It seems to me that a lot of unnecessary problems are caused because sometimes it's profitable to do things that are harmful (though not illegal) to society. For example, insurance companies deny care to their customers for the sake of profit. Drug companies fight to extend their patents and prevent the marketing of generics because it will help them profit. Halliburton and their ilk have made vast fortunes from war. Cheap prison labor has made it profitable to keep people jailed.

Sometimes, like in the case of for-profit health care, this just prevents large portions of our society from receiving basic services that everyone should have a right to. Other times, like in the case of private military contractors, it actually transfers taxpayer money to corporations run by CEO's who will take home in six months more money than most of us will make in a lifetime.

Of course this situation arose from the republican "privatize everything" mantra. The theory was that the private sector could provide all life's basic services better than the government could because a desire to make a profit kept private businesses efficient and lean. Rather than have the government actually try to do things, it should just hire corporations to do them for it.

Of course, if you think about this plan for even a little while, you'll notice one glaring flaw.

When it comes to programs intended to protect our society, the last thing you want is a profit motive. You want the sole focus to be on protecting society, not making money. If there's an opportunity to cut corners and pocket more money, the private sector will do it. They are in it for the money, not the good of country.

Here's an example even the most fervent right-winger should understand: Who do you want guarding our borders? A government agency, who will spend every penny of their budget toward guarding our borders? Or a company who will spend as little as possible so they can keep the remainder? Seems like a no-brainer.

Free market capitalism is great for most things. Profit off of TV's, cell phones, soda pop, vehicles, and dishwashers all you want. But health care? No, that will inevitably damage our society. Let the government handle it, because no one should have to be sick just because they're poor.