Brooks's point, and it's a good one, is that by seeking to provide coverage for all in the US we are starting down the path to government oversight in much more than just our health care. It is, as he says, a civilizing effort. As we try to remove the terror of illness or bankruptcy from the lives of ordinary people we inevitably increase costs and thus increase the need for more...taxes! He's right, I don't see how universal coverage can be obtained without increasing costs not matter what they tell us, but here's why I think it is fundamentally necessary, even though my wife and I have adequate coverage as I write (and low taxes in penurious Florida!)
The problem for me lies not with the notion of universal coverage, but the reason why we don't already have it in our free market system. If our private insurance based system worked I would stand alongside all those who sought no change- "If it ain't broke don't fix it!" But it is broke! There are too many horror stories of insurance companies failing us, too many and too well known to go on listing them here. Our system costs more per capita than universal coverage systems underpinned by other industrialized governments, our lives are constrained by lack of health care, by insurance tied to our jobs, by unaffordable premiums and by insurance companies who set the terms that cannot be debated. If you get an unfair or illegal bill to whom do you appeal? This system tortures Americans of good faith and less financial means. It tortures decent families and people forced not only to suffer illness and catastrophe but financial ruin. Something has to change, Senator Lieberman and the Catholic bishops notwithstanding. I have yet to hear a non-coverage horror story from a member of Congress or their families. We deserve no less than they.
And if, in so doing we take one small tentative step down the path to social democracy and away from free market piracy, so be it. If the insurance companies understood how badly they have mauled us we wouldn't need to fight tooth and nail for a strong public option. If I could shop for an insurance policy across state lines to find the cheapest competition we wouldn't need change...If a life flight helicopter to Miami didn't charge $23,000 for 40 minutes in the air...or a ground ambulance $800 for a five mile ride across Key West...If a heart attack didn't cost $70,000 to treat...If insurance companies had to present timely detailed explanations of charges...If co-pays were capped by law....If the chronically ill got government help...If...if...if. Instead we face medical and financial catastrophe like no other industrialized nation and our leaders won't lead us out of the wilderness. Universal coverage is sensible and compassionate, not socialism. And if it is the first step to socialism let the insurance robber barons shoulder the blame, not the sick.
Once one gets over the cool factor of living in Old Town Key West a home out here could have lots of advantages. Price isn't necessarily one of them. They used to sell for millions but I doubt these homes will ever qualify as low income housing even in a housing depression. Nor should they.
Granted these are technically "dry lots" (no canal access for boats and dockage) and the views are a bit limited, but for some residents that's no reason not to sit out of a cool Fall evening and check the fence line:
A nice big wall could also be construed as an advantage, especially if flowery:
And those garbage bags filled with garden clippings- this is the time of year when everything has to be made pretty for the owner's return. 
Check this, an actual garage:
This garage has a nice long driveway, unusual for many homes in this city:
The 3800 block is nothing if not varied:
