Unlike in the United States, where the vulnerabilities of a world-class medical system could be pinned directly on monied interests, Europe’s tragedy was the result of a host of overlapping elements and policy decisions, with the blame less easily affixed to individuals. Throughout Europe, national health care systems were the rule, ensuring that anyone could access medical care—a stark contrast to the United States. But the common backdrop was scarcity, the result of Davos Man’s success in limiting his tax burden, combined with the injection of the profit motive.
