Do we claim that Ford duplicates GM and therefore one of hem should go away? Coke and Pepsi offer duplicative products. Do we need to sep up a board that tells where the two can set up shop? Do we have a board that identifies the need for Coke and Pepsi in a given area? Sounds stupid doesn't it?
That's because it is. We derive efficiency and savings from Ford and GM competing with one another. We get (and yeah I know using American brands doesn't strengthen what I'm going to say) innovation, higher quality and lower prices when Ford and GM, Coke and Pepsi compete for our favors. One area where we don't do that is health care. Exhibit A is the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, that under both Republican and Democratic Administrations has been rife with corruption.
At Spontaneous Solutions I suggest that maybe instead of holding hearings on the reforming the board on Monday, maybe the Senate GOP should be talking about eliminating it:
"It would be a great way to burnish ones small government credentials by pushing for the abolition of the Health Facilities Planning Board. On the corruption front, you'd be taking away the cookie jar. On the small government front you'd be shrinking the size and scope of governenment -- as well as bringing down a central planning relic. Finally, anything that brings more competition into health care will bring with it, innovation efficiency and greater quality while lowering the costs of health services (albeit marginally)."
