The American people are fortunate that our country leads the world in medical and pharmaceutical progress, offering more expertise to a large population than any other nation offers.

But while we "cure" many ills, the high cost is threatening to "kill" us.

Virtually every rational person agrees about that. But many differ on what to do about it.

Among the severest threats to our health is one that is not a customary "disease." We now face an "ill" called "Obamacare."

It would be a major step into socialized medicine (a term that the powers that be want to avoid).

It would be an unpredictable cost disaster than could bankrupt our country.

It inevitably would lead to patients flooding our doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities, which would lead to limits, delays, rationing and lower quality care.

And if we embark upon that course, it will kill many of our quality voluntary and independent insurance plans so we will never recover -- either medically or economically.

These are warnings of terrible things, aren't they? But there is probability that the predictions could be correct, or even "half" correct. That should give us pause.

If medical catastrophe results, how could there be any "turning back"?

There are some "bad" things about our medical system today, even though it is the "best." Improvements to assure good service and reduce exorbitant costs surely could and should be devised and practiced.

But while we have shortcomings and problems in our present system, that is no reason for us to jump off a cliff into an unknown abyss that would destroy what we do best in medical care, and result in something much worse.

We need medical care progress: service for all in real need, improvements in quality and access, reductions in costs.

But "government medicine," under any name or form, is not a desirable answer.

What does "government" do really well, efficiently, pleasantly and economically now? Name the program you think government does best -- then ask yourself if you want your health care and that of your family to be handled in that fashion. Are you willing and ready to pay the bill for it?

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