Give the reader even a single reason we should accept what you present as facts.   Tossing in the individual characteristic of smoking or obesity is just one more of your standard character assassination that has nothing to do rational examination of complex problems.  

Do you listen at all to what is written, make any attempt at all to understand the author?   Brooks is a very long way from endorsing the current system and he gives examples of why he believe the system is failing.  I think he accepts that even the poor are deserving of basic health care.  Wow, is he every a puppy loving jerk (sarcastic).     

What bothers me is the foolish looking past expense and focusing only on the ideology.   If we don't control the rising cost that is enriching the medical providers, and their investors,  the cost will be prohibitive for everyone.  

Insurance companies are one of the few groups seeking rational guidelines for medical practices.  They are a scapegoat, not the problem.