I'll address both separately. it's easier that way
I'll say this outright - I do not know how everything works in the US. I am Australian and I have a fair idea of how it works here and I'll explain the specifics of each thing here based on the Australian system.
Drug prices in Australia are relatively cheap compared to other countries. When it comes to prescription medication we have a thing called the Pharmaceuticals Benefit Scheme (PBS) which provides subsidised medication. Basically the PBS goes to the drug companies, buys the medication from them and sells it to consumers, through retail chemists, for $5.40 (for concession card holders). This provides cheap medication for consumers, and because the PBS represents a market of 22 million they get a 'bulk buy' discount. It is paid for out of the Medicare levy everyone pays (~1.5% of your income).
Medical insurance in Australia is again relatively cheap because of government incentives. The government gives rebates of up to 40% on insurance costs, plus reduces the Medicare levy by 1% if you obtain it (saving $6000 a year for the average person). I can get insurance for as little as $10 a week, not including all of these incentives.
The Australian education system is quite good. I found the course curriculum in my state (NSW) taught you from a very early age to 'have your own opinion, but find evidence to back it up'. In every course, whether it be maths, english, science, history or geography, you would always be asked to prove your answer. In the later years exams would always have questions where your opinion would be important, such as 'analyse the effectiveness of IMF involvement in the global economy'. You could either agree or disagree based on the evidence you obtained. Basically the whole English course from year 7 to year 12 was focused solely on this method.
I can give you examples of laws that do originate from the bottom. I'll give you Skye's Law and the ban on compulsory student unionism. Both were laws (or law changes) that were brought about through community movement and support. If the community wants something in law it is likely the government will do it as the parties chase support of voters.
I really don't think you are understanding what I am saying. Yes we value the "freedom" our state gives us, but we are proud of our country for much more than the freedom it gives us. Our country gives us more than just 'freedom', it gives us support, opportunity and protection, amongst other things. You are thinking that we like our state because it isn't hurting us, which it true, but we are proud of it because of what it gives back to us. You don't have to like them just because they exist, I don't like everything the government does just because they are doing it, but there are many activities and institutions within the government that are beneficial and for this I am thankful.
daqua_99
The Australian healthcare system as we know it is relatively new. When the government takes an industry in this way, it takes some time for full effects to be known. Usually a generation, though sometimes a little shorter/longer depending on different factors. The damage that your AMA is causing will be seen in the near future. This is very similar to the situation in the United States when our AMA was first gaining power. The negative results of cartellization weren't felt right away.
That being said, in the rather limited ammount of research I've done on the Australian system isn't so good. For one, the prices of drugs are the same, the cost is just subsidized through taxation. Prices don't change by throwing tax dollars at them, it still costs the same to produce the drugs. I've read articles that talk about doctor shortages in rural areas, and a two tier medical system. This is allin the beggining stages of cartellization. This is a more extreme version of what happened to the United State's medical system. Watch it deteriorate over the next 10-20 years as the Australian Medical Association gains more lobbying power.
Ten dollars a week sounds good. Medical care in the US used to cost as low as a dollar a month for people who opted to use the fraternity system of healthcare. A system destroyed by the government, and our AMA. Keep in mind, that this was before taxes were taken to cartellize the medical industry.
I know nothing about the curriculum in Australian schools, so I won't comment on that. I will say that the schools in the US suck, and it's mostly due to things like the department of education and such.
Some law does get put into legislation because of grassroots activism, but no state law is emergent. All laws as we currently know them are enforced through a top down political system controlled by a monopoly (the state). As such emergent order is squashed, and what emergent order we do have is either violent due to being illegalized, or highly esoteric and unpopular.
The things they do are only beneficial because you have other, worse state systems to compare them to. There is no emergent system at this time for you to compare to your current system. You only say what the Aus state does is good because Australia is better than other states in some ways. Australia actually has more of a free market than the US. There's no reason to attribute the current good standard of living to the government. You could just as easily say that everything in youur country is good in spite of it, not because of it.
I have to leave now, but I am perfectly happy to continue this debate over PMs, though keep in mind my knowledge of the Australian system is limited.
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