As the health care reform debate rages in Congress, the establishment of a new publicly funded medical insurance provider seems to be on center stage. With their monopoly on power in Washington, the Democrats are fully intent on creating yet another new government agency to handle this function. This is hardly shocking; the Democrats have always represented growth in government.
But what is interesting and new is the argument being used that the creation of such entity will keep the private sector competitive and on its toes. This novel idea represents a first. Where, one is tempted to ask, has the public sector ever provided honest competition to the private sector?