[Maelstrom]

It is of particular note that the residents have attempted to resort to barter to compensate for the failures of socialism.

I could almost predict that such attempts to subvert the socialist system is illegal.

Consider, for example, if the residents had, instead of the items listed for barter...free food...free services...free vehicle...if they had instead set up an operating room for the two doctors.

Socialism has a fundamental flaw: It removes the power to allocate scarce resources from the point of economic impact where the decision must be made to a centralized point where it is impossible to have the correct information concerning all parties within an appropriate period of time in order to make the proper decision.

[Jim Noble]

It is of particular note that the residents have attempted to resort to barter to compensate for the failures of socialism. I could almost predict that such attempts to subvert the socialist system is illegal.

Hillarycare (the detailed proposal) specified a $50 000 fine and/or five years in prison for treating a patient outside the system.

The actual proposal contained many interesting and important reflections of what American socialists are planning, or fantasize about.

They clearly spent a lot of time thinking about how our liberties would tend to counteract their "solution", and planned accordingly.

Of course, as everywhere else, the politicians and their favorites would have access to a parallel system.

[seowulf]

Socialism has a fundamental flaw: It removes the power to allocate scarce resources from the point of economic impact where the decision must be made to a centralized point where it is impossible to have the correct information concerning all parties within an appropriate period of time in order to make the proper decision.

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Correct observation. Socialism in all its forms is the cause of the problem. Every socialist "solution" from progressive income taxes to free government education allocates resources inefficiently.

If there were no taxes on income (work), then there would be no incentive for peoples medical insurance to be connected to employment. Since there is a tax on income, workers want that income sheltered by having part of their income provided in "free" benefits, like health insurance. Of course government gets to make the rules on how businesses must provide the insurance. People began to believe years ago that they are not responsible for their own health because it was taken out of their hands. Now they think government or their employer are responsible for their health (witness the grocery store strikes). Now, not only do they not take proper precautions for their own benefit (healthy eating, exercise) but they expect someone else to fix everything with those "free" drugs and healthcare.