I am surprised how many of you fellas have no problem with the government forcing people to provide services. Imagine at your own job, the government came in and said:
"Citizen, you are now required to provide services for person X, if you do not comply, you are prohibited from working in your profession. Remember, we are not forcing you to do anything. Feel free to quit your current career and switch to another one. That is, until we mandate something for that other profession and you quit that one too. But, you can quit as many times as you want. Freedom and all."
I mean, really?
And, sorry, but the police/military are not the same. Public sector jobs are, or at least, should be, for the essential functions of government, which is, or again, should be, the protection of negative, "natural" rights. They are not there to provide you with stuff you need/want, they are there to go after violators so you remain free to pursue said stuff.
Well, as an ex-military person, I'm used to being forced to "provide services". Or more importantly, I signed up for that. I agreed to do a job.
It's the same with any public job. You can become a firefighter or policeman, and really not WANT to provide services to that crackhead, or the person who likes to fall asleep with a bunch of candles burning, but it's your job.
Teachers - go to college, get an education, and they teach. You know, public education is a right. If you don't WANT to teach at a public school, you don't have to - but most of the jobs are at public schools.
Doctors - go to college (for a lot longer, and make a lot more money). Work as a doctor in a national healthcare system. Or don't. If you'd rather be a specialist - or work in a private setting - that's fine too. Just like teachers. But I'm sure already doctors work with people they don't like. My doctor (I think) is happy to deal with me every couple of years on whatever age-related complaint and injury I am dealing with. Maybe he's not so happy with other who drink, smoke, or are grossly overweight. But...it's a job, just like any other. I think you are blowing the whole "being forced to provide services" WAY out of proportion, especially when you compare medicine to any other job that is in the public sector.
Doctors are welcome to stay private. Most likely, there would be far fewer private jobs for Doctors.
What happens if doctors don't go into the public sector?
We entice them to do so. Much like we have already, but maybe up the ante.
Examples (from friends): military doctors (have a friend who is one) - free med school in exchange for a certain number of years. Tuition reimbursement or federal loan forgiveness.
You know, generally - I have a number of doctor friends. Being college-educated and (now) upper middle class, here's my perspective.
It's pretty rare for poor people to become doctors. Or lower-middle class people. It's not often even on their radar. I mean, I grew up poor. My spouse was middle class. I went to college and got a job. Eventually a master's degree at night, while working. Having a regular income is very important to me. Putting off getting an income for a higher degree? Not on my radar (spouse has a PhD, on the 7 year plan).
So, of the doctors that I know - they all grew up upper middle class or middle class. It was not a real big deal to give up income and go into debt for med school.
- MK went Ivy league for undergrad on parents' dime. Paid own way through med school but knew a good job was on the horizon.
- LY (20 years younger than MK, by the way) also went Ivy on parent's dime for undergrad, and got parental help during med school.
- JB went to a top-10 engineering school for undergrad, is at Ivy for med school.
- SM was upper middle class, had parental help during undergrad
So, much like I paid for college by joining the military (first one in my family to go to college out of HS) - the folks who use military for med school, or public loan forgiveness tend to be people who don't have the same opportunities. And in many cases, I assume they are like me, and are just happy to be able to be there. Thankful to be given the opportunity.
So, if a bunch of would-be doctors think "hey, I don't want to pay $500,00 for a med school degree if I have to go into public service and only make $150k per year" - how do you make it worth their while?
- Aim to open the pool of potential doctors (H1B's? I see similarities with foreign-born doctors being willing to work for less, much like former poor kids)
- Aim to lessen the pain of med school bills
- What do other countries do? I mean, Canada, UK, Australia, etc...these countries all have doctors.