American Values Must be Marginalized to Advance Government Controlled Medical Care

Today’s New England Journal of Medicine features another, in a long line, of editorials championing more government involvement in your medical care and ultimately every aspect of your life. This article is particularly nauseating in that not only does it trumpet that “a single-payer system beats the competition hands down,” but it’s author Dr. Allan Brett takes a shot at the millions of Americans who believe that our great nation has achieved its exalted position in history because of a unique set of values and beliefs. Sure, if you deny that American values exist or scoff at the idea of American exceptionalism you might find reference to them as a “smoke screen” to the health care debate. But, to those of us who recognize that individual responsibility, free markets and trade, right to contract, and the right to choose and pursue one’s own interests are among the values that have made the United States the greatest, most generous, most successful nation that has ever existed do not consider their discussion superfluous. Alternatively, creating a panel of elitists like Dr. Brett who will decide whether or not you can see a physician or specialist, what your provider can ultimately do for you, and whether or not your life is worth covering is unquestionably antithetical to these American values. If the government can control your healthcare it can dictate virtually anything in your life.