Quick Roundup 242

Paul Hsieh on "Single-Payer" Medical Care

Paul Hsieh of Noodle Food has had his editorial on socialized medicine published as an op-ed by the Ayn Rand Institute.

Because of the waiting lists, mortality rates for treatable conditions such as breast cancer and prostate cancer are significantly higher in than in the U.S. A Canadian woman who discovers a lump in her breast might wait for months before she receives the surgery and chemotherapy she needs, with the cancer cells multiplying rapidly as each week goes by. If she lived in the United States, she could receive treatment within days.

This tax on time is especially cruel because the burden falls hardest on the sickest patients, i.e., those with the least time to spare.

It is bad enough that the government has succeeded, through tax law and subsidies, in causing many to balk at paying for their own medical care. It is worse that the current medical debate fixates on money to the exclusion of time (i.e., life itself). Nice reminder, Paul!

State Senator Sues God

Every state has at least one crackpot in its legislature, and it would appear that Nebraska's is named "Ernie Chambers". In any event, he is trying to make a point about frivolous lawsuits by filing one against God.

I'm not really sure what that point is, but Chambers, intentionally or not, makes a very good point about God that indirectly points to one about religion as a basis for morality.

The lawsuit accuses God "of making and continuing to make terroristic threats of grave harm to innumerable persons, including constituents of Plaintiff who Plaintiff has the duty to represent."

He's right. What difference is there between what terrorists do and what religious people ascribe to their deities?

I find it both alarming and sad that billions of people around the world base their whole moral code on fear and the notion of placating an imaginary Divine Terrorist rather than reason and the goal of living happy lives.

Galileo Blogs on Greenspan and Taxes

Galileo notes that Alan Greenspan unintentionally made a good argument against central banking during a recent interview:

Greenspan said that he was aware at the time that questionable mortgage credit was being extended by banks, but he admitted he was unaware how pervasive it was or how impactful on the economy. He just didn't see the problem as it was developing.

That is his argument against the Fed, whether he realizes it or not.

Puzzled? Intrigued? Then stop by his blog.

GB also has some thoughts on the so-called "Fair Tax".

-- CAV