I don't recall many people having any kind of health care insurance in the 50s it was (at least in my region) well into the 60's before it became commonplace.

Funny thing, a medical office visit back then was about $5-10 bucks. Today it is $50-100 which is about the same in todays dollars. The problem is modern health care. My Grandfather died of a heart attack at the dinner table in 1947. He was 62. All the insurance or personal wealth in the world would not have helped him. Today he would probably have lived another 20 years with proper health care.

The cost of modern medical care is high and it would be high if there were no Social Security or health care insurance. The equality that my Grandfather shared with the rich man is gone.

I am a big believer in personal wealth but I do not believe it should buy longevity. Universal health care is worth striving for.

Most of the social legislation that passed over conservative objection was passed because of popular support and much of it works better than the conservatives predicted.

There are also a lot of programs that were successfully opposed by conservatives mainly because they did not have popular support and we have managed nicely without them.

In our country, things have had a tendency to come along when they are needed and go away or subside when they are no longer useful. labor unions are a good example of that.

So far we seem to have done well. Some think it's like the guy falling from the 100 story building as he passed the 50th floor but I think better of us.