But I disagree. Let’s take depression: Is it obvious what it takes to not be depressed? I don’t think so. Is it obvious what it takes to sleep better? Well, it wasn’t obvious to me. Is it obvious how to prevent injury-causing falls? No.

Perhaps. But so what? I think we know a lot of what is needed — IMHO a lot of obesity, diabetes, other chronic conditions are brought quasi-intentionally. That is, one has to know that eating Cheesy Poofs and watching TV all day can’t be good for you.

“For some strange reason, it does not seem to be possible that the solution not be “mandated from above.” Lots of things start small and grow but alternative health care systems do not seem to be among them.”

yeah, that’s a good point. Health care has to be mandated from above in some form. but I guess what I would prefer is less federal regulations and more state or city regulations. Or maybe in areas with a sufficient amount of competition, less regulations all together.

this idea by tyler cowen sounds exciting:
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2007/07/medical-free-tr.html

But as a hospital administrator living in the Detroit area, I’d prefer the zone to be here rather than memphis.

Richard Harris, a writer for The New Yorker, wrote an excellent book about the AMA and its lobbyists called A Sacred Trust, which you have made me want to re-read.

My choice of who to blame for the health care crisis is researchers. A big reason people suffer from poor health care is that people are in poor health — obesity, diabetes, other chronic conditions. I think research on these topics could be hundreds of times more helpful than it actually is. Atul Gawande told freakonomics.com that we can now cure 70% of cancers. This is an example of what I’m talking about: We should be trying to prevent cancer, not cure it.

there seems to be a parallel between Michael Moore and John Dewey. Both seek a more democratic environment, which is good. But I’m concerned about the idea that such an environment can be mandated from above rather than created in a more organic manner.

Moore is so obsessed about criticizing the insurance industry, he doesn’t even ponder making a critique against the AMA (havn’t seen the movie, I’m just going to make a guess here he didn’t). The AMA artificially creates higher salaries for doctors by restricting their supply. Additionally, the AMA is hesitant to incorporate cost reductive medical methods.

its not just insurance companies which are the problem.