By Gus Van Horn from Gus Van Horn,cross-posted by MetaBlog An aspect of modern culture I find extremely revolting is the banal negative connotation attached to such terms as "reality". It is as if simply by repeating the lie that that life is inherently unpleasant, one is being unusually perceptive -- ripping the veil of ignorance from the eyes of his audience. For the second-hand mental pygmies of the modern era, it's to metaphysics what wearing a rubber band on one's wrist is to morality: a way to show everyone that you're hip without having to risk making your head hurt by thinking too much. Libby Purves, writing in The Times of London ("NHS rationing is a reality we should deal with"), assumes this annoying air as she basically tells a nation victimized by socialized medicine that they've no choice but to meekly accept rationing of medical care by the government, along with any life-threatening pettiness it may imply. Not only that, she even verges on reveling in delivering the bad news. (Where have I seen such spiritual indecency before?) So there is already rationing in the NHS. Oh yes, there is, and it isn't going to stop under any government. Some local health trusts won't give you a new knee if you're fat , or IVF if you smoke, or liver transplants if you drink. Others will. Some defy guidance and go for the latest cancer drugs, yet have woeful mental health services; some run model services for the elderly but refuse to coun ...
Anytime
