John,
Yes, capitalism has its problems, no doubt. I am no fan of greedy money-grubbers, and I have a major problem with big banks, which I think are now in the business of robbing people rather than helping them save money and gain financial security. The problem with a free market is the same as the problem with communism: human nature.
Unfortunately, a lot of people can be completely comfortable making millions of dollars doing virtually nothing. I am not one of those people. I'm pretty sure that if I won the lottery and got a hundred million, I'd give ninety percent of it to family, friends, and worthy charities, keeping only what I needed to be happy. Don't forget, I've been subsisting on barely 20K per year since 2012. Luckily for me, I have inexpensive hobbies - reading, music, writing - and I live like a monk, essentially, with no social life because I'm socially inept, and I don't even go to restaurants, etc. I'm a bookworm, and I can be happy with a bare minimum. I'm also good with money, and whatever vices I have, like drinking, I can do in moderation. Some people are, frankly, absolutely terrible with money, and are irresponsible.
As a classical liberal, with a libertarian bent, I believe very strongly in personal responsibility and accountability. If you don't have a lot of money, don't spend it on lottery tickets, or on frivolous pleasures. Don't hang out in bars, or the beach, throwing your money away. If you make 12 bucks an hour, why is your body covered in colorful tattoos, which are expensive, and why are you making a 400 dollar car payment? I ask people I meet, hey, how much did that sleeve cost you? Just for one arm covered in tats, we're talking potentially thousands of dollars. And these are the people who will complain about not having enough money for food. Oh come on, get real! Why do you need that new Ford F-150? Hey dude, I need a truck! is the answer. Really? Why the F do you need a truck? And these people will complain when they run out of money. I live on the bottom, and I am not exaggerating in the least.
Yes, you're right, people ignoring hospital bills is NOT an ideal system. I am not advocating this kind of thing, just saying that if you spend several hours in the ER, and have an X-ray, or a test with an expensive piece of medical equipment, and are slapped with an outrageously high bill, then you can't blame people for not impoverishing themselves in an attempt to pay these exorbitant charges. I don't advocate making NO payments, but I would not encourage low wage earners to try and make large payments to these already wealthy companies.
I was in a big hospital for four days in Vegas, served awful food, and given terrible, cold, unconcerned care, only recently. My bedsheets weren't even changed in all that time. My left arm was bruised black and blue and swollen from having blood drawn every six hours. I was in pain, and they wouldn't give me anything for pain because it required a physician's order, and at that time I didn't have a doctor. I have a skin condition, which requires hydrocortisone ointment, especially if I don't shave. They couldn't even give me that without a doctor's order, so my face looked like a pizza, red and inflamed. I asked for a razor, and they gave me this plastic thing with one blade that tore up my face. GOD only knows how much I was charged for that piece of junk.
After all this I get a bill for 16,000 dollars. Well guess what, I have made small payments towards that bill, but it's going to take quite some time before I even make a dent in it! And I'm not terribly guilty over it, either, especially after seeing my ambulance bill, which was obscene.
NO, it's NOT a great system, but at least poor people will receive care. NO-ONE can be turned away from an emergency room in Arizona, and probably not in any other state. ANY person receives care first, then they get to the billing questions.
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