Look at the NHS of the UK or the Cuba model extolled by Michael Moore in Sicko. All of it lies. Watch The Un-American documentary on Amazon Prime to see for yourself what government run healthcare really is like! That is without the BS! Just real life examples if you want government running your healthcare? We will have the same in the US if you allow the government run our medical care! Look at Amtrak, look at the United State Postal Service as how bad government runs things. Atleast, private companies have a budget in place. Government will run deficits over and over figuring it is the US taxpayers will be paying for it so, who cares?
First, Cuba doesn't work as a comparison because healthcare there already sucked and always has. But you have a valid point. Government run healthcare can be a real problem. However, this is why you need to keep a parallel system of private health care (doctor's that take cash). This way, 75% (as a guess) is covered by the universal system and 25% still serves as an outlet in case something is denied or you need better, priority care.
We are fast approaching the point where private healthcare which is a la carte, where a good doctor visits you at home, examines you, runs your tests, etc. costs $5,000 a month at a minimum. Of course, you have to pay in advance. I do not see these doctors taking checks or allowing you to charge it to your credit card. So, we have mass treatment of everyone for the common ailments until, you need major surgery or end up with cancer then, you have a 6-12 month waiting period if they treat you. Or they can just deny you because you are old and going to die anyways, so why waste limited medical resources on you? Then, you have the filthy rich and politicians with doctors at their beck and call. After all, they are paying big bucks for it! Politicians are not paying for it but, US taxpayers will be paying for their first class treatment while, everyone else, can deal with their government socialized healthcare!
Not my issue if you fail to see it. Retail wasn't hurt by tariffs anymore than the overall market was. The biggest driver of the overall market in Q3/4 last year wasn't tariffs, but a dry up of liquidity and seizing of credit markets.
I don't think I can agree that we are fast approaching anything like this. More and more older folks are going to places like Panama, Costa Rica and even Mexico for medical treatment. And they're spending 1/10th the cost and coming back with wonderful stories praising the facilities and doctors.
In Panama I have gotten same day appointments or have been able to walk in and see a doctor with not too long a wait. Also the doctor does not rush you out the door but actually talks to you and waits until all your questions are answered. Between myself and various family members and friends this has been proven true repeatedly despite growing population. Many doctors have degrees from top U.S. universities but many also have them from University of Panama or other really good regional medical schools. Panama is not socialized, it is a mix of private and government and the government provided health care is mainly for the population that cannot afford truly private insurance. There are taxes paid like social security to fund much of it. There are several government hospitals people can go to and though they might not have the sparkle of the 4 major private hospitals in the city, the care is still pretty high. it is not a bad model to look into rather than all private or all socialized. Retired or senior citizens get 20% discounts on health care costs and medicines also. One major difference is culture. U.S. might have world's best specialists in many areas and amazing nurses but the whole system is for profit based care and you are treated that way in most cases. Procedures can be administered based on money not on whether they are required to treat the patient (we all have heard the stories of not doing a test because it costs a lot of money and the patient cannot afford it even if it could determine the problem, a less expensive option is chosen). I find in Panama, just as an example, not as the lone star model, doctors culturally feel obligated to tlak to you and listen and do what they can to treat you at the basement level, what mainly happens in the U.S. at the specialist level often.