> This is why I think we're headed for systemic collapse.

Unfortunately I think the only thing that will save us long term is systematic collapse triggering mass social and political movements to tax the billionaires.

We have severe cost of living issues for so many Americans, yet we haven’t actually reached that cusp where large swaths of Americans literally start starving, or losing their homes.

Until then, normal Americans will happily consume and believe the lies of politicians saying “grocery prices are going down”, “gas prices are going down”.

> Does that really happen "any time you go to a doctor's office"?

Yes. I recently made a resolution to get established with all the medical professionals I don’t have set up. So a primary care, dermatologist, etc. over the past 2 months I’ve visited and had to go back a couple of times. I’ve literally overheard insurance-related issues in all cases. Whether it was the person in line before me or just overhearing people complaining while I’m in the waiting room.

Just last week I was waiting to get my blood drawn and the woman at the front desk, after continued prodding by an elderly man frustrated with lack of coverage, out loud said “Well, that’s insurance in America for you. Go ahead and call the number on the back of your insurance card because we can’t do anything for you.” Just deeply disheartening stuff to watch a late 80s man not realize after 15 minutes of being tossed between automated insurance phone responses that he simply won’t get the help he needs.

Tangentially related, but it is increasingly obvious that there's an ever-growing chasm between these two aspects of medicine in the U.S.:

- What's possible for medical professionals to do for certain conditions, in large part due to the amazing levels of investment into research and implementation.

- How difficult it is for ordinary people to receive care. Primarily due to private insurance companies intentionally making it more difficult to get care.

Like the fact we're giving stem cell therapy to fetuses successfully is amazing, yet any time I go to a doctor's office or bloodwork company I hear an elderly person explain to the front desk person that they've been on the same insurance for decades and only recently started receiving bills they can't afford, or listening to the front desk person explain that now medicare no longer covers them for a routine thing.

Ideally, we could have both great research _and_ great general care in this country. I just don't know if I will ever see that day.

Hank Green in collaboration with Cal Newport just released a video where Cal makes the argument for exactly that, that for many reasons not least being cost, smaller more targeted models will become more popular for the foreseeable future. Highly recommend this long video posted today https://youtu.be/8MLbOulrLA0

Just cancelled. I’ll give my money to a company with leaders that have a modicum of backbone.