1) …There would be fewer regulations, lower taxes, a business-friendly environment... I'd rather the Tea Party support a 'market friendly' environment instead of a 'business-friendly' one. Big difference, one treats private property owners and pipline developers equally, and the other supports special careveouts to well-connected industries (easement access) at the expense of private property owners.

Most of what Jeff Jacoby is saying is a bunch of poppycock. It's not based on economic reality. While I think getting the government out and letting free market loose in health care is a good thing, it's going to do very little to lower costs. Health care costs are high because treating someone with a chronic disease is expensive. Take Care clinics and the like can go a long way in reducing the costs for preventive care and some ambulatory care, but we already have those operating in the marketplace. We're getting sicker, older and fatter as a nation and treating the old, sick and obese and the diseases that result from those is not going to be done on the cheap, no matter who takes over.

The best thing the government could do in regards to healhcare is to stop subsidizing the production of bad food, sugar and corn in particular. The best thing the consumer could do in regards to their health care is to buy local from places such as CSAs, local farmers markets, and subsidy free farmers, and grow food in your own garden.