Tony Ondrusek, Publisher

When it comes to quality health care, you get what you pay for. And in the case of health insurance, well, if you want high-quality health care, then you might have to pay more to get it.

The president of Aetna recently told Congress that the first step in lowering the cost of health insurance is lowering the cost of health care. Of course, there are many other considerations to lower health insurance premiums, but it seems that the buck always stops at the door of the health insurer. How about lowering the costs of the product that the insurance companies are insuring?

A Mercedes Benz costs a lot because it is made with quality products and great service: the engines are top notch, the ride is smooth, the leather seats are hand stitched, and the sound system is of the highest quality. If you use vinyl and plastic for the interior and molded synthetic products for the body, you will end up with a Toyota; for the money it is a very fine care, but certainly not a Mercedes.

Lower the costs of health care first, and allow people to choose the level of quality that they want in their health care.

But instituting a universal program where everyone gets the same thing — and managed by the government, no less — will result in lower quality and efficiency. In other words, Americans will no longer be able to drive Mercedes autos; we will be forced to take the bus.