|
|
|
July 16, 2009
Why not ration the rationalizations of rationality?
In an excellent discussion of what Obamacare will mean, Rick Moran (in a piece titled "Word to the Wise: Don't Get Sick"), touches on another obnoxious idea from noted euthanasia and infanticide advocate Peter Singer: that we should ration health care. The trouble is, Singer (an "ethicist" -- which is like calling Caligula a "moralist") seems to have a very odd definition of rationing: Pharmaceutical manufacturers often charge much more for drugs in the United States than they charge for the same drugs in Britain, where they know that a higher price would put the drug outside the cost-effectiveness limits set by NICE. American patients, even if they are covered by Medicare or Medicaid, often cannot afford the copayments for drugs. That's rationing too, by ability to pay.If ability to pay constitutes "rationing," then the entire free market system constitutes a gigantic rationing scheme (and hence it's OK to impose government rationing). If I buy Budweiser beer because I cannot afford Corona, then by Singer's standards, that's beer rationing. If I can't afford to fly to Tahiti this weekend, it means air travel has been "rationed." I suppose socialists think that way, though. No wonder it's impossible to have a rational discussion with such people. If only they could be rationed! posted by Eric on 07.16.09 at 02:33 PM
Comments
Who needs health care? Sick people. Hugh · July 16, 2009 07:38 PM Socialists don't think. They just accrue degrees. Brett · July 17, 2009 08:14 AM Since many other countries limit the amount they will pay for patented drugs, U.S. consumers must pay higher prices, in order that drug R&D may continue. If we weren't carrying the ball for the rest of the world, those drugs might not exist at all. That, too, may be seen as a form of rationing -- by non-existence. I buy Budweiser because Carry Nation Beer doesn't exist. Robert Beck · July 17, 2009 11:38 AM Post a comment
You may use basic HTML for formatting.
|
|
July 2009
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR
Search the Site
E-mail
Classics To Go
Archives
July 2009
June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 May 2002 AB 1634 MBAPBSAAGOP Skepticism See more archives here Old (Blogspot) archives
Recent Entries
• It Was 40 Years Ago Today
• Health Care - Putting Patients In Charge • What we call "entitlements" are merely laws. That's obvious, right? • Human Rights • Planned economic mayhem? (Can't say we weren't warned....) • Why not ration the rationalizations of rationality? • It happens to us all • To all commenters: Your words are not junk. • If MADD has run out of things to do, I'd like to help! • Baby lies can be good!
Links
Site Credits
|
|
Everything is rationed, if not by price, then by statists. Give me price, not Pelosi.