Before Gov. Mike Leavitt announced his health-care proposal, I was in the process of a letter to ask why the government couldn't test some of the varied options afoot and choose, down the road, those which work the best. I have heard so many lies, broken promises and direction changes from Washington that I am horrified at statements that the Hillary proposal has been crafted to cover every human health problem at no extra cost to taxpayers.
One way to do this is typical of many of today's money-raising schemes - don't call the necessary costs taxes. Call them fees, levies, wage supplements or anything you like, but not taxes. Also, President Clinton should preface every speech he makes on this subject with "in my opinion." Everything Washington creates always costs from two to 10 times the estimates, so how can they be right this time?Let me add that the Leavitt plan to pre-empt Washington is a good idea, but it must be debated thoroughly with regard to who pays the bill and the negative as well as positive effect of caps. Mandatory insurance that levels health-care-risk categories is not typical insurance. It is a tax-and-spend scheme like unto socialism with typical second-rate results.
H.O. Johnson
Salt Lake City