This is THE problem: Funding of healthcare. No one wants tens of millions to face catastrophic economic devastation because of illness. The Congress and administration refuse to consider buying healthcare insurance from 1600 companies across state lines. WHY?

There is no argument with the fact that those 30 million who have no health insurance need at least catastrophic insurance. A creative solution would be to have such a pool that government could take care of...ah yes, we have such a program called Medicaid. Not only is that due for a major upgrade, but so is Medicare and Social Security. Adding another $10 trillion to our national debt of $13 trillion now...and another $20 trillion in the decade following will most certainly blow the financial lid of this country's economic stability. Recently, China has said it doesn't want to be tied to the US dollar. Who do we borrow from then?

The administration would have us believe that insurance companies will with greedy intentions raise rates in quantum leaps as in California. Nonsense. As more and more people are unemployed and lose their coverage, premiums paid to these companies dry up, so the insured pool gets smaller and those left are usually of retirement age and are able to afford to continue with increased rates...but these are the people who, as they continue to age, will tap their policies for whatever costly procedures their doctors prescribe. That leads to another fix...tort reform. Doctors are scared spitless that a lawsuit is around the corner, so they order proactive tests that protect themselves. Cap these lawsuits and premiums will go down, but competition for business across state lines is essential.

I can buy motorcycle insurance from Progressive dirt cheap...how about $282 per year, yet a Michigan provider would charge me over $1000 annually. Do you think the latter will continue to be in business unless they compete?

If the government takes over healthcare, they will offer cheaper insurance for everyone, but lower premiums will have to be paid for somehow. Do you want your Medicare coverage cut by 50%? Do you want Medicaid to go bankrupt as states have to cut services in other public sectors to cover what the federal program will not provide?

Healthcare and other social "freebies" for all is a Utopian idea that I wish we all could have. It's possible, but only if we tax our citizenry 75% of their earnings as in the countries in northern Europe. What choice would we have then? Call it socialism or whatever, but it is not freedom.

Some suggest contacting our representatives in Congress for creative solutions. I have heard a year of such ideas and am convinced that this president and his Democratic lawmakers are not open to incremental steps as I described above. We simply can't afford a massive takeover to add another entitlement program that the Office of Budget and Management won't even score a decade out because the cost variables are off the charts of financial responsibility.

Ed Hahnenberg

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