"Capitalism is a wonderful thing; but it shouldn't apply to health care."

Tim Cavanaugh | August 26, 2008

If I seemed too sanguine about the probability that the Democrats might be instituting mandatory universal health care for cats as soon as they're in office, an hour or two listening to the California Nurses Association, Progressive Democrats of America and friends has been more than enough to make me afraid, very afraid.

And the terror isn't stemming only from the horrendous pair of white shoes Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) was wearing while addressing the health care groups:

A very doddering Conyers (who graciously supplied this post with its title) got a standing O by calling for the impeachment of Bush, Cheney, Carl Rove, Bebe Rebozo, Tony Snow's heirs and assigns, and the surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

After that it was a fete d'HR 676. No more insurance (it's worse than casino gambling!), no more health "coverage," nothing but health care, no more heart attacks, breast cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure or persistent chronic halitosis. All these things will come to pass when Joe Biden ascends to the vice presidency. And why shouldn't they? It turns out the hospital and pharmaceutical industries are "destroying this country," according to CNA Prez Deborah Berger.

I know CNA to be a group maniacally committed to single-payer health care, but after a half-dozen harangues about how our health care situation is worse than Bolivia's, I'm wondering if even a Canadian model will be extreme enough. (My favorite theme of the night has been the call for "uniform treatment." That's the way to put humanity and individual dignity back into this "dysfunctional, inhumane system.")

I've soared too long in the New Democrat clouds. I forgot who really keeps them aloft.  

On the other hand, they've still got plenty of booze, Hillary's about to start speaking on the jumbotron, and I'm in for the duration. Go, Barack, go! Why shouldn't Reason be on the hook for my RSI?

Comments

SIV|8.26.08 @ 10:54PM|#

Vote McCain!

We'll get the cat health insurance slower and it will have some market based "choice" element.

Damon|8.26.08 @ 11:11PM|#

You're the f*ing MAN, Tim.

Emily Post|8.26.08 @ 11:12PM|#

"And the terror isn't stemming only from the horrendous pair of white shoes Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) was wearing while addressing the health care groups"

Tim, it is not yet Labor Day.

Matt|8.26.08 @ 11:40PM|#

Vote McCain!

My cold, dead fingers will pull the lever for Walnuts.

Diebold|8.26.08 @ 11:43PM|#

pull the lever....

|8.27.08 @ 12:06AM|#

my favorite part of the proposed NHI bill...

'Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting the sale of health insurance coverage for any additional benefits not covered by this Act, such as for cosmetic surgery or other services and items that are not medically necessary'

so they basically want to outlaw any private health insurance except for anything 'not medically necessary', which would pretty much include any private health insurance. oh except for plastic surgery coverage. which to my knowledge doesn't exist.

i am praying that no bill like the NIH proposal ever passes. what if i don't want the government's crappy health plan? wow. somebody should inform those bureaucrats that we live in the USA.

|8.27.08 @ 12:10AM|#

The conversation has gone beyond bad policy and on to open hostility to good ideas. I used to feel somewhat OK about Obama. At least in comparison to McCain. But now I remember why libertarians don't get along with the Democrats either. It's lookin like a long ride no matter which way this one turns out...

Anonymous|8.27.08 @ 12:15AM|#

I laugh. (For the Godwin-Law-adverse, please skip to the last paragraph.)

No, Nazis weren't socialist. The name was just a ploy. They actually got rid of unions and insurance plans and evil overcharging railroads!

And then they folded it into the state, so it can be centrally planned like any good Bol would do. Because there are no market failures, there are only failing markets. For the good of the collective, the evil individual and his evil independent evil choice evil of evil evil evil desire evil; victory welfare.

Seriously: government is a self-defense pact, not a suicide pact. When you find government advertising a platform of giving away tiny pies instead of actually fighting off the crows eating the naturally-occuring humongus pie, then it's time to do away with it.

Orange Line Special|8.27.08 @ 1:16AM|#

As one of TonyPierce's "real reporters", one would think that Kavanaugh could have button-holed someone from the PDA and engaged in a SocraticDialogue with them, destined for Youtube.

As much as I laugh at MaxBlumenthal, at least he has the guts to ask questions on videotape.

|8.27.08 @ 2:16AM|#

The Democrats will never let a nationalized health care program come to pass...

If the Democrats created a nationalized health care system, and it turned out to be a FEMA like disaster (and lets face it, it will be), the Democrats will get all the blame.

The Democrats get much more political mileage pretending to be for nationalized health care, and then blaming the lack of some Utopian "Universal Healthcare" system on the greedy evil Republicans.

The health care issue for Democrats is a lot like abortion is for Republicans. The Democrats worst fear is that they might actually be forced to deliver on health care, just like the Republicans breath a sigh of relief every time some state or local legislators restriction on abortion gets stricken down by the supreme court.

Matt Welch|8.27.08 @ 4:01AM|#

As one of TonyPierce's "real reporters", one would think that Kavanaugh could have button-holed someone from the PDA and engaged in a SocraticDialogue with them, destined for Youtube.

1) Cavanaugh starts with a "C.
2) He never worked for Tony Pierce.
3) He doesn't, in fact, work for the L.A. Times.
4) The people who work for Tony Pierce are not called "real reporters." They're called "bloggers."
5) We've been videotaping some interviews (including those konducted by Kavanaugh) and will be posting them.

|8.27.08 @ 10:22AM|#

The health care issue for Democrats is a lot like abortion is for Republicans. The Democrats worst fear is that they might actually be forced to deliver on health care.

I don't think so, Rex. For one thing, the Dems don't have the cover of a SCOTUS decision barring them from their goal. For another, they know, at some level, that the more they can make Americans dependent on Big Government for essentials, the more they lock in a structural advantage.

I've been predicting for the last several months that, if Obama wins, we will see universal Medicare no later than early in his second term.

Why universal Medicare? Because that system is already in place, and its easier to expand it than to re-invent the wheel (the critical failure of HillaryCare back in the day).

Why early in Obama's second term? Because after re-election is when Presidents have the most political capital and leverage over Congress. If Congress hasn't done it before then, that will push them over the top.

As a health care lawyer, the disruption and uncertainty will easily get me through to retirement. Then, its off to Costa Rica!

John|8.27.08 @ 11:59AM|#

I'm less worried about this than most around here for two reasons. One, this is about universal health insurance not british style health care. In other words, Britain has the doctors as employees of the state which is not what is being put forward by anyone in the US.

Secondly, I don't have free market for health insurance now. I, like 90% of us, get my insurance through my employer. The insurance company doesn't have to respond to my concerns at all and I can exert no market pressure on them.

I have no confidence that they will be there for me and pretty much assume that if anything goes really wrong they'll find some loophole to not deliver. In the meantime I have to pay a big chunk every month that is probably not lower than the supposed tax hike that republicans always warn me about.

Orange Line Special|8.27.08 @ 12:37PM|#

MattW:

I'm sorry if I hurt Tim Cavanaugh's feelings or anything, and the "real reporters" bit referred to this TonyPierce quote.

However, I look to Reason as the last shining hope for AmericanDemocracy, even more so than BHO. Accordingly and in line with BHO's set, I'd like Reason to engage in a series of SocraticDialogues with newsmakers in an attempt to get the truth. Not simply to get the same talking points as other, lesser reporters, but to actually get the truth. I know Reason won't let me down.

|8.27.08 @ 2:43PM|#

CNA is just a union. The fact that their members are nurses doesn't somehow innoculate them from the stupidities unions eventually gravitate towards -- like trashing the organizations that sign their paychecks.

|8.27.08 @ 6:05PM|#

Of course capitalism shouldn't apply to health care. Some doctors, being human beings, will seek to maximise their income given the chance. So in a private system, what's to stop them amputating my leg above the knee rather than at the ankle if that'll get them more money? Or are they all saints doing it from the goodness of their hearts?