The distain for people isn't the reason, it's the side effect. The goal is profit, profit above all else. The problem the US (and most everyone) has is it's very hard to put the cat back in the bag.

After WW2 many countries were decemated and people banded together to help each other. This became the basis for social healthcare. They didn't have huge corporate interests to fight against as so much was already dismantled.

The US however came out on top with healthy industry so there was no "start from scratch" point. Because of this any attempt at socializing healthcare comes at the cost of destroying the profits of all the companies that have been built on the back of the current system. Capitalism is built on investment and investors do NOT like losing profits. Therefore maintaining the status quo so that investments remain stable is priority #1.

The sad truth is that things have to get bad, really bad, before people consider a complete reboot. Up until recently it's only been really bad for the poor, now the shrinking middle class is starting to feel it. Eventually it will become to much to bear, but until then there's still more sweet profit in the next quarter.