One of the problems with socialism is that it cannot coexist with capitalism. All the beloved social programs of the collectivists only work if participation is compulsory. That's why Hillary Clinton's plan made it illegal to hire a doctor outside her system - the best doctors would work outside the system, and we would end up with a two-tiered system. That would be unfair, and the socialists can't tolerate unfairness.

Well, now John Edwards has his own plan, and not surprisingly, it is a dictatorship:

Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards said on Sunday that his universal health care proposal would require that Americans go to the doctor for preventive care.

"It requires that everybody be covered. It requires that everybody get preventive care," he told a crowd sitting in lawn chairs in front of the Cedar County Courthouse. "If you are going to be in the system, you can't choose not to go to the doctor for 20 years. You have to go in and be checked and make sure that you are OK."

I particularly like the part in which Edwards says "if you are going to be in the system," as if any of us would ever be permitted to opt out.

I would also be interested in how Senator Edwards would compel us to go the doctor. Imagine if you will an armed government health minister arriving at the door and dragging you down to the Edwards Clinic for your annual checkup. It's for your own good, dontcha know?