Yesterday we noted an embarrassing mistake by the Investor’s Business Daily. They criticized the British health care system by opining that scientist Stephen Hawking “wouldn’t have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.” — the kicker being that Hawking is British and says his treatments, courtesy of the NHS, have been wonderful and, in fact, saved his life.

Today, there’s a great, true story from an American living in Paris who offers an illuminating look at the reality of “government-run medicine” in a “socialist hell hole.” Jane B. posted her story on the Talking Points Memo web site. Her post is well worth reading in its entirety. The short version is that Jane was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, and she’s writing not long after having received confirmation from France’s evil “death panel” that, although she is an American citizen, 100 percent of her treatment for breast cancer will be covered. Let me say that again: Although she is an American citizen, 100 percent of her treatment for breast cancer will be covered by the French government. That, dear readers, is the reality of a well-run national health care system. Did I say Jane B.’s story is “illuminating”? Hell, for Americans who are used to fighting their insurance companies for every little thing, her story is the equivalent of looking into the workings of a parallel universe. The truth, though, is that Jane B.’s health care experience, with some variations, is the kind of thing people in, oh, say, every other modern country on earth, take for granted. For real. Think about it. While you and I are being screwed every which way from Sunday by health insurers, others around the world don't have to sweat it, thanks to the evils of "socialism." Bottom line: The scare tactics and bogeyman fantasies you’re hearing from the deluded stooges of the insurance industry who are currently yelling their lungs out at town hall meetings are — not to put too fine a point on it — bullshit, plain and simple.

• American Paris resident Jane B.

Showing how crazy the entire health care reform debate has become, the past few days have seen embarrassments pile up at the usually respected newspaper Investor's Business Daily. About a week ago, the paper decried Obama’s health care reform plan, apparently confusing it with the British health care system. They bemoaned English patients’ “rationed care,” and ended this way: "People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless."

The problem, of course, is that Stephen Hawking is British. And he’s lived in Britain his whole life. Not only that, he’s gotten great care from the evil Brit system, at least according to Hawking himself. Yesterday, the eminent man of science tore into the Investor’s Business Daily, saying, "I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS (National Health Service). I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived." Pause here for a big, fat “Oops!”

• Stephen Hawking on The Simpsons

This morning’s news that U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan has signed on to Sen. Richard Burr’s bill to lift beach closures at Cape Hatteras National Seashore comes as a rude surprise to North Carolinians who value Hatteras’ special status as a beautiful, natural place. Some beaches there are closed to off-road vehicles by the National Park Service from April to early August in order to protect the habitats and/or nesting areas of sea turtles, plovers, nesting terns and other wildlife.

If you’ve been to Hatteras, you know how expansive the beaches are — and how much beach-area fishers can still reach in their ORVs despite the closures. The restrictions, which have been in place for two years, have helped increase the number of protected wildlife in the park, but local business owners say the closures hurt their bottom line.

Hagan’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Allen, told Observer reporter Barbara Barrett that “a lot of the local community has talked to the senator about how their business is suffering.” To which this lover of the Outer Banks’ natural wildness (or what’s left of it), says, “Join the club.” Perhaps the Hatteras business owners haven’t noticed, but, as they said during the Great Depression, “things are tough all over”; you hate to say it, but it is doubtful that opening up the restricted areas of Hatteras to ORVs will help that situation very much.

Allen also called Hagan’s support of opening up the closed areas “an effort to balance the needs of both the wildlife and the local tourism economy.” Well, no it’s not. It’s an effort to un-balance the needs of wildlife and business. The decision to close certain beaches to ORV traffic during four months is what balanced wildlife and business, and even then, just barely enough to keep from killing off creatures that make Hatteras such an exceptional place. Burr’s bill got nowhere during the last session of Congress. It’s not clear whether having a Democrat signed on to the bill will make a difference this time around.