Jake, if you will read my post a page or two back you can see some of the factors I think have increased the cost of health care including compliance cost. I also don't believe the federal government can efficiently run any comprehensive program. It is a Fact that as the size of an operation increases efficiency decreases. In the private sector this would equate to a small business working at a much higher profit margin than large business. In my business I frequently see profit figures in the 40% range while GE will be doing good to hit 4%. In term of government we are not looking at profit figures but cost figures. The larger the program the less efficiently it can be run equating to higher cost of operation. The only other mandatory social program our federal government has running on the scale of universal health is social security. Do you consider this a well run and successful program? I do not. The next time you have an opportunity ask a retired railroad worker about his benefeits and see if he wishes the railroads had not opted out of social security.
My viewpoints also are coming from the perspective that the constitution was a document written to secure the rights of the individual and the states and limit the power of the federal government. I guess this FACT has also been forgotten.