The huge issue that still has not risen to prominence in this campaign is our country’s system of medical care. The government is to blame for several disfunctions, and it’s a valid and overdue campaign issue.

The government makes it advantageous for medical insurance to be provided through employers. The government requires hospitals to provide free care to people who cannot or will not pay and then does not reimburse the hospitals. Government courts impose enormous payments in many lawsuits. The government imposes regulations and qualification requirements. And so on.

Many people who normally would prefer free-market policies are willing to consider radical reforms. Too many people have lost health insurance. Too many people have been financially ruined. All it takes to convert someone to a willingness to socialize our medical system is one mind-boggling bill after a hospital emergency-ward visit.

Those of us who continue to support free-market policies are less and less able to hold back the tide of demand that the government supply the service for free or for affordable charges.

So far, the campaigns have focused on foreign policy and energy policy. When the focus shifts to medical care, then support for Obama probably will grow, unfortunately.