My Freeman colleague Sheldon Richman here takes on Paul Krugman’s latest effort at cleverness and completely blows him away.
Krugman feebly attempts to make the case for a system of government health care, claiming that health care should be recognized as a “right.” Richman replies that the “right to health care” is a counterfeit right, just as are all other claimed rights that require the coercion of some people in order that others may enjoy their “right.”
Krugman wants to ratchet up the degree of governmental power so people can have the carefree world of universal health care. It won’t work out very well, but next there will be another visionary demanding another government program to improve society in a different way. Gradually, freedom dies the death of a thousand cuts. People like Paul Krugman who use the knife are the great malefactors of mankind.