Political Quotes

“Madam President, if I could just ask my colleague, talking about the Constitution and how we as Americans see ourselves, Senator McCain just quoted a comment made by Dr. Berwick about the darkness of private enterprise. Dr. Berwick coauthored a book called ``New Rules.'' In it, he argues that one of the primary functions of health regulation is to constrain decentralized, individual decisionmaking--constrain individual decisionmaking--and to weigh public welfare against the choices of private consumers. I mean, could anything fly further in the face of what Americans believe? The decisions, the choices of private consumers--that is how we make decisions in America. That is what I recommend for patients: Make your individual choice. What is best for you? How to help keep down the cost of your care; prevention, coordinating care; working and making smart choices for you as an individual. Who knows better? Who knows better how to spend your money? You do. Who knows better how to make choices for your life? You do. That is not what Dr. Berwick is saying in this book, ``New Rules.'' It is to weigh public welfare against the choices of private consumers. So I inquire of my colleague from South Dakota, what would people from South Dakota think about that? This is somebody who is saying: Government knows better than you do. People of Wyoming have never felt that way, and I would imagine the people from South Dakota have never felt that way either.”