It's expensive to visit your GP, but also expensive to fund.
The amount taxpayers spend on health has one up 100% over the past decade.
It was around 15 billion in 20216. It's now up over 30.
The population has not increased by that much. Only roughly 15%.
But there are always better medicines to buy. Unions to settle pay negotiations with. New equipment to buy. Hospitals to replace.
It's a money pit.
Every election we get the same message, which is basically, let's put more money in the pit.
And both Labour and National are saying they will do this. Hell, even ACT is saying the same.
But are we missing a trick by always focussing on money in and patients out?
Diabetes and obesity are massive problems for the health system.
As is aging, though we can't do much about that.
But where is the focus in this campaign, outside of New Zealand First's policy, on the food pyramid and keeping ourselves healthy and fit?
You are what eat. That's not just an old saying. It's science.
To his credit, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing this in the States. Why aren't we?
If we want to keep the status quo and continue funding an ambulance at the bottom off the cliff then we're going the right way about it.
Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.
4 comments:
It sounds like you have fallen for the "safety" fallacy Mr Bridge. All kinds of tyranny can be justified by safety. And our glorious socialist healthcare system /s means that we all feel justified in interfering with our neighbours life choices.
It started with seat belts. Then smoking. Then speeding. Then drink driving. Then drug driving. And now we want to tell people what to eat.
Now. Don't get me wrong. Wearing a seat belt is a good idea. I recommend giving up smoking. Don't drink and drive.
But these should be choices not mandates forced upon people. That is tyranny. And the tyranny is justified in the name of safety and socialised health costs.
Think about it. Is it really worth becoming a tyrant in attitude toward your neighbour for the sake of socialism? I think not.
So why should I consent to my taxes being spent to treat the entirely predictable results of Anon 8.16's me-first model of society? Sure. Don't wear a helmet but don't expect my taxes to patch you up when your head hits the road. Don't get the measles vaccine for your kids but don't expect my taxes to pay for their treatment when they become affected. Oh and don't come looking for sympathy when they die. Your choice. Your problem. And don't whine about your rights. There is a fundamental social contract that rights follow responsibilites, and every member of society has a duty to society to minimise the risk of loss where that loss is underwritten by society. Sometimes you just have to do what you're told. And that's got nothing to do with socialism and everything to do with the reality that most of the time someone else knows more than you do on any particular matter.
Perhaps we should mandate that every new pizza shop, chicken hut or hamburger joint that opens up must also have a drive-through window giving away tablets of semaglutide drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic with every hap,hap,happy meal?
Much like in the education sector, the real health issue is a lack of basic competence. The people might be wonderful caring people but that doesn't make them automatically good at their jobs. Organisations run by predominantly left wing middle aged women in cardigans always going to turn out to be a complete disaster. Go on, prove me wrong. The solution is not more money tossed down the gurgler. The solution is more right wing males managing the place.
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