We agree on a lot of things, Steve, but not this one. When a country spends almost twice as much for healthcare on a per capita basis or as a percentage of GDP than other developed countries and still leaves 20% of the population without coverage it's a helluva lot more than a symtom.

However, I do agree with you on the need to attack root causes. But my question was "...who can and will" take the actions necessary to reverse the escalation of healthcare costs? Who is it that will correct the problem of "a downed economy with fewer jobs which provide health care due to inability to compete with cheap goods/services from communist/socialist countries" that you cite? Who is it that will put in place "tariff/trade protections so that...domestic industries remain vibrant" so that we can reverse the problem of "the domestic workforce...being fully employed" so that "employers (don't) have to reduce employee compensation (especially benefits such as health care) to compete"? Even you and I might not agree that protectionism will work. If anything, the professional economists seem to have reached a consensus, saying that protectionism will not work.

I might even throw in the problem of growing illegal immigration. Whatever the number...20, 30 or 40 million...the rest of us are paying for healthcare for all these illegal immigrants. HR 3200 would make that practice the law of the land. Who will fix that problem? Has there been any consensus whatsoever among our elected representatives on how to address illegal immigration? On one hand the employer special interests lobby to keep our borders porous so they can enjoy cheap labor. Then there are those who argue that nothing should be done if it results in "amnesty" for the illegals who have successfully crossed our borders. Bottom line...nothing is happening or can be expected to happen on this expensive "cause" of the problem.

So, while I can't disagree with you on some of the "cause and effect" issues, our elected reps have shown no inclination to address the causal factors. Given that "the problem" is real and is growing, what alternative do we have other than to agree that our elected reps address themselves to the effect by reforming the healthcare system itself?

Will I argue that we should trust "the 435" to do a good job in "re-forming" U.S. healthcare? Do I agree with all the elements of HR 3200? Heck no to both questions! What has Congress done to earn our trust and confidence lately? But maybe conceding that the only answer is to let them work on the effect is an easier proposition than expecting them to fix the cause(s).