"...there's lots of money to be made with war..."

"War is health of the state" - Randolph Bourne

New term for the policies of the Bush-Obama administration: "fascialism". A hybrid of Mussolini-style economic control, mixed with Stalinist-style government ownership of the means of production in select industries - specifically health care insurance.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo172.html

Michael Chad - "an unregulated free enterprise capitalist system" is not something we are experiencing. Does this look unregulated to you?: SEC, FTC, FDA, HHS, DEA and State Ins. Commissions. Not to mention a bunch of varying state regulators and regulations, some of which prohibit the sale of certain insurance and medical products within their borders.

All of these agencies along with their specialized library of regulations were created in the 20th century when we witnessed the most outrageous growth in the cost of government and medical care.

Free-market this ain't.

No matter. Ten years from now, when government is even more involved in medical care, no one will remember any history, this conversation, or this insignificant post. We will gaze with awe, into the eyes of our 'god' politicians and once again supplicate their intervention, crying, "Save us!"

And so it goes.

So, you've heard of these evil corporations like Enron, Haliburton, Exxon and Walmart. But how about the more compassionate public sector:

*Mass murder, torture, oppression and imprisonment in wars: Spanish-american, Mexican-American, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Korea, etc. - democratically elected leaders.

*Mass murder, genocide persecution and imprisonment by governments of:Germany, Iraq, Lybia, Italy, Japan, China, etc. by democratically elected leaders.

*Trail of tears - democratically elected leaders.

*Imprisonment of Japanese-Americans - democratically elected leaders.

*Forced repatriation of captured Cossacks to the grueling death of the gulag - democratically elected leader.

*Forced removal of Palestinians from their homes following WWII - democratically elected leader.

I find it comical that Charles Manson is an infamous mass murderer because he directed a handful of people to kill 8 people, yet we excuse leaders who direct government war machines to kill hundreds of thousands on the based on a lie. And these blood soaked hands are the ones to whom we will entrust our medical care? That's crazy!

Hey Charlie, pass me a knife.

So, you've heard of these evil corporations like Enron, Haliburton, Exxon and Walmart. But how about the more compassionate public sector:

*Mass murder, torture, oppression and imprisonment in wars: Spanish-american, Mexican-American, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Korea, etc. - democratically elected leaders.

*Mass murder, genocide persecution and imprisonment by governments of:Germany, Iraq, Lybia, Italy, Japan, China, etc. by democratically elected leaders.

*Trail of tears - democratically elected leaders.

*Imprisonment of Japanese-Americans - democratically elected leaders.

*Forced repatriation of captured Cossacks to the grueling death of the gulag - democratically elected leader.

*Forced removal of Palestinians from their homes following WWII - democratically elected leader.

I find it comical that Charles Manson is an infamous mass murderer because he directed a handful of people to kill 8 people, yet we excuse leaders who direct government war machines to kill hundreds of thousands on the based on a lie. And these blood soaked hands are the ones to whom we will entrust our medical care? That's crazy!

Hey Charlie, pass me a knife.

My Grandfather used to barter his services as a physician for hogs, vegetables, etc.. In those days the government was less involved in the medical industry. It was voluntary

When I was a teenager a benevolent charity paid for my eye operation - Society for the Prevention of Blindness. It was voluntary.

Robert Afolter, Julie and Silverio De la Mora have laid down some great utilitarian arguments.

The real question is this: Is it moral for a majority of the population to loot a minority for the benefit of others. Does need, for whatever reason, justify robbery?

In America we think it's our job to force people to our way of thinking. Renounce communism or we'll blow you up! Renounce Islam or we'll torture you. Give your money to that overweight smoking drug addict, for his medical bills or we'll put you in a 10 X 10 cell with Ben Dover.

Liberty and justice the modern way.

The first library was established by millionaire, Benjamin Franklin, and was subscription based.

If compulsory collective services are so great:

Why is it that the more government gets involved in the medical care insurance industry, the higher the prices soar? Then again, services like Lasik have actually come down in price. Oh right, not covered by insurance.

Why are government socialized education compounds more like prison environments than halls of learning? Bars on the windows, drugs, sex, peer pressure, fights and armed officers to escort the inmates back to their rooms, should they escape?

Why is it that the virtually unregulated consumer electronics industry has continued to produce better quality products at diminishing prices - even in an inflationary economy?

Fire departments can get reimbursed from P&C insurance companies, get better pay and protect the environment. County and municipal run FDs are slow to adapt this free-market solution, when they can be lazy and slovenly at taxpayer expense.

None of the above questions address diminishing choice as the direct result of government intervention. Choice being the active component in a vanishing concept called individual freedom.

I used to say, "If it's in print it must be true." Not because it's actually true, but because THAT is the common perception. With the decline of paper as a medium, it has become increasingly easy and inexpensive to publish catalogs of information that may or may not be useful. Thanks for challenging us to think for ourselves and question authority.

Great event! Friendly people. Informative presentation. Great speakers/teachers. Awesome resources.