THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS IS STILL EVIL. Econ Log's Arnold Kling sees no reform of medicine in the works.

The basic problem that the Democrats have with health care reform is that when it comes to taking our system away from free markets, there is just not that much farther we can go. We already regulate the practice of medicine and allied health services with licensing cartels. We already regulate individual health insurance practically out of existence, particularly in states that require "community rating" and "must-carry," which force insurance companies to charge the same price to all comers, which means that the only price they can safely charge is the price that assumes you are only asking for insurance because you just came down with a really expensive illness. We already have government insuring the poor and the elderly.

Missing: any contemplation of laws parallel to those for automobile insurance, in which most states require each vehicle to be licensed, but the competing insurance companies generally don't include oil changes and bulb replacements in their base policies. On the other hand, they sometimes throw in sweeteners. My newest policy includes pet coverage, apparently at no additional charge, although I carry checked baggage but not livestock.