Thirty years ago there wer over 30 companies that made vaccines for the American population, today there are only 5. Over 25 companies have gone out of business. Oh damn that free market you say........NO!!!!!!

Damn the government, thanks to Hiliary, when she could not get her healthcare plan passed instead settled for legislation that got the government to pay for vaccines for children. As a result of the legislation, the companies were forced by the rule of law, to sell 60% of their vaccines to the government at a cost of 45% of free market prices. Lo and behold, now not only have prices increased, but we have seen shortages.

Government is already involved in health care and that is why we see such ridiculous prices. The government mandate that insurance companies and HMOs cover certain procedures and preventive practice under their umbrella of services without allowing the companies to increase their premiums. Again as a result we have seen companies go belly up.

Day in and day out we see people who receive free treatment through the government, via Medicaid, Medicare or others (in Alaska all natives) who contiually abuse the system. Rather than waiting a day to get an appointment at their Doctor's office instead they go to the Emergency Room because they have a cold or sore throat or some other minor complaint. Why shouldn't they???? They have no financial obligation to pay. As a result cost for those of us who do pay increase. I have insurance, a doctor visit cost $150 dollars, in which I will pay a $30 co-pay. An ER visit cost $3000 for just walking in the door to be seen, in which I will pay a $100 co-pay, only if it were a true emergency. If I showed up at the ER for a cold, my insurance company would leave me to pay the majority of the bill, covering only the cost if I would have gone to the doctor.

Turn on the TV late a night, hell sometimes even prime time, how many commercials do you see for this law firm or that filing some multiparty lawsuit on behalf of people who had an MRI and had dye injected or users of this drug or that because of its side effects. Again the cost of defending a company is passed on to those of us who pay.

Universal healthcare will lead to government mandate what prices can be charged, thats great, now suddenly doctors and healthcare providers are dictated what they can make. Sorry folks healthcare is not a right, nor can it ever be, simply because it is something you require others to provide for you.

dmk