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Mar 1, 2012
Volume 68, no. 3 March 2012 The Obama Administration’s mandate that insurance cover contraception, abortifacients, and sterilization “free of charge” is not just a problem for Catholic institutions that provide insurance for employees. All Americans have a conscience—even if they are not affiliated with a politically powerful religious group. The earnings of workers pay insurance premiums even if their employer owns the policy. So if insurance pays for services that are harmful, immoral, or criminal, all subscribers are in effect accessories to a crime. Mandates in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) redistribute guilt as well as wealth. Those who don’t... read more
Jan 1, 2012
Volume 68, no. 1 January 2012 Once big government reaches a critical mass, it may be impossible to turn back. It picks the winners and the losers. The elite in both parties have accepted the premises of the welfare state, central planning, and fiat currency—and in medicine, third-party payment. Being contrary to the laws of economics (human nature), these ideas are historical losers, leading always and everywhere to corruption, oppression, poverty, and death. Beware of the “repeal and replace” mantra—the result might simply be a reshuffling of special interest groups, the temporary winners, while Americans lose their Republic. Craig Cantoni... read more
Dec 1, 2011
Volume 67, no. 12 December 2011 Occupied France was Vichy France. The Nazi invaders were in power, and many French officials were collaborators. Truly patriotic Frenchmen joined the Resistance. Post-war Berlin was occupied by the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. No question about it: the occupiers were victorious foreign invaders, who imposed their laws on the conquered population, seizing property and resources. Why have protestors chosen the term “occupy” to name their movement? Do they not know what it means? Peaceful Assembly, or Revolutionary Phalanx? When AAPS helped to organize Doctors’ Tea Parties, a certain procedure was followed.... read more
Nov 1, 2011
Volume 67, no. 11 November 2011 “Transparency” is the politicians’ mantra, but it lacks the moral overtones of “honesty.” Lack of transparency muddies, obscures, clouds, conceals, covers up, or complicates, resulting in misdirection and deception. It is, in a word, dishonest. To have a free market, honesty is essential. Without honest prices, rational decisions are impossible. One can determine the price of almost everything on the internet—except the true price of most medical services: that is, the price that is actually paid. When prices are freely available—for example, the price of gasoline posted prominently at service stations—and competition is permitted,... read more
Oct 1, 2011
Volume 67, no. 10 October 2011 Everywhere we hear that “our health care system is broken.” But there is deep denial of the fact that the social welfare state is just plain broke. For some politicians, the crisis—framed as a threat that Republicans will break Medicare—is just another power-grabbing opportunity. Sen. Patty Murray, Democrat co-chairman of the deficit reduction super committee, is said to be working to stop any effort to reform Medicare because “Mediscare” is the “biggest advantage we’ve had as Democrats for some time” (Tevi Troy, Commentary, September 2011). The tenth anniversary of “9/11” was a time to... read more
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