Ah yes, typical medical model thinking, innit?  We will do what's best for the patient, but not actually include their opinion in the considerations.  Sigh.

I find the terms "health care market" and free market democraycy" rather frightening. But then, I find using economic theory in healthcare frightening and inappropriate (as I rant about in my post on the topic this week).  As for the rationing... well, the system's already doing that and not so covertly, but I guess that's not what we're talking about.  Do I sound cynical? Sorry, but so much of what you quoted sounds like the usual scaremongering about the consequences of healthcare reform and it irks me. Because one of the systems that is held out as example of how horrible this "ideological shift" will  be is Canada and as a Canadian, I cannot recognize my healthcare system in these horror stories.  Up here, universal healthcare is a cornerstone of what Canada is about and woe to the politician who starts muttering about privatization (i.e., creating a health care market).

Anyway, I digress.