The menace of the public (library) option

This is a cute piece from the San Francisco Chronicle:

“The Menace of the Public Option” (Public Library Option that is.)

I am enjoying the the way people are making fun of the rabid anti-Obama crowd in the healthcare debate by pointing out that such mom and apple pie institutions as libraries and fire departments are also gasp socialist. The thing that I think gets lost is that yes, in fact, these are socialist institutions, so let’s not be afraid of socialism per se either. Let’s approach policy questions with a practical attitude that leaves the door open to whatever solutions are best, whether they be public or private or some clever combination that’s designed to get the best out of centralization and sharing as well as individual motivations.