Thomas Franks on the real predator state

A couple of prominent Republicans have been saying that government should not become involved with health care because it will lead to the predatory practices. Thomas Franks talks to Peter Galbraith to understand what exactly is wrong with that notion.

"The 'predator state' describes what happens when chicken coops are given over to foxes," Mr. Galbraith continued. "When consumer protection, worker protection, environmental protection, and policing against fraud are handed over to lobbyists. And when health care is run for the benefit of private insurance companies, whose business model . . . is to target coverage on the healthy and delay payments to the sick."

That is predation. Public service is its opposite.