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| Note to the clueless: a free society does not "produce" doctors |
| 2009-04-27 |
| Prof. Glenn Reynolds, "Instapundit" ...when Obama says “We’re not producing enough primary care physicians,” he’s making a mistake. We don’t produce doctors. They’re not widgets. People choose to become doctors — or something else — based on their analysis of what will produce the best life. Medicine has gotten less pleasant, and less financially rewarding, really, over the past several decades as it’s become more bureaucratized and subject to the whims of third-party payors. So will Obama’s plan fix that? Seems doubtful. Will he recognize that you don’t produce doctors the way you produce, say, cars? That’s doubtful, too. |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #15 Most workers insist on being paid, they're funny that way. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-04-27 21:47 |
| #14 You were misinformed. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-04-27 21:39 |
| #13 Dale, when do I get paid then? |
| Posted by: Steve White 2009-04-27 21:17 |
| #12 Since Doctors will be required to perform abortions regardless of their personal belief during the Big Zero Administration, don't expect an uptick in good and decent people wanting to become doctors in America. |
| Posted by: Wild Indian 2009-04-27 18:11 |
| #11 Number one reason people want to become an MD is for the money from the last survey I heard. TKY Dale |
| Posted by: Dale 2009-04-27 17:16 |
| #10 Pakistani imports |
| Posted by: Jumbo Angaiper1804 2009-04-27 15:29 |
| #9 Meh. As much as I'm in Reynolds' camp in general principles, that's a foolish semantic distinction. Governments don't produce doctors, but societies generally do, and when a politician uses the royal we in a democratic republic, it's reasonable to construe his meaning as "we, the society" rather than "we, the political class" unless specified otherwise. It's an acceptable shorthand in the terms of political economy. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2009-04-27 15:24 |
| #8 In Soviet In Obama's worldview the Government produces everything. Doctors, Cars, Wealth etc.... simply by mandate. Would you want the Surgeon who is tinkering around in your innards to be one who would rather be a cook or plumber or software engineer? (And your right - Goverments don't produce anything - it consumes with a monstrous appetite.) |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-04-27 15:13 |
| #7 Government does not relly "produce" anything. It consumes. |
| Posted by: newc 2009-04-27 14:45 |
| #6 I've never heard an overworked doctor complain about being overworked, but I sure have heard them complain about the way insurers are interfering with the way they practice medicine. The thing I'd complain about is the way the medical profession acts as a cartel to control supply of doctors. Take care of those two problems and it would help our situation. But The One's plan for nationalized medicine is likely to exacerbate those problems, not resolve them. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-04-27 13:42 |
| #5 Ditto Kelly. Let's remember Clinton's health plan. That had everything laid out as to who could do what in medicine. It's not a long step to coercing (aka producing) people to become doctors. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2009-04-27 13:40 |
| #4 going to the doctor costs money, period. If you want everything paid for all the time, become a Swede or stay in Mommys womb. People should pay for their own health care even if trhey are forced to choose between say that shiney new pick up or basic health care... drive the beater and get off the dole |
| Posted by: Be responsible 2009-04-27 13:39 |
| #3 No, I suspect that from President Obama's point of view "produce" is the right word |
| Posted by: Kelly 2009-04-27 12:26 |
| #2 Sea, I concur. Following is my comment from a previous post. The only real solution is to increase the pool of Doctors, nurses, ect. and there is no way to do that that doesn't cost money (recruiting, training, pay sound familiar?). And treating them like a Private entering Basic Training or overworking them will NOT encourage them to stay in the field. Nor will the increasing need for liability insurance to fight off the lawyers. |
| Posted by: tipover 2009-04-27 12:21 |
| #1 People who are smart enough to be doctors are smart enough to do lots of things. There are those who will always be "called" to the healing arts, but there are many others who make it a conscious choice for a profession. Make it too burdensome, and the smart ones will opt out of medicine entirely. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2009-04-27 12:01 |