Documentary
Why would
Canadians be interested in watching a Scotsman take a look at the American
healthcare system? Because this examination, of how capitalism and socialism
impact healthcare costs, is very relevant for us too.
The film’s director and producer,
Colin Gunn, is Presbyterian and consequently a capitalist. We Reformed folks know
that the heart of man is wicked, so we are well aware that if an economic
system needs men to be angels – as socialism does, requiring us to labor for no
personal benefit – then that is a unworkable economic system. We know better
than to be socialists.
But for
some reason we don’t seem to think that holds true for healthcare. This comes
out most strongly when Canadians, even the Reformed ones, start talking about
healthcare with their American cousins. Then we seem to be quite proud of the socialistic
nature of our healthcare system, which “costs us nothing, and is free for
everyone.” But, of course, that isn’t really so. It certainly isn’t free – the
costs are simply not seen, paid out in taxes, so that Canadians have very
little idea of how much their healthcare really does cost. And that everyone is
covered doesn’t distinguish it all that much from American healthcare, where everyone
can get emergency care, and where more and more of the population is covered by
the government-run Medicare. As Gunn points out, the American system is almost
as socialistic as the Canadian.
Gunn’s main
argument is that a good dose of capitalism would be good for what ails the American system. His most telling
observation was that in the American system no one knows what the costs will be
beforehand. There is no public pricing chart, and so no way of comparing what
one hospital might charge versus another. And without an awareness of how much
things might costs, there is no genuine competition. You can’t have capitalism
without competition. So if we want to reform healthcare, this might be the first place we need to start: public pricing!
I'd highly recommend this documentary – it is a
brilliant argument by a Christian filmmaker who has perfected his craft. The content is superb: Gunn has assembled an impressive cast of experts from
around the world to make his case. And the presentation is even better: there are fun little
animated bits, and great narration, and a wonderful story arc – this is
packaged up nicely, and tied up at the end with a bow.
Who should
see this? Anyone who thinks socialism is the answer to our healthcare needs. You can buy a copy at Amazon.com by clicking here.
Wait Till It's Free (Trailer) from Wait Till It's Free on Vimeo.