"The discoveries of healing science must be the inheritance of all. That is clear. Disease must be attacked, whether it occurs in the poorest or the richest man or woman simply on the ground that it is the enemy; and it must be attacked just in the same way as the fire brigade will give its full assistance to the humblest cottage as readily as to the most important mansion. Our policy is to create a national health service in order to ensure that everybody in the country, irrespective of means, age, sex, or occupation, shall have equal opportunities to benefit from the best and most up-to-date medical and allied services available."
--Winston Churchill, in 1944, endorsing the creation of the National Health Service
Recently, the Investor's Business Daily said in an editorial: "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."
Hawking, of course, is British and has lived in England his entire life. The physicist, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease, was compelled to respond:
"I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."
--Stephen Hawking
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