If Republicans really think medical service is best rendered by the free market — hard to believe given that the United States' health outcomes rank on the bottom of the developed world — they should go all the way. Why do we have a fully government-run, taxpayer-paid, socialized, single-payer Medicare system if the free market does a better job providing quality care? Why, then, not let the market work its wonders for the elderly? Why, in the final analysis, do the Republican repeal gimmicks not include full repeal of the truly socialized medicine, Medicare? If they really believe in their rhetoric, add Medicare to the repeal efforts. Otherwise, stop hurting the rest of the country with political demagoguery.

Thomas Jandl, Towson