China used to provide cradle-to-grave medical care, with the state covering all of the costs. Then came the market reforms of the 1980s, granting hospitals a high degree of autonomy over charges and coverage in return for less funding from the state. The change saw healthcare shift from public welfare into more of a business model, drawing widespread complaints over unaffordable and sometimes inaccessible services for vulnerable people.Rent-seeking became rampant, as pharmaceutical sales teams offered generous kickbacks to doctors and hospital administrators, who in turn spent lavishly on expensive drugs and equipment. Read More...
A Minnesota police chief was forced to apologize for posting an image of a 'thin blue line' flag to his department's Facebook page last week, after community members aired complaints labeling the symbol a representation of 'extremist views.'
The flag, a black and white rendition of the American flag with a blue stripe running just under the stars, represents men and women in blue standing as a line between law and order. Read More...