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Believe it or not, there really are liberals disappointed that ObamaCare does not involve more taxation and central planning of medicine. So be grateful for the state laboratories of federalism and in particular Vermont, where the purest progressive version of ObamaCare has imploded. Last week, in a reversal that deserves more attention, Democratic Governor Peter Shumlin announced that Vermont would no longer create America’s first statewide single-payer health system. (12/22)

One thing I do know is that I’m going to stop and think long and hard about whether to go through this effort again next year. ... And that’s when the insurance companies and health care providers will have won. They’ve managed to erect a system that is so complex that only an extreme effort on the part of business owners leads to any understanding of what the choices are and what is the best path forward. When the majority of owners no longer feel like making that effort, then there’s no constraint on future cost increases. The only rational choice will be for small companies to simply stop offering coverage, and pass all of the responsibility to their workers. (Paul Downs, 12/22)

Your co-worker brought in brownies, your daughter made cookies for a holiday party and candy is arriving from far-flung relatives. Sugar is everywhere. It is celebration, it is festivity, it is love. It’s also dangerous. ... Yet people can’t resist. And the reason for that is pretty simple. Sugar is addictive. And we don’t mean addictive in that way that people talk about delicious foods. We mean addictive, literally, in the same way as drugs. And the food industry is doing everything it can to keep us hooked. (James J. DiNicolantonio and Dr. Sean C. Lucan, 12/22)

Ebola can affect many segments of a functional society. What started as a public health emergency has been officially declared a global threat ...The West Africa pandemic provides insights into the psychological consequences associated with a “worst case scenario” event involving a highly virulent infectious disease. An effective response is essential both in West Africa to address the psychosocial needs associated with population-wide direct exposure to disease, death, and distress; and in the United States, to counterbalance fear-driven behaviors and policy making with prudent and effective preparedness for emerging infectious diseases. (Yuval Neria, 12/22)