President George Bush accused John Kerry of wanting to introduce government run health, which would bring rationing and less choice

Credit: KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/AP

George Bush likened the efficiency of the American healthcare system to that of “the buggy and horse days,” and John Kerry described the president as having “turned his back on the wellness of America.” Last week, the two men were on stage together for the last time this election season, in the only one of the three campaign debates to focus exclusively on domestic issues.

Grim statistics composed the backdrop for their discussion of healthcare reform–45 million Americans are uninsured, five million have lost their insurance in the past four years, and insurance costs have risen by 36% under the current administration. And the statistics kept coming, as the candidates seemed more inclined …