“How to pursue free enterprise”

 Carmel Pine Cone – Jan. 19, 2024

I’ve dealt with building wealth for clients for over 20 years now and I can

say your editorial last week was spot-on regarding the wealth tax … but it really doesn’t matter, because those in power do not care. The taxes that come through the door aren’t their money and they have unchecked power to spend it.

The two best ways to destroy wealth are via taxation and inflation, but the bigger threat is inflation. Price inflation affects all industries, especially energy, housing, healthcare, education, and food. And like the wealth tax, inflation is almost always a result of bad monetary policy. Indeed, “The Inflation Reduction Act” may be one of the worst pieces of legislation of all time in terms of the wealth it has destroyed.

I have thought long and hard about how to change the direction of California. For those who don’t want to vote with their feet, and stay in their own country, I have a very targeted idea to get things started.

My major takeaway from living in California is that fiscal conservatives need to concentrate their power on an elected office with significant regulatory power that can be, and I think the only viable play is the insurance commissioner.

In my view, the only thing that can save this state is a transparent and open market for health insurance rather than the corrupt system in place which

parcels out monopolies by counties, prevents competition, and allows healthcare providers to charge whatever prices they want knowing full well they will be 100 percent reimbursed by the State.

Obamacare has resulted in 4 out of 5 Californians being under the taxpayer-funded “Covered California” umbrella welfare system, now including full health insurance for illegal residents and non-citizens, while the burden for small businesses and gainfully employed young families is almost unbearable as we bear this yoke.

An open marketplace with transparent competition will result in a collapse in premium costs because the power will be drained from Sacramento and instead transferred back to the people via a public exchange. Think eBay for healthcare insurance.

If fiscal conservatives can control insurance in this state, then there is a chance to turn around what was once the envy of all other states.

Tom Rapko, Monterey