It’s the same as always, the state overreacts and, instead of target a program to deal with a specific problem, they use a shotgun approach. These things almost always impact poor people negatively.

Jill, he didn’t need Rush’s cash.

PJ, I don’t disagree on the whole “war on drugs” thing, Prohibition didn’t work, and neither will this. However, these guys aren’t dispensing any health care to speak of, and many of them are scamming the Medicare and Medicaid systems, in addition to shipping the majority of illegal prescription drugs to the Appalachian states.

One of the things that the data base would have helped with is the investigation of fraud. Like most states, Florida’s system of regulating doctors is generally used to protect bad doctors, not to get rid of them. If the guys with the medical licenses started losing them for some of these activities, it might convince some of the others to actually start practicing medicine, instead of running these scams.

Health care costs are unreasonable, and the con artists and fraudulent clinics are sucking off funds that should be available to help people. There are plenty of illegal drugs available, there is no need to feed the bottom line of the drug companies through these diversions.

There is not doubt that “Medicare for All” is the best solution for a lot of these problems, as well as the concerns of the people, but people haven’t counted in this country since Ronald Reagan became President.

I’m personally biased. Back in Washington State, with no health coverage and in searing pain from a kidney stone attack I resorted to a walk-in clinic only to find that their policies precluded issuing any serious pain meds — too much hassle from police oversight. I still had to pay of course, which I could ill afford, and was forced to use an emergency room to obtain the pain relief I needed. More recently I’ve had to live with some chronic pain with no relief for similar reasons, which tends to make one grumpy.

When this country offers its residents universal and affordable medical treatment (which would be never), then maybe I’ll feel you can justify strict, paternalistic gatekeeping of this sort. Personally though, I think suffering through one Prohibition should have been enough for us to have learned better – the cure is worse than the disease.

What do they think REthugs do?

They change the laws and destroy the evidence – first!

According to plan.

Thanks for staying on top of this one for us.