In a post noting a hysterical Investors Business Daily editorial suggesting that "scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless" (you've spotted the flaw in the logic, yes?), the Spectator's Alex Massie makes an interesting observation about our system of health care vs. Great Britain's.

In Britain you worry what will happen when you fall ill; many Americans worry about what will happen if you fall ill. Will your insurance cover you? Often (but not always), yes it will and the best American care probably is better than the best British care, but there's a greater psychological security to the British system. That's probably worth something too. In other words, many Americans find themselves fretting about healthcare even when they're perfectly healthy. That's a psychological burden people in this country (and many others), don't have to worry about.

Massie correctly suggests that the Democratic health care plan is not actually an attempt to mimic Britain's NHS, but it's still a good point.