Health care

Regarding “Critics in GOP put health bill at risk” (Page A1, Friday), the problem with health care is that today’s voters insist that politicians do the impossible while simultaneously punishing politicians who fail to do the impossible.

Any serious discussion of health care must recognize two facts. First, a functioning, free-market insurance industry capable of providing the best service at the lowest cost must use statistical probabilities to determine rates. No amount of subsides or mandates can restore free-market benefits once social preferences and special circumstances replace actuarial-based prices.

Second, government support of lessadvantaged citizens are an intrinsic part of the modern social contract. Some substantial form of Medicare and Medicaid must be part of the healthcare system. Given these realities, it seems there are two choices. One, allow the free market to function in the insurance industry while separately strengthening nonprofit-based government programs for the poor or unfortunate. This would provide most people with good or exceptional health coverage while others would have adequate, but likely lesser, care. Two, opt for a singlepayer system where, in all but minor issues, virtually everyone would be subject to mediocre and less individually responsive health care.

Instead, citizens are demanding an ill-advised third way. Distort the insurance industry into a free-market/government hybrid, even though this will neither lower costs nor expand access, and pay for this monstrosity by raiding and weakening other government programs. When this impossible scheme fails, as Obamacare is surely doing, voters turn their anger at those who imposed the mess they insisted upon. Politicians are well aware of this dynamic, and hence are incentivized not to fix the problem, but to allow the other side to be blamed for the inevitable failure. Pete Hetherington, Houston