Self reliance can only get so far, but there are benefits of safety nets (ie. free healthcare, welfare) if things go tits up.
For myself, I find my disability allowance quite useful for my college education. I don't have to worry about travel costs either since I have a free travel pass too. However, I am more than ready to give both up for a job (in fact that's my objective when I leave college), but without such support I would be fucked.
That's about how it went for me as well ( the broad strokes anyway), and it worked, for me, the way I think it's "supposed" to. I get the impression I'm more the exception than the rule, though. :/
Why would someone spend ten years studying to be a health care professional only to provide their knowledge without any compensation, not to mention the central organisation required to produce the equipment and staff?
And I'm only hinting at the difficulties involved.
That sounds dangerously close to my chosen career path.
Seriously, that is one ongoing issue with healthcare, is it is less and less lucrative across the board, even for doctors. Everyone is being asked to do more, with less time, for less money. It's hard for places to stay in business- as a general rule, is the impression I get, but especially outpatient mental health.
There's also weird issues with state vs. private health insurance- and those, I *could* get into a bit, if you'd like, but the quick version is each has their own bizarre hurdles for consumers as well as providers. People with state insurance get the shit end in some ways, but people with private insurance get the shit end in other ways. And healthcare providers are increasingly getting the shit end.
