Socialized Medicine

In 1961 Reagan spoke out against socialized medicine. Since 1965 when Medicare and Medicaid were enacted, the federal government controls payment for most U.S. healthcare: hospitals, drugs, doctors, nurses, and so on. Has this been a blessing or a curse?

Milton Friedman, the small, talkative, smiling genius, perhaps the best economist ever, argued that governments should give the deserving needy money to buy education, housing, and healthcare, but should never give goods or services such as ...