McCain and the Free Market
April 22nd, 2008 by Peter SudermanDean Baker is technically correct to say that John McCain “doesn’t support free-market health care,” but mostly in the sense that absolutely everyone who supports, even grudgingly, leaving some of the current government health-care funding and regulatory infrastructure in place doesn’t support free-market health care. Moreover, the article he links to doesn’t even claim that McCain supports a purist free-market approach, only that his policy proposals rely more heavily on free-market ideas than that of his competitors (though his announcement of a special Medicaid trust fund to cover people who can’t get insurance due to pre-existing conditions makes that less true). Perhaps most annoying is Baker’s accusation that McCain’s support for drug patents should be a reason to strip the candidate’s free-market credentials. That’s fairly absurd, nearly like saying that anyone who supports police protection of property rights doesn’t really believe in free markets. It’s true that free-marketers have differing views on the scope of patent law and IP protections. And, yes, some even believe that there should be no patents. But it’s hardly settled free-market dogma that patents should not exist, period, and it’s vexing that Baker, who knows better (or ought to), should make such a claim.
April 22nd, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Not vexing to those of us who pay attention to, well, who McCain actually is and what McCain actually says. We warned you about Bush as well.
And on that note, Sickle’s out for good. Nice playing with everyone.
Peter, you keep going. I expect you’ll be onto bigger and better things soon. Travel more. Go to poor areas of town. Question your assumptions. I’ve watched your writing and positions get more nuanced over the past few months, and you can make compelling arguments that rise above the politics. You’re an impressive guy, keep the faith.
Chris and Brendan: Thank goodness for wingnut welfare, eh?