Skin Graft

"Watch money. Money is the barometer of society's virtue. When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion--when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing--when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors--when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don't protect you against them, but protect them against you--when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice--you may know that your society is doomed."
--Ayn Rand

Nice review of the rise of state run health care by a keen observer who was on the ground during much of the period. Germany, under Bismark, has to be considered the early 'pioneer' in this area.

Key takeway is that socialized medicine has always been driven by desire for more political power.