Eugene Robinson: The Good Ol’ Days Before Anesthesia

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from Truthdig:




The Good Ol’ Days Before Anesthesia

Posted on Apr 29, 2010
By Eugene Robinson


If you haven’t heard the name Sue Lowden, brace yourself. She is a Republican who might well become a U.S. senator from Nevada, and judging by her idea for containing health care costs—critics call it “chickens for checkups”—she threatens to make Sarah Palin sound like some kind of pointy-headed policy wonk.

Yes, I said chickens.

There is a larger point to be made about the kind of thinking, or non-thinking, that Lowden exemplifies. But first, it’s my duty to recap her perilous foray into health care policy, which sounds like a good premise for a Monty Python sketch.

Lowden, a wealthy gambling executive, leads the Republican field in the primary campaign for the right to challenge the Democratic incumbent, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. She a former Nevada state senator, a former head of the state GOP, a former television anchorwoman and a former Miss New Jersey. Polls show her leading Reid by at least 10 points.

Three weeks ago, at a candidate forum, Lowden criticized the new health care reform law and laid out her preferred alternatives. She asserted that “bartering is really good” and that people should “go ahead and barter with your doctor.” ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_good_ol_days_before_anesthesia_20100429/