Fix other systems before health care

Before going after a health care system that works adequately for so many, maybe Congress should first reform all of the other systems that they created and that are now "broke," including Social Security, Medicare, Amtrak, U.S. Post Office and so on.

That would give them some sorely needed credibility. After these systems are restored to good working order, then they can go after health care several years down the road. At the rate Congress is adding new spending and taxes in the first seven months of the new administration, it's a fair bet the remaining 41 months of the Obama term will bring still more spending and taxes.

On the other hand, maybe Congress has figured out a novel way to redeem Social Security: eventually ration health care in such a way that older people don't live long enough to collect their Social Security benefits. An unintended consequence? Maybe not.

Larry Grogan

Glendale Heights