Here in America we have this funny idea that we want the same health care practices that other countries have. You may recall all of the arguments used by those in favor of the recent health care bill that is in the process of enactment.

A survey was passed around to West Midlands [England] Ambulance Service workers which asked them to rate a number of leadership styles for “coolness.” As you probably guessed from the title of this post, one of those names was “Adolf Hitler.” (You can download the entire survey from HowCoolIsHitler.net, pages 15-17 of the .PDF.)

The Trust defended their usage of Hitler in this part of a £10,000 (almost 15,000 USD) project:

A spokesman said: ‘‘The project is important in identifying the key   characteristics of good leadership, to allow the organisation and the wider   NHS to be more efficient and effective which, in turn, will have a direct   and positive impact on improving patient care.

‘‘The project sought to discuss different styles of leadership and the   characteristics of leadership to help staff at all levels develop their   career.

‘‘Staff were asked to look at different leadership styles and one of those was   a dictatorial style. Adolf Hitler’s style galvanised a country into terrible   things but it did galvanise a country.

‘‘Perhaps in hindsight a better example could have been used.’‘

They have a point that Hitler is worth studying, and other big names like Winston Churchill or Gordon Brown were rated as well. Another question asked “How relevant do you feel [Sexual Orientation is] to being a ‘cool’ leader?”

Yep, not being able to figure out basic anatomy is a relevant way to become a hip new leader of an ambulance service. If you don’t like it, we’ll send you to a concentration camp.