Something truly sick

The drug-store chain CVS wants to open a simple clinic service in their existing locations to assist people with easy-to-treat illnesses (such as sore throats). These clinics can help take the burden off of the existing health care infrastructure and in many instances significantly lower the cost of care, ultimately benefiting lower income families most. Of course, the city of Boston wants to outlaw this.

Boston.com: Menino decries clinics in retailers

"Limited service medical clinics run by merchants in for-profit corporations will seriously compromise quality of care and hygiene. Allowing retailers to make money off of sick people is wrong."

That last sentence pretty much sums up the statist's view of the world.

Glenn Reynolds asks:

"Is it too cynical to suspect that the real opposition stems from fears that they will make national healthcare seem less urgent?"

The government doesn't like competition and they aren't afraid to stifle it. Upward mobility for this core-constituency is bad for business of expanding government, so outfits such as Wal-Mart have to be fought every step of the way.