Socialized Medicine and the US

Is Socialized/Nationalized Medicine a Good Thing?
There are aspects of socialized medicine that sound appealing on paper but how is it in practice?
http://spectator.org/blog/2009/03/17/death-by-socialized-medicine
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=270338135202343
http://www.minthegap.com/2009/03/05/why-socialized-medicine-doesn%E2%80%99t-work/
http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_weekly_standard-socialized_medicine_life.htm
http://socglory.blogspot.com/2007/09/socialized-medicine-is-broken-and-cant.html
http://mu-warrior.blogspot.com/2009/03/natasha-richardson-victim-of-socialized.html
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/mar/30/socialized-medicine-wrong-path/
http://www.sodahead.com/blog/46176/ronald-reagan-speaks-out-against-socialized-medicine/
http://www.inspire.com/groups/lung-cancer-alliance-survivors/discussion/are-we-sure-we-want-socialized-medicine/
http://www.aapsonline.org/socialized-medicine.htm

Is the US medical system as horrible as the current administration makes it sound?
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=20419
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/world/2008/06/05/dubai-recruits-american-medical-leaders.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/business/05scene.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
http://www.marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2007/11/the-roots-of-me.html
http://www.ey.com/global/content.nsf/US/Media_-_Release_-_22-09-08DC
http://www.immihelp.com/visas/visitor/medical.html
http://bioethicsdiscussion.blogspot.com/2009/02/medical-care-system-in-united-states.html
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/articles/960318/archive_009934.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/The_best_medical_schools_in_the_world
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/grad/med/search

Ok, we don’t have a perfect system and adjustments need to be made but don’t believe that socialized medicine is the answer. Do you seriously want Barney Frank and Chris Dodd with the final say over your cardiac care? Ask yourself what these guys and their ilk have ever accomplished in the real world? Have they ever produced anything or been responsible for a real business in the private sector? Again, why do we want this group with decision making power regarding our care?

Interesting times. Be informed. Be proactive.