Health care policy

Say, did you really hear President Bush talking about a health care program in the State of the Union?

A future of hope and opportunity requires that all our citizens have affordable and available health care. When it comes to health care, government has an obligation to care for the elderly, the disabled, and poor children. .... But many Americans cannot afford a health insurance policy. And so tonight, I propose two new initiatives to help more Americans afford their own insurance.

Amazing!

So I checked the blog of Ezra Klein, who to my surprise had confessed before the speech that the rumoured health care proposal didn't sound so shabby. Turns out, he says, the actual announced plan is worse than just shabby.

The Bush administration's health plan is a trap. I'd counsel Democrats to oppose it, but that'll hardly be necessary. The surprising outcome would be if they even notice it.
....
It's almost laughably wrongheaded, and won't survive an instant in Congress

Jonathan Zasloff has more on the fundamental principles and efficiencies, the latter with a link to some simple statistics that will blow your mind.