While I do not support a legal challenge of the new federal health care law, that law falls far short of implementing an equitable health care system that covers all Americans.

I have no objections to socialized medicine, which I define as taxpayer-financed health care. I do object to what I call the system of “selective socialism” whereby approximately 60 percent of the population enjoys socialized medicine so defined. That includes those covered under Medicare, MaineCare, TriCare and all government employee health plans (including legislators — the only seasonal state employees I am aware of who enjoy year-round benefits).

Those lacking such government or private employer largesse, through their tax dollars, help provide benefits they and their families need but can’t afford, to someone else. This is like paying for public education, but your kid can’t go.

As such, I was annoyed by your Dec. 1 editorial’s description of the new law’s individual mandate as a “provision that requires people who can afford to contribute toward their own health care costs to do so.” A fairer description of the mandate would describe it as requiring individuals to buy what is currently wildly expensive, inferior coverage in the private market (e.g., Anthem’s current individual market monthly premiums for a 40-year-old range from $660 for the $1,000 deductible plan to $289 for the $15,000 deductible plan), with subsidies available only to those with gross incomes below 400 percent of federal poverty (presently $43,320 for an individual).

Alice Knapp, Richmond