The federal government poorly does what the citizens are not allowed

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

The United Mine Workers of America was formed in 1890 with the merger of two other miners’ unions. Its purpose was to promote better working conditions and salaries for miners of all earth derived materials. In other industries, other unions performed the same functions.

I had an aunt tell me that back in the day, indigent older members of the neighborhood were taken in to live with their more prosperous neighbors. Also, churches helped out with this effort.

When I was about 7 years old, I cut my head open one evening. My mother called the doctor, we met him at his office, and he stitched me up. The cost was $2 ($22.83 in today’s dollars) and there was no paperwork to fill out. It took about 20 minutes.

All of these activities have since had the hand of big government inserted into their execution.  

• The government’s activities have been more expensive.

• The government’s activities have produced poorer results.

• The government’s activities have driven neighbors to be more isolated.

If private organizations had tried to do what the government has done, the government would, in most cases, prosecute them for anti-trust behavior.

We read all the time that our health care – as a percentage of GDP – is the highest in the world. Why is that? Because the government and the health care providers operate in a monopoly behavior. 

The government has added paperwork and distant bureaucrats to activities that used to be done locally. Not only has this raised the price, but it has also made these services impersonal and laden with money sucking paperwork.

If my doctor could still attend to my little head cut like he did when I was 7, I’ll bet the cost wouldn’t be more than $10.
  
I recently filled out paperwork to see a new specialist, whom I have not even met yet. Some of the questions on the pre-work include:

• Do you feel safe where you live?

• In the past year, have you, because of a lack of transportation, not been able to get to any appointments?

• Have your utilities been shut off in the last year because you couldn’t pay the bill?

• Do you run out of food each month because you can’t afford any more?

These questions have nothing to do with my care.

These are clearly government-driven questions which cost bureaucrats money to process.

As far as the real hospitals’ services and drugs, if the money came out of our pocket, I am sure the costs would go down significantly.  

As it is, we are not participating in a competitive market, because the government always pays the bill with our tax dollars.

Union membership is down because the government has taken away their functions.

Neighbors are distant because we’ll let the government take care of them.

Government monopolies are legal and as ineffective as private ones.  

Government is destroying society.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.