Masterton doctor and Libertarianz health deregulation spokesman Richard McGrath said he was left saddened and despondent after watching last night's 'Face The Nation' television programme, in which Helen Clark and Jenny Shipley, egged on by a supporter of the public health system, discussed their plans to complete the full nationalisation of primary health care.

"General practitioners will soon be state servants and taxpayers will be hit with a special health tax," he said. "This move will eradicate the last vestige of 'free' medical care, where doctors have had the freedom to charge a price that willing customers will pay for their services."

"While Shipley and Clark squabble over who should have entitlement to one of their poverty cards, my party would outlaw them," added the Libertarianz deputy leader. "They are symbolic of the parasite mentality that allows half the country to enjoy subsidised medical treatment paid for by the sweat of others."

Dr McGrath said his response to the planned takeover of his medical practice by the government will be to start charging a fee for patients under six years old and donate this money to charity. "The freedom for doctors to charge a fee for the service they offer is symbolic of the right of people to exchange values by mutual consent," he said. "To remove this right is to force not only taxpayers but also doctors to underwrite the cost of their patients' health care. It is communism disguised as compassion, and my party will fight it all the way."

It's enough to make you vote Libertarianz!

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Richard McGrath * Libertarianz Deputy Leader * Fax (06) 377 3070 * mcgrath@no-income-tax.com Or contect Libertarianz Media Coordinator at (025) 861 927

* LIBERTARIANZ * More Freedom * Less Government *

www.libertarianz.org.nz www.freeradical.co.nz

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