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RE: Microplastics and the case for universal health care
I don't think that a universal tax like you're proposing would ever be possible. This might work between a coalition of certain countries, but certainly not globally.
On a more positive note, I do think that change is possible on a more local level. I'm fairly sure that the EU for example will implement their own healthcare system eventually, something that is more inclusive than some national systems in certain EU countries.
Local politics is the low hanging fruit of change. I've seen that here in spades in the US. While the big telecoms have the power to "repeal" net neutrality and inhibit ISP reform in Congress, hundreds of communities are building their own networks in response to the market failure created by the big telecom companies.
This idea of such a tax to support universal health care is inevitable. Tort litigation is expensive and a gamble for everyone. A small flat tax imposed on every form of income to cover the health risks we create through technology and civilization itself eliminates a ton of public and private bureaucracy.
No more means testing.
No more litigation with insurance companies.
No more insurance company administration for a profit.
I think that the current debate in health care is really a cover for the imposition of the protestant work ethic on everyone. That by itself is a violation of the First Amendment. The very idea that we can starve people into being motivated to take better care of themselves ignores the question of whether or not people even have the skills and knowledge to take care of themselves.
Huh. You might have inspired another article. :)
Thanks for your comment!