Canadian Libertarianism, Brought to You Courtesy of Socialized Medicine

Econ4, which is a group of heterodox economists, has produced a series of videos for laypeople on major political/economic policy issues. Their latest release is on healthcare, or more accurately, our broken healthcare system. From their statement:

This guest column by Secretary Locke was published in the Seattle Times on Friday.**********WHEN Republicans vote next week to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they are voting to repeal a new level of control that American families have over their health-care decisions. They are also voting to make American businesses less competitive in the global economy. Because just 10 months after its passage, the act has brought badly needed change to the American health-care system. The law: • Prevents children with pre-existing conditions from being denied coverage; • Eliminates lifetime caps on the dollar amount insurance companies will spend on enrollees' benefits, like cancer treatment; • Allows children to stay on their parents' insurance plans until they are 26; • Gives tax credits to small businesses to help them afford health care for their employees; and • Takes meaningful steps to lower costs and improve the quality of health care for all Americans But from my perspective as U.S. commerce secretary, one of the most important benefits of the law is that it will make American businesses more competitive by reining in rapidly increasing health-care costs. As President Obama has noted: "We are in a fierce competition among nations for the jobs and industries of the future." The Affordable Care Act will allow American businesses, large and small, to improve their performance against foreign competitors, most of whom have significantly lower health-care costs. The cost savings are real, and they will grow over time.

Sydney Hospital (cc photo by tobym)

Royal Gwent Hospital (NHS Photo)

Across the nation and the world, critics and fervent supporters have accepted an Obama presidency as a fact now. The main message that would stick to the mind of the business minded electorate this election is taxes. Not only Joe the Plumber but many enterpreneurs trying to find safe heaven in the recession now have to think about the new burden "tax-and-spend" policy will bring. Still... what are the facts. Here is the complete Obama tax plan quote:

This New York Times' investigation of a rogue cancer unit within a Philadelphia Veteran's Administration hospital is disturbing stuff. In essence, it seems that Dr. Gary Kao has been performing bradychardias -- a treatment for prostate cancer -- with a terribly high error rate, and using a variety of clerical tricks to cover his mistakes. No one has died, but dozens have suffered.