clownboy
DP Veteran
- Joined
- May 22, 2012
- Messages
- 26,087
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- Oregon
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Yeah, that system still would have made healthcare unaffordable to most people in the 1950s as the majority of the population had already moved into cities. Actually, your argument assumes that the way people exchanged services 200 years ago (I honestly doubt your story from pre-1960s) would work today. Failing to consider 1) the modern cost of a doctor and 2) medical advances. Do you think doctors today would perform a double by-pass for an iPod? What about a stereo? What about a car? What would a doctor perform these services for? You can't even go to the dentist without spending a minimum of $50. What would a dentist perform his services for? Laptops? Maybe some bras from Victoria's Secret?
We were still largely a rural nation in the 50s and yes indeed my story comes from the 50s in a small mountain town in Northern California. I wasn't proposing barter as a nationwide replacement for our payment system. I was simply commenting upon your post and timeline.
EDIT: You were right about the breaking point being the 50s in rural/urban population. I checked around and except for the 70s rural living has been losing ground steadily since 20s. You were correct on that point, at least nationally.
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