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The goal, writes McCaughey, is "to reduce costs and guide your doctor's decisions. These provisions in the stimulus bill are virtually identical to what Daschle prescribed in his 2008 book, 'Critical: What We Can Do About the Health-Care Crisis.' According to Daschle, doctors have to learn to give up autonomy and 'learn to operate less like solo practitioners.'"

Hospitals and doctors that are not "meaningful users" of the new system will face penalties. "Meaningful user is not defined in the bill. That will be left to the HHS secretary, who will be empowered to impose "more stringent measures of meaningful use over time."

Daschle says health care reform "will not be pain free." Seniors, he says, should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of treating them. And you thought the government wouldn't ration your health care.

These provisions, combined with the unprecedented spending of this bill, prove once more that those who fail to learn the lessons of history are destined to repeat them. As we used to say in the days of fighting Hillary Care, if those on the Left ever realize their dream of universal health care, we will finally have a bureaucracy with the efficiency of the Post Office, the frugality of the Pentagon and the compassion of the IRS.

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Doug Patton is a freelance columnist who has served as a political speechwriter and policy advisor to conservative candidates, elected officials and public policy organizations. His weekly columns are published in newspapers across the country and on selected Internet web sites, including Human Events Online and GOPUSA.com, where he is a senior writer and state editor. Readers may e-mail him at dougpatton@cox.net.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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