"More than ever, the creation of the ridiculous is almost impossible because of the competition it receives from reality." — Robert A. Baker

While that seems like it would make a lot of sense, I'm not sure just how true it is anymore – especially when that ridiculous creation is something as "out there" as Democrats' "public option" to health care. (Haven't seen this many air quotes since John McCain's last debate).

This growing dispute centers around a democratic proposal to create a federal insurance program financed by taxpayers (where is all this money coming from?), managed by the government (because FEMA's a hit wherever it goes) and open to the public (like some kind of health care Costco). The Dems are still politely touting this as a simple alternative to private health care. But don't kid yourself. If you compete with the government, you will lose. All this talk of letting the free market work is an illusion, because the feds have never played by those rules before, so you'd be a fool to expect them to start now.