

The profit motive does not have to exist at every stage of economic activity. In fact, the profit motive adds considerable friction and waste in some situations...the best example being unregulated banking and health insurance.

Bombardier.

The massive biotech industry in Montréal.

CEGEPs, drivers of innovation...UQAM.....

Get to know the world outside of Slocumville, USA.   It couldn't hurt.