Virginia Postrel: How to Reform Health Care Without Killing Innovation
Former Reason magazine Editor in Chief Virginia Postrel has seen the strengths and the shortcomings of the American health care system both as a kidney donor and a breast cancer survivor.
She argues that individuals should be free to sell their organs, and that encouraging organ markets may be the best way to save the lives of the more than 100,000 Americans currently awaiting transplants.
A 2009 article Postrel wrote for the Atlantic Monthly highlights her experience with the ultra-expensive wonder drug, Herceptin, and the perils of centrally controlling health care costs.
Reason.tv’s Ted Balaker sat down with Postrel to discuss organ markets, wonder drugs, and how to reform health care without squashing innovation.
Interview by Ted Balaker. Shot by Hawk Jensen and Paul Detrick. Edited by Paul Detrick.
Music: “Something New” by Very Large Array (Magnatune Records).
Approximately nine-and-a-half minutes.
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To see Reason.tv’s health care play-list, go here.
Postrel, the editor in chief of the blog Deep Glamour, talks to Reason.tv about politics, style, and voter expectations at http://youtube.com/reasontv.
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Duration : 0:9:35
The government …
The government would provide all of that for you in a perfect world…
Yes, Pres. Obama …
Yes, Pres. Obama the first President in history of United States to jail its own citizens. Democrats are you on board? Yes we are paying for the DMV employees and yes we will pay for the new healthcare employees, not once a year but monthly. Take out your checkbooks America. The rich doesnt pay for the DMV, we are. Yes we can.
I have right to …
I have right to free speech. I want you to pay for a website for me so I can use it to express my opinions. I have a right to move anywhere I want in America so I’d like you to send me a bunch of money so I can move to some place warmer like Florida or better Texas. I have a right to my religious beliefs so I want you to buy me a bible and give me gas money so I can drive to church every Sunday. I have a right to bear arms so I want you to buy me a gun and ammo and pay the range fees for me.
People are DYING …
People are DYING because selling organs is banned. You’re a asshole.
No. You don’t know …
No. You don’t know what rights are.
so?
so?
@LLORT3 Yes, you …
@LLORT3 Yes, you have the right to buy it, not steal it – as that would be the case of universal healthcare…
@LLORT3 Yes, you …
@LLORT3 Yes, you have the right to buy it not STEAL it – as it would be the case of universal healthcare.
Pres. Obama, where …
Pres. Obama, where is clunker for college tuition? Another empty speech?
Healthcare reform = …
Healthcare reform = Jail American reform.
Our right/freedom to spend our $ vs Jail time. You are required to pay health insurance and Govt. salaries. You may visit a doctor 2 times a year but your monthly check are required and appreciated. Don’t mess with Uncle Obama!!!! College and high school students, we know you live from paycheck to paycheck, so get a second job. Pay our salaries and shut up!!
Healthcare is a …
Healthcare is a right.
What gives you the …
What gives you the right to take my money and give it to other people?
How about Job care …
How about Job care reform?
Healthcare doesnt pay the rent, put food on the table, pay utilities. Americans need jobs, jobs, jobs. When unemployment rate is at 10%, your propose a bill that will jail American for not paying.!!! Democrats, are you on board with this? We are living from paycheck to paycheck. Unemployment is at 10%+ and you focus on healthcare and jailing us?
Hello, nobody home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a critic of …
I am a critic of the Democrats’ plan because I think it is a subsidy for the insurance companies.
The only reform I will accept is universal healthcare; that is, healthcare for all U.S. citizens.
Death panel?
…
Death panel?
Too old to marry, too young to bury. This statement was made by a dying grandmother. She applied for govt. healthcare in Feb 09. Her case got delayed until Dec 09. She received hospice care in Dec 09 and suddenly her govt. healthcare got approved. You see, its cheaper to pay for hospice care than to pay for treating cancer. Furthermore once you received hospice care, all other treatment halted. There you have it. The govt. saved money by letting a sick woman die.
Why is healthcare …
Why is healthcare so expensive? The same reason education is so expensive: stupid politicians got in the middle of it and screwed it up.
Moron.
Moron.
We could start by …
We could start by disbanding the FDA.
First turn Health …
First turn Health Care into a commodity,
now, let’s turn Human Organ into a commodity….for personal gain & profit.
Damned, those libertarians will have no hearts left to sell
Obama’s “fresh” 11- …
Obama’s “fresh” 11-page health care proposal is no different from the Senate bill. Obama pwrpoint draft includes the same bad proposals that the Senate bill does. But there is one key difference between the two: The Senate bill actually exists.
Until Obama’s proposal is drafted as official legislation, the only proposal the House can and will consider is the bill the Senate passed. Lawmakers should focus on starting over. The American people support health care reform, just not this one.
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Socialized health …
Socialized health care my ass, how about assembly line medical care, now serving #213477444. Oop sorry Im on a break. Next window please. Some people dont associates negativity with socialism, but assembly line will get their attention
Postrel is awesome. …
Postrel is awesome. I started reading Reason on her watch. “The Future and its Enemies” is a great book, too. (Haven’t read Substance of Style yet.)
And she’s absolutely right about Medicare. When 50% of medical claims go through it, you realize the market’s not free. When you realize that the prices insurance companies charge for services are based on what Medicare will pay for, you realize how big a factor the government plays in skewing that market! The paperwork is more salt in the wound!
I still have to say …
I still have to say even under that situation America screws over less people. What you are describing as “losers” in the American healthcare system are the exception, not the rule. Of those without insurance, many of them either could afford it if they wanted it or qualify for a government program already in place, but choose not to take advantage of it. Under a single payer system, everyone loses: tax payers, those who get rationed care, those who want to opt out and those who wait in line
5 stars
5 stars