Evil socialist French and British scientists breakthrough on Alzheimers

It is often feared in America that a reform of health insurance would destroy profit motive thus grinding medical advancement to a halt.

So how strange it is that a team of British and French scientists just identified three genes associated with Alzheimer's, possibly leading to alleviation or prevention of suffering for hundreds of thousands. Britain and France both have government-run health insurance as a part of their health care systems.

Countries with government health insurance options contribute to medical advancement all the time. How is this possible? The answer to this is critical to America's current debate.

First, creating a public option for health insurance leaves the rest of the system as it is. Hospitals, drug companies, doctors, and some universities all remain private. If they come up with a new idea, they still rake in the dough.

Second, private health insurance companies add NOTHING of value to our health care. They are simply betting on our health using actuarial tables and skimming (whacking is a better verb) profits off the top. Why people are so vehemently defending them boggles the mind.

Finally, profit motive isn't everything. Universities make more money if they make discoveries or inventions, but the discoverers also get prestige and a feeling of accomplishment. Ask a cancer researcher why he or she does what he or she does. Do you think the answer will only be money?

So we don't need to be afraid that a public option will stop medical progress. It won't.