[AKA_Monet]

Hoosier-

I disagree with your analogy of medical care. The issue is not about an elective surgery, like lasik, the issue whether not to relieve a subdural hematoma, like the one in Ariel Sharon's head, to enable LIFE. Medical doctors have made an "oath" once they graduated from medical school to "secure that life"--at least in accredited US and Canadian and some European school's they have... The concept of "best practices" is always implored upon residents and fellows. When I attend a "grand rounds", it amazes me how much MD's must know to do their jobs effectively to ensure the best care for their patients.

The issue is many patients, most of them not educated about their healthcare, come in with insurmoutable problems--basically too late to have effective treatment. But our current medical system and establishment at least tries to help people--even when their health outcome is poor. With advancing technology, health might improve. This does not include some malpractice that does go on, but with better patient advocacy and compliancy, healthcare can be improved.

As with the case of Mr. Sharon, he was obviously overweight. He had probably been told to slowdown by his medical doctors. He probably was under a lot of stress and for his age, that kind of stress will kill. I think his MD's are probably doing the best they know how to do, given the circumstances--i.e. he came in a hour away after having another stroke that may have been massive...

So I do not think you can equate having a free market with a "trickle down theory of economy" for either medicine or education. In my view, call me a whatever you want, but both should be a basic human right to have in a so-called pluralistic democracy.

I have played nicely with you and I expect the same kind of discourse from you. If you fail to place nice in the "sandbox", I will take counter-measures--because "one in glass houses ought not throw stones..."