With faltering support for President Obama’s government healthcare takeover, a crisis may just be what the doctor ordered. With the administration’s propaganda department (ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and CBS) already running story after story of the upcoming H1N1 – otherwise known as the swine flu – global pandemic they are setting the stage for the administration to claim that had the nation been under a universal system the crisis could have been averted.

I concede that this strain of the flu may be an extremely virulent strain, and that it may be more severe than the seasonal outbreaks of the past few years. But how this would translate into the need for the government to take over the healthcare industry makes no sense. But then again, there is not much that the government does that makes sense. The government can combat this potential pandemic without the need to take over the entire healthcare system. I am sure that it would be far more cost effective for the government to just approve the funds necessary to distribute free (actually tax payer subsidized) vaccinations to anyone that wants to be immunized. And there is the rub in that not everyone is going to get immunized or seek treatment if they become ill. Some people just fear doctors, or think that they are just going to tough it out.

And let us assume that the administration had its coveted healthcare reform in place and fully operational before this pandemic was to strike. How would the government pay for additional stress that would be placed on the system? Would you be denied care (rationing) based on your age, previous health conditions, or some other bureaucratic criteria?

Just remember folks that the last time the Obama administration decided not to let a good crisis go to waste we wound up trillions of dollars in debt and the owners of two car companies.

The Mandarin

The Mandarin, whose real name is 吏恆, joined the order in 1309, and introduced the Gormogons into England during the 18th Century.

The Mandarin enjoys spending time with his pet manticore, Βάρἰκος, or Barry (who can be found in the Bestiary). When not in the Castle…well, frankly, nobody is quite sure where he goes.

The Mandarin popularized the fine art of “gut booting,” by which he delivers a powerful kick to the stomach of anyone that annoys him. Although nearly universal today, the act of gut booting or threatening someone or something with a gut boot is solely due to him.