🚀 go-pugleaf

rms1@my-deja.com wrote:

> 
> Excellent post.  

Thanks for the kind words.

> Keep in mind that price controls are hardly exclusive
> to Democrats.  Nixon favored price controls on oil, for example.  

Price controls were also tried in both WWI and WWII.  Here's some info 
on WWII:

	"The effectiveness of OPA's measures is subject to some debate. While 
OPA pointed to an overall 31-percent rise in retail prices in World War 
II compared to a 62-percent rise in World War I (1914�1918), undoubtedly 
a black market developed in response to price controls. Maintenance of 
product quality was a constant concern. OPA even colorfully noted in its 
Twelfth Quarterly Report "a renaissance of cattle rustlers in the West." 
Reports from OPA's Enforcement Division show that 650,000 investigations 
were conducted for all of 1943, with 280,000 violations found. In 1944, 
a total of 338,029 violations were reported, with 205,779 administrative 
warning letters sent out. Court proceedings were initiated in almost 
29,000 cases."

The preceding is from:

	http://www.answers.com/topic/office-of-price-administration

Price controls almost never are successful, IMNSHO...

> 
> Glad to see you are doing well, and that you received prompt
> treatment.  It's important to note that in Britain and Canada, many
> individuals choose private health coverage if they can afford it.
> 

We knew many in both countries who went to private coverage that way. 
Toronto is right across the lake fro Buffalo, NY.  You can see it from 
the top of the CN tower.  We knew many who needed elective surgery, such 
as a hip replacement, who went to Buffalo for their treatment rather 
than wait many months or, in some cases, years.  Here is an example of 
the *benefits* of the Canadian system:

	http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7441/660-a

That is too long to wait for treatment, and experiences like that are 
what prompted my remarks.

Regards...

Tom