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January 23, 2004

The Failure of Socialized Medicine, Part 410

This time, it's our pals the French who are learning that there's no such thing as a free lunch, let alone a free transplant.

Thousands of French health workers have held a one-day strike to protest against government plans to cut costs in the country's health system...

But the government insists reforms are necessary to reduce an annual health budget deficit of 10 billion euros.

Unions had called for a day of stoppages and demonstrations, to demand more staff and better working conditions.

Let's see, the national healthcare budget is already 10 billion Euros in the hole, and the unions want more staff and better conditions. Sounds like that might cost money. I wonder where they'll get it? I also wonder if "taxes" will be the first word French children learn in the near future.

"Fixing it will be very, very difficult," said Pierre Lellouche, of the governing UMP party.

"People are used to this incredible generosity. If you need an operation, you need a free operation immediately."

It's not generosity. The government is not looking into its bureaucratic heart and saying "Awwww, here ya go, le sport." Rather it is redistributing wealth - the generosity, if it exists, lies with those who pay the most taxes.

It is expected that the proposals suggested by experts on Friday will include an unpopular increase in income-related taxes.

Told you so.

This should be a warning to Americans that proposals such as Ted Kennedy's new push for national healthcare are doomed to failure. At least once the electorate tires of being taxed out the ass for it.