Intriguing how concepts and meanings can change almost diametrically as result of context. Our Dutch health service has become a ‘marketable item’ after moving from government intitution to privatised insurance. In the years we went to school, 70’s -80’s speaking of my cohort, we were taught that health insurance meant general solidarity for everyone. Of course there were silly elements, like rich people enjoying free health service as well as those really needing it, but they effectively paid more tax anyway.

Now politicians apparently make a believable case when saying: ‘it is social behaviour when those who need health care pay more than who don’t.’ 

Realising that people who need health care are actually marketable themselves, because health care services are able to make profit from them, this is a horrible way of thinking. I sure do hope politicians spinning this kind of messages, do have to encounter christmas past and christmas future somehow.