What [George F.] Will’s position reflects instead is ideology: who cares that the federal government could build a better mousetrap? They’re the government and that’s bad. His argument is really no more sophisticated than that. If a libertarian conservative wants to make this argument, more power to them, but they absolutely should not be turning around and suggesting that a public option would raise health care costs. They’re saying, rather, that they’re morally opposed to the cost savings that would ensue.
If you’ve been reading me for a while, you’ll know that, as compared with most self-described liberals, I’m unusually sympathetic toward the notion of the profit motive and private industry; I’ve defended Wall Street bankers and the AIG bonuses at various points during the financial crisis, among other things. It’s my belief that private industry is usually able to deliver more efficient outcomes to the consumer than the government could.
But usually isn’t always. And health insurance, as Will seems to admit, is one of those exceptions.
Nate Silver (via doublejack)
I love it when Nate gets all rational like this.
