Capitalism = abundance. Socialism = scarcity.

Socialism = Scarcity of people who are alive for sure

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The human motivation toward socialism is not to create abundance. It is the desire to control the lives of other people.

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And to get their hands on the abundance that was created.

Capitalism relies on scarcity. Scarcity means higher prices. Those higher prices create the incentive to create more supply. Increased supply eliminates scarcity. Socialism doesn’t work for the same reason why anti-price gouging laws create problems: There is less incentive to create more supply. Why would someone go through great pain, cost, and effort to increase supply when they recieve the same compensation regardless of whether they do anything at all?

I noticed when looking at pictures from Venezuela that there are no fat poor people there.

Come to New Orleans sometime and look at the poor.

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Capitalism relies on scarcity. Scarcity means higher prices. Those higher prices create the incentive to create more supply. Increased supply eliminates scarcity. Socialism doesn’t work for the same reason why anti-price gouging laws create problems: There is less incentive to create more supply. Why would someone go through great pain, cost, and effort to increase supply when they recieve the same compensation regardless of whether they do anything at all?

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I see where you're coming from, but I'd rather sell 1000 people 1 widget each at $10 apiece to make $10,000 each year, instead of relying on 100 people to each buy $100 worth widgets every year.

What are the limitations to applying capitalism close to it's purest form to medical care?

We have seen where capitalism works really well in the medical industry when it comes to elective medical services like Lasix, butt and boob implants. The costs for Lasix and elective plastic surgery have come down.

Even in marginally elective medical areas like dentistry prices have stabilized or decreased.

But in areas were government is involved and medical care has been socialized to a certain extent prices have increased, wait times have not improved and choices have decreased.

Why is applying capitalism to un-elective medical care anathema to many people...at least 50% of the population?

Capitalism recognizes the reality of scarcity.

Socialism denies the reality of scarcity.

But covering your eyes doesn't mean it goes away. It just means you cease to understand what it's doing.

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I think it comes down to choice. When doing an elective provedure, you have time to pick and choose what, when, and where. You can price shop and thus consumers are price elastic. When you’re shot, in a car accident, or your life is seriously in danger, there is no choice. You go to the nearest place so you’ll live. You’re not in a position to bargain. Consumers become price takers not price makers. Plus, since the service must be rendered prior to payment, it creates a real problem when it comes time for desperate people to pay. I’m not saying socialism is the best solution, but that is why it has been applied there rather than waiting on private charity to foot the bill.

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I guess it's the same reason you pay $12.50 for a giant beer in the Superdome. You are captive.

But the situation is more dire when it comes to medical care. You are captive.

But that is the purpose of insurance. The allow yourself to be less captive. At least less captive to the costs.

There is certainly a balance when it comes to the issue of medial care. Too much government intervention will lead to higher costs, longer waits and less options.

Too much capitalism will lead to denied service if you can't pay...or will it?