Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Yes, I'd like free candy

Professor Bainbridge looks at the poll questions on health care reform.
The trouble with these sort of polls is that they almost never ask the right followup questions: How much would you be willing to see your insurance premiums rise if "insurers [are banned] from excluding people because of pre-existing conditions"? Do you understand that if "insurers [are banned] from excluding people because of pre-existing conditions," there will have to be a government mandate that healthy young people buy insurance? If there is no mandate, either the insurance industry will go bankrupt or rates will skyrocket.
And the closing:
In sum, the trouble with polls like these is that they assume a free lunch and TANSTAAFL.
h/t Instapundit

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