I finally got around to reading the August issue of Consumer Reports. Of particular interest was the article titled, "How Safe is Your Hospital?"

The article looked at everything from hand-washing to infection rates to discharge instructions to incorrect medications. All those things that cause nightmares in people who face hospitalization.

What does it say about our health care system that the highest safety score was 72 out of 100? And that out of 1,159 hospitals rated, only seven (7) scored above 70?

Our hospitals rank average, if you consider 70% to be average. No wonder 37 other countries have a greater average life expectancy, including some with "socialized" medicine, such as Sweden and the UK, Japan, Switzerland, and Israel. New Zealand, Greece, Norway.

Oh, I forgot. Unfettered competition in the marketplace will provide the best possible product. My bad.