SteveZ,

Like others. I appreciate your deep research and neutral tone in the political forum. But you seem to be overly committed to two pillars of Republican (or call it what you will), philosophy.

Your response to the elements of Kahuna's proposed health plan was thoughtful and accurate, but also paradoxical. You lump those ideas together and rebut them because they suggest "the government is the only solution". But then you mention how things are here and in other nations and you recognize those very big things only governments have fixed, or can seem to fix. The health insurance plan itself, related tort reform, uncontrolled 'medical' research, immigration, tariffs, etc. You seem to agree that tight, comprehensive regulation sprinkled liberally over free enterprise is the solution. In some circles you'd be called a 'commie', like I've been.

In the same way that it's too simplistic to say "the less government we have the better off we are", the other traditional axiom of free enterprise, the 'trickle down' effect, is demonstrably superficial. You suggest that 'taxing the rich', the proposed means by which a part of the new health insurance plan will be paid for, will have serious negative affects on businesses, unemployment, etc., because the wealthy will be disinclined to invest. What greater proof do we need that the wealthy will do nothing outside of their self-interest than what has happened with the current economic crisis. Investors, corporate and individual, are sitting on their billions, not because of a new pesky little mosquito-like health care surtax, but because the markets were not properly regulated and those who raised greed to a whole new level were able to bring the whole house down. There we go with that 'r' word again. I guess you just have to get used to being called a 'commie' if you think government regulation needs to be sprinkled liberally over free enterprise. Why not join the club?