American Individualism isn’t a Bug, Man.
Before this morning, I had no idea who Dr. Donald Berwick is nor why I should care. After reading Pat Austin’s post on the fine doctor, whom President Obama wants to head up the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, I’m sorry I know his name.
See, Dr. Berwick is a bureaucrat, one of a small horde the administration is amassing, who thinks all your health decisions should be made by a bureaucrat, ostensibly one much smarter than either you or your doctor. You know, a bureaucrat like him.
“The more I have studied it, the more I believe that less discretion for doctors would improve patient safety.” He then looks down. “Doctors will hate me for saying that.”
They aren’t the only ones. Patients will hate Dr. Berwick for replacing the nigh-sacred bonds between them and their doctors with a determination made by some stranger in Washington based on cost and not care.
Dr. Berwick’s biggest problem, though, is that he carries the bog-standard progressive lament that we fiercely-independent Americans are simply uncontrollable. We do not line up to follow a leader, especially not a leader placed in front of us by those who believe themselves smarter and more qualified to make our decisions than we ourselves.
To Dr. Berwick I would say, read a history book, sir. The “ungovernableness” you consider a bug is, in fact, a feature.
Other Posts of Interest:
- Save the Tonsils! Pass Obamacare!
- Don’t Like the Tune? Try Paying the Piper Yourself
- Leading Off for the Obamas, Tom Daschle
Category: Health Care Craziness, The Rise of the Nanny State
How dare you speak that way about DOCTOR DEATH PANEL!