he did give you an option. You can opt out of Medicare, save the premiums and go to the ER at your expense.

And if somebody complains about the smog in southern California, no doubt you'll suggest he stop breathing.

If you want to continue to elect politicians who maintain the status quo on a system under which patients on average pay for only 25% of their health care costs, the rest being picked up by your hard-working offspring, I'm certainly happy to take advantage of it.

Do I feel guilty that some part of my health care costs over the next few years will be borrowed as part of our now-massive deficits and paid off by your offspring for the duration of their working lives? Not at all -- I have too much respect for your collective wisdom in keeping the system going. I just wonder if I will live long enough to see the riots when the inevitable austerity measures are enacted to stave off this country's bankruptcy.

--fleg