IMHO there seems to be an irrational obsession with medical care. People realize logically that advanced medical care is not the most important contributor to human health, yet there is still this emotional attachment. Example: Michael Moore is great, and SICKO is a great movie, but logically if the guy is concerned with health he should immediately drop many pounds, because what medical spending can do to help most people is greatly exaggerated.

Absolutely true. But if you can sell people on the need for products to decrease underarm odor or fly-away hair, you can sell them on "better health" a lot more easily. Especially if they don't have to pay directly for it.

Medical care is important at a basic level (probably less so than good public health) -- but it has gone insane because the purpose of it has been forgotten in the rush to make money. "Healthcare" is right up there with "defense" as a money machine.