>Cecil, for your reference is the definition of socialism:
>
>http://www.google.com/dictionary?aq=f&langpair=en|en&q=socialism&hl=en
>
>Notice in particular the phrases "equal opportunity" (emphasis mine) and "owned by the state." So who is delusional?
>
>>The following is the definition of DELUSIONAL: (No offense intended)
>>
>>>It is not socialism and I am really, really, REALLY tired of that epithet being hurled at everything Obama does. Nor do I agree that the new system will be the disaster you describe.
>>
>>>I don't hope it wrecks our existing insurance system but I do hope the industry is forced to change for our benefit. They have been putting us in need of proctologists for quite a while now.

I'm going to jump in here as an outsider who is looking into the USA at it's health care system. The argument to leave the system alone is good in principle. It is free enterprize. If there is trouble with American medicine it is this: General care such as a trip to the doctor's office for a check up or a minor medical fix is, for the most part, as it should be. You go. You are examined. A prescription is written and after a week on meds you are cured. However, when a person is in a life threatening situation, the doctor is automatically placed in a position to extract huge profits from the patient who is in dire distress. Consistently, people who cannot afford, or are denied health insurance, lose their homes and retirement savings which are used to fight what in many cases is a losing battle with diseases that show up in the last decade of a person's time on the earth. Of course all is justified in the billing, but many families become destitute because of it. There was a time, about sixty or more years ago (I was there) that free enterprize had a heart. The process was called 'Christian Charity'. People helped other people, neighbors looked after neighbors when someone lost a job or hit hard times. We actually liked each other. Things have changed. The trust is gone. Generally speaking circles of friends are much smaller. But, I digress, so in summary and in spite of my right wing views, the USA needs some form of insurance for all people to cover catestrophic health problems. All people have a right to be healthy and doctors have a right to a good living. A solution must be found.

PS - When doctor "A" gets cancer and doctor "B" treats him, how much is the bill?