More flu shortage opinions

On the FNC's Special Report with Brit Hume, the panel was discussing the problems with our current flu vaccine shortage. NPR correspondent Mara Liasson opined that "public health is the responsibility of the administration." Typical of liberals who think government is the solution to all problems caused by the greed of companies operating in free markets, she apparently also thinks that the Constitution contains some verbiage to the effect that the federal government is supposed to make sure people are healthy. That clause probably appears right next to the one making health care a right.

Not-so-closet liberal Mort Kondracke says there are 2 solutions to the flu-vaccine shortage. One would be to raise the price [presumably he means the government fixed price that is in place now] or the federal government could guarantee that any overproduction of vaccines would be purchased.

Of course, there are all sorts of problems with his perspective. First, government price controls are a marxist strategy, and are the precise reason that we are in this mess to begin with. Second, if a company knew its excess products would be bought, isn't it more likely that the company will produce way too much product? Not to mention, the Constitution is completely silent on federal subsidies to private businesses. To me, this sounds like the same ponzi-schemes orchestrated to benefit farmers who are paid not to raise certain crops to prevent overproduction and therefore prices which are too low.