Advocates of national health insurance discredit a recent study suggesting that socialized medicine will cost $3 trillion per year, to start, rather than “only” $1 trillion per year. They discredit the study becuase, they say, it was conducted by private health insurance companies. This, they claim, means it’s a conflict of interest. But why are studies conducted by politicians and other advocates of socialized medicine not a conflict of interest as well? They gain from government loot and government power. Government, unlike private companies, acquires this profit through force. They’re essentially a legalized Mafia. Private companies must acquire profit through voluntary persuasion, through customers that willingly pay. If this makes them suspect, then why aren’t government profiteers at least as suspect?