Slashdot linked up this BusinessWeek Online article detailing what has become the largest job-growth sector in the US during the 21st century:

If you really want to understand what makes the U.S. economy tick these days, don't go to Silicon Valley, Wall Street, or Washington. Just take a short trip to your local hospital. Park where you don't block the ambulances, and watch the unending flow of doctors, nurses, technicians, and support personnel. You'll have a front-row seat at the health-care economy.

What's most remarkable to me is a complete lack of mention of the 800-pound gorilla that must really be driving this: aging boomers. As they have throughout their generation's existence, their changing needs are altering the whole country's economy in fundamental ways. Some will be good, some will be bad, but since it's boomers were talking about here expect a whole lot of hand-wringing and mirror-watching as it all takes place.