Competition

In a free market, a business that is complacent about costs learns that its prices are too high when it sees lower-cost competitors winning over its customers. The market — actually, the consumer — holds businesses accountable and keeps them honest. No "public option" is needed.

So the hope for reducing medical costs indeed lies in competition and choice. Today competition is squelched by government regulation and privilege.

But Obama's so-called reforms would not create real competition and choice. They would prohibit it.

We are weary of the health care debate and are prepared for the seemingly unavoidable eventuality of it being mandated upon us. Still, John Stossel's essay caught our attention with his canny analysis of the destructive effects of government intrusion in what should be a free market.