Friday, March 20, 2009


The Cost Of Free Care
Establishing universal government health care might cost as much as $1.5 trillion, according to one new estimate. And what'll we get? As usual, the sorry British system provides another glimpse....

...John Rother, public policy director at the American Association of Retired Persons, a group that would benefit from low-ball estimates, also figures that the program will take $1.5 trillion across a decade.

These, of course, are early estimates. If history is any guide, the real costs will be higher. In fact, the price tag of Obama's plan has already grown. Sheils estimated the scheme Obama pitched while campaigning would cost less than $1.2 trillion.

But don't worry. Everyone will be getting free health care, just as they do in Great Britain, home to a National Health Services hospital in Stafford where thirsty patients drink from flower vases, according to London's Daily Mail, and others are "left in soiled linen on filthy wards."

Stafford, unfortunately, isn't the only British government hospital that's not up to Third World standards. There is documented evi dence of poor care and filthy conditions at other NHS facilities....