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Slapping the Camel's Nose [liberal economist vs national health care reform]
The Atlantic ^ | 11 Aug 2009 | Megan McArdle

Posted on 08/13/2009 6:23:20 PM PDT by Lorianne

When I wrote the other week about why I am opposed to national health care, a number of people angrily demanded to know why I was writing about something that "no one is proposing". Now, this is clearly a lunatic statement. I was writing about something that many people were proposing. I just wasn't writing about the nebulous bills currently wending their way through various committees.

I hadn't intended to. I was writing about my deeper opposition to the entire project of providing, paying for, or otherwise guaranteeing health care. Since for most people on the left, this is akin to declaring that I would like to take up killing orphans in my spare time, I outlined why I think that this is morally correct even if you take the liberal set of initial values, and don't place any moral weight on taxation or other coercive action by the state. I have voiced my various practical objections to the particular options on the table at various moments. But the main thing is that I don't want to give the government a greater role in health care markets. Nay, not even if all the other countries . . . well, all the cool countries, anyway . . . are doing it. To the liberals proclaiming that, unlike those of us in the conservative or libertarian camps, they are practical people just seeking the best way to make us all better off, I say: I think your utilitarian calculus is badly wrong.

(Excerpt) Read more at meganmcardle.theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government
KEYWORDS: bhohealthcare; biggovernment; camelsnose; keepowt

1 posted on 08/13/2009 6:23:22 PM PDT by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

I absolutely agree with this. No bill is the only way we’ll come out of this whole. They’ve already won the public PR that we “need health reform now how do we do it.”

BULL. If, as is the case, anything Congress proposes is going to increase their power over us and take away our choice, cost us more money, and destroy our quality of care, why would we need that?

Indeed, slap that camel’s nose!


2 posted on 08/13/2009 6:30:16 PM PDT by Kenny
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To: Kenny
Wow, Megan McArdle is a sharp cookie (whatever that means) who "Gets it" with a capital "G"...

Where has she been all my life?

I think that I'm in love...

3 posted on 08/13/2009 7:05:05 PM PDT by Zeppo (Save the cheerleader, save the world...)
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To: Zeppo

She is obviously a “keeper”.


4 posted on 08/13/2009 8:22:37 PM PDT by kenavi (No legislation longer than the Constitution.)
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