I’m not advocating that doctors not make money. They spend a lot of years in medical school and rack up enough medical school costs that’d choke a horse. However, the U.S. system is so uneven, so out of control, and so unfair and as usual we, the non-rich pay dearly for the excesses and for an HMO process I’ve never been able to understand.

But, it’s not just greedy doctors, and unethical pharmaceutical companies that are driving the costs of medicine and bleeding the country dry. What about the sleazy lawyers who push patients to sue for astronomical amounts of cash, even for simple things like a splinter? (My cousin in-law in Virginia is an excellent mid-wife and instructor. She’s knowledgeable, compassionate, and dedicated. More than twice, she’s contemplated quitting the profession because she and her husband say that the medical insurance is killing them).

But, the bottom line is the AMA wields more power than even the MTA (imagine that) and no person or entity is neither willing to give up that power, nor share the power/ benefits. Like the financial industry, the banks, and major corporations in the world of medicine, too many people would earn less money and they are not willing to give up a dollar for the good of the many.

And another thing!! whose to say that under a more socialized/civilized system we’d have to wait months before seeing a doctor. In November of 2007, I tried making an appointment with a knee specialist. I was told that the doctor could not see me until late February of 2008—of course I moved on. Only recently, my primary care doctor’s calendar was so full, I had to wait a month and a half before getting a date.

Gyrl, I’m slowly coming to the conclusion that the only road to change is anarchy by the masses. Unfortunately, history has proven that such revolution and upheaval has lead to tyranny and oppressive governments. I pray that the American people are smart enough to not be swayed by Obama’s detractors and patient enough to allow him to enact change.