In
1961, Ronald Reagan joined the American Medical Association in opposing
the Democratic Party's attempt to force socialized medicine on the
American people.
President Reagan's advice is just as relevant today as it was then. In part, he warned:
"One of the traditional methods of
imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine.
It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project.
. . . Now, the American people, if you put it to them about socialized
medicine and gave them a chance to choose, would unhesitatingly vote
against it." – Ronald Reagan
Listen to Reagan's speech (10 min) on liberalism, socialism, and national health insurance. This is why he is still an icon – because he spoke presciently, clearly, logically, intelligently, and rightly. He compares it to Social Security, and the limits intended for that program.
Liberals, naive and, dare I say, deceived by the lies of Socialist serpents like Stalin, Marx, and Mussolini, were enchanted by Socialism then, and they still like it now. Blind to the unsustainable nature of such schemes, and disenchanted with the risks of freedom and a free market, they trade our freedom for statism. Students of history and freedom don't buy the Utopian lies of government-as-savior schemes. Vive la Reagan.