July 13, 2002:

Stan Warford on Public Health Care

Court recommends "statewide public control over all health-care dollars so that money can be directed to where it's most needed." This proposal is the third step in the evolution of much public policy. The first step is to identify a problem, insufficient provision of health care for a segment of the population in this case. The second step is to attempt a solution by government interference in the market, which makes the problem worse. The third step is to claim that the worsened situation is caused by a failure of the market and to propose more government regulation, which continues to make the problem worse.

The idea that a government agency can effectively allocate all health-care dollars is a fantasy that may provide benefits in the short term, but that will only make the problem worse in the long run.

Stan Warford
Malibu