Medicare as metaphor? Can the differences between conservatives and liberals be resolved? The article argues that there's no such thing as a win-win solution in this argument and that it's the primary battlefield between the big government/small government forces in Congress.
The current House and Senate bills differ a lot, including who's eligible for drugs and who pays, pitting the below-poverty line people against those marginally above it.
In an interesting twist, despite the House Republican leadership's distaste, apparently many of their subjects are leaning toward voting to allow the cross-border importation of drugs. Of course, this hasn't pleased the drug manufacturers at all, and they are huffing and puffing and spending on ad campaigns, so we'll see. Another part of this is that Rev. Louis Sheldon's Traditional Values Coalition has been advocating against the bill, on the grounds that it might make RU-486 "as easy to get as aspirin." That tactic, however, appears to have backfired; several of the most conservative members of the House support the bill, oppose abortion, and call the TVC's issue "bogus." That may be the first time in recorded history I've ever agreed with Rep. Dan Burton of Indiana, by the way.
For something slightly different: if you need a root canal, talk to your dentist about sealing off the offending nerves. It's an underutilized procedure, and apparently much cheaper and less painful.
Posted by Linkmeister at July 22, 2003 12:01 AMFallacy, from my own experience -- root canals don't hurt, per se. I've had seven in the past few years, and sure, you're sore after, but it's a general soreness.
If root canals hurt, then the dentist isn't good...
Posted by: The Other Scott at July 22, 2003 02:18 AMAh, but you and your HMO will feel much less pain in the wallet, too; or so says the story. ;)
Posted by: Linkmeister at July 22, 2003 07:53 AM