Kevin,

>Your government has identified that the current situation of healthcare is that one of a 3rd world country (where only the richest can afford adequate care) and the costs for the current system that is available for all others (e.g. medicare) is tremendously high because of all kinds of reasons
>
>Walter, our current situation (in the United States) is certainly NOT one of a 3rd world country.

That is just a matter of perception. Its a given fact that tenths of millions do not have any healthcare coverage.

>I'm not the richest - I'm what's probably viewed as "upper middle class" - but I know people who make less than I do who can still afford health care.

See above.

>That has to be tied down (regulation) to control the costs
>
>It's already been demonstrated here in the U.S. how government intervention in the medical/health care field has contributed to higher costs.

Do you really think that the current situation where you have, by far, the highest cost per capita on healthcare, does not justify government intervention? There needs to be regulation on what a certain procedure might cost. There needs to be regulation on what, as a minimum needs to be covered by health insurances. There needs to be regulation in such way that people do not get suddenly uninsured beyond their fault (e.g. losing their job). There needs to be regulation in such way that insurance companies cannot withdraw from their obligations by all kinds of obscure rules in their contracts. There needs to be regulation that insurance companies cannot enforce their clients to get care at only certain healthcare providers.

>There's no mention anywhere in your post about the most important part of health care - the physicans themselves.

What do you want to regulate about the physicians? The only thing I can think of that needs to be regulated is the amounts they can declare for standard medical procedures.

Walter,