Here's a great editorial on primary from one who knows. What I mean by 'knows' is that every statement which you or I might assert in conversation is here carefully referenced - e.g. that all this hoohaa about rapid acces and choice is less important to most of us than seeing our own GP.
Meanwhile over at the AJPH there's a nice tribute to Everett Koop, surgeon general extraordinaire, who got Americans and their politicians to face up to AIDS and smoking. According to this report Koop's success was based on knowing his stuff, standing up for the truth and putting it into clear English - here's a sample!
As surgeon general he would often open with these chilling lines: "A thousand people will stop smoking today. Their funerals will be held sometime in the next three or four days."
Interestingly Koop was 64 when he was offered the job, so don't give up on your hope of getting the dream job just yet!
