The Public Option

Well, we silly libs have been pwned again: we already have a "public option" in health care. All you have to do is scream "fire."

Among the hidden costs of the health care crisis is the burden that fire departments across the country are facing as firefighters, much like emergency room doctors, are increasingly serving as primary care providers.

About 80 percent of the calls handled by Engine Company 10 [in Washington, DC] are medical emergencies because the firehouse serves one of the city’s poorest areas, where few residents have health insurance, doctors’ checkups are rare, and medical problems are left to fester until someone dials 911.

Debate over, man, debate over. I guess the good news is that while health emergency calls have tripled over the last 30 years, fire calls have dropped over 40%. Probably because most people are deeply suspicious of government-run fire-fighting. Leads to fasciconiptionism, you know.