Having experienced medical care in a number of different countries, I am convinced that rationing is the heart of the problem. For example, as more treatments

Having experienced medical care in a number of different countries, I am convinced that rationing is the heart of the problem. For example, as more treatments for symptoms of old age are invented, more is demanded and spent per elderly person (who can blame them). The problem is that in the West the elderly are increasing relative to the working population (medicare enrollment in the US is expected to double in the next 15-20 years). Governments in socialized healthcare countries have to decide how to allocate services between the young and the old. Free market advocates would argue that a true free market system would allocate resources appropriately (richer older folks would sacrifice medical care for themselves in order to pay for their younger relatives). I don't know what is the right solution. The idea of a lightly-regulated free market where innovation happens appeals to me, but I can't see it happening in this political climate.