There are certain systemic services that don’t seem to function well under capitalism. These systems were intended to benefit all citizens of the United States and help them live their lives. They seem to have evolved into a different purpose when turning a profit becomes the focus. We shouldn’t be surprised as this only makes sense.
Take for instance the insurance industry in general. If you follow the fundamental guidelines for a for profit business entity, its purpose is to bring the best return to its owners (shareholders, partners, etc). Well, how do you do that? You maximize revenues (premiums) and control costs (paid out benefits). It doesn’t seem very beneficial to the person paying the premium unless there are a whole lot of competing entities who need to meet the expectations of those people in order to continue in business.
Another example is the legal system. I have an idea…let’s make a legal system so the only way you can use it is to hire someone who has studied it for a good portion of their lives, learns to work the system by crafting your position to fit the law, and whose fees are more than most of us make in many years of earnings. It doesn’t sound like a very usable system to resolve differences. Thus, people get taken advantage of instead of standing up for what they believe is fair. I do believe a form of our existing system needs to be in place for criminal law, but being able to purchase a level of defense doesn’t seem like a fair process to the people that can’t afford it.
Here’s another system that baffles me: the minimum wage. You can read my view point “Basic Cost of Living And Income Needed,” to get the basics. Instead of guaranteeing a job to all adults and making sure the minimum wage is at a level such that a human can live an ample life (enough to barely get by), we create all these government welfare programs that may promote not working while increasing our Country’s debt.
I see three issues here: 1) We say, “tough luck” to the unfortunate person who wants to work but can’t get hired because no one will hire them; thus, they will need to beg or live on the street. I’ve personally experienced the failure to be offered a job part and I have an extensive resume!, Secondly 2) We provide reasons for businesses to hire the people instead of being taxed to pay for #3, and finally, 3) The government provides jobs, job training, and a free education system so they can be employed. Thus, those hired work at government created jobs until they are hired by the private sector.
We either tax, print money, or create debt so everyone can have a job to live an ample life. Is there any other way?