The more we expect government to provide our basic needs, the more we become a nation dependent on government largess, rather than independent individuals personally empowered to earn the values we seek. It has already happened in education. Government programs have crowded out private alternatives, currently providing 90% of primary and secondary schooling. Without affordable private alternatives, parents are reduced to lobbying politicians for funding, and supporting campaigns to squeeze more tax money from their neighbors. It has already happened in medical insurance for the elderly. Medicare, a wealth redistribution program misnamed "insurance," pays for the health care of our nation's elderly, and has reduced the private insurance industry for this market segment to only 1% of seniors. None can compete with Medicare's mandatory contributions, or the IRS as its collection agency. Patients over the age of 65 are captive to the budgetary...(Read Full Post)