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The Spectacle Blog

Capturing the Essence of Government-Run Medicine

By Doug Bandow on 8.31.09 @ 9:25AM

Dr. Alan Boyd of Vanderbilt University understands:

Probably the greatest benefit to socialized health care is the freedom inherent in having our vocation changed from a profession to a job. We'll no longer have to keep up on the latest medications, procedures and research in our field. Cutting-edge medicine will be reduced anyway, given that investigative medical pursuits will no longer be funded. As federal employees, the quality of our work will be irrelevant. It's not like we can get fired, and besides, where's the public going to turn? Canada?

Indeed, where will they turn? But then, ending private choice is the very purpose of imposing government control over the health care system.

View all comments (6) | Leave a comment

Tim| 8.31.09 @ 9:49AM

Strange that the trial lawyers are going to allow the Dems to pluck and bake their golden goose.

Pete| 8.31.09 @ 11:24AM

I'll say it again. This is the scariest effect of Obamacare...turning smart, driven doctors into government drones with no way to get ahead and little incentive to innovate.

Dixie Pixie| 8.31.09 @ 12:25PM

To: Tim

The trial lawyers get a brand new honey pot to pick clean called the US Treasury.

Kevin, Meath| 8.31.09 @ 3:18PM

Sorry lived in the UK most of my life with government health and what the article proposess doen't sound what I've experience. My wife trained and worked in a Welsh Hospital and she most definately cared about her patients as did all her co-workers that I encountered over the years. Most work for proffessional pride not money.

Sue| 8.31.09 @ 11:20PM

They can save a lot of money in complying with government continuing education too. The government will put on the programs:

"How to smother grandma without making noise."

"How to pass along infectious diseases so everyone dies in the multi-bed ward at the same time."

"How to wheel a four-wheeled gurney with only three wheels into the emergency room."

I'm only kidding!

Sue| 8.31.09 @ 11:24PM

Well, Kevin I'm happy that you believe that "most" work for professional pride not money.

I do believe that "unions" kind of discourages that "pride" thing over here and it's always about money.
Oh, and the occasional work rule - "I'm not emptying the bed pans!"

Besides, we're a republic and in a republic, our government just cannot (and shouldn't) implement policy that is unconstitutional. And, this universal health care is. (They would have to call it a "tax" and get away with it that way.)

So, methinks you should not try to push your way of life on us, maybe.