Health care reform need not break America's fiscal budget

Now that the President has been elected and the stimulus package passed, Washington is once more at war over American health care. The range of policy proposals made by Democratic and Republican lawmakers has been predictable. More government spending. Insurance mandates. Tax credits. Tort reform. Information technology updates. Prevention and education programs. And, of course, more government spending.Certain key problems with these ideas are already well understood. They would raise America's fiscal burden during a time of growing macroeconomic uncertainty. They could erode monetary incentives for top-flight doctors and researchers to practice in the US. They might outspend or "crowd out" private sector competitors, even if actually less efficient. And, they may foment rationing. Alas, amid these common critiques, the most obvious issue is lost.