At least one reader took exception to my column last week. I only have a few things to say about the health care legislation that is commonly known as Obamacare. As Nancy Pelosi so eloquently stated,"You have to pass the bill to see what is in it."

How many people in Silsbee, Texas would go to the store and sign a check telling the merchant to fill it in as they saw fit?

A few people would if they were dealing with people they knew well and highly respected but few of us would take such a foolish position. That is essentially what our government did.

I never questioned whether the law was legal. I left that for our courts to decide. Now the courts have ruled. The congress passed the law and the president is clearly in favor of it so it is clearly legal.

That still does not change the fact that they passed the bill, in the words of the Speaker of the House who was a Democrat, so that they could “see what was in it.”

At the time, the president said it was not a tax and it would not cost any couple who made under $250,000 a year a cent in taxes.

Now two years later, we find the Supreme Court has ruled that it is a tax (surprise, surprise). We find that everyone must show the IRS that they have purchased health insurance or pay a TAX to the federal government for the government health insurance.

Yes there will be some government subsidy. Guess what? Someone will have to pay for the subsidy.

The exception my reader took was to me saying that there was a 3.8 percent tax on the selling of real estate.
My initial understanding was that the tax was on the sale of any real estate. His feelings was that this tax would only be for those making more than $250,000.

I admit that I have not had time to read the entire 2,700 page document and was taking others word for it.

But, I did take a little time to read about it. There are a number of interpretations of the legislation as far as the 3.8 percent tax is concerned.

One thing that seems clear is that if you have a piece of property that you have worked for years to develop, and may have never in your life earned close to $250,000, you will be responsible for the 3.8 percent tax if you have a gain in the property of over $250,000.

A few years ago I was in Mexico and I had the opportunity to speak with a real estate agent from Oakland, California. He told me that the cheapest house he had ever sold in California cost $400,000 and it was a shack.

The owner of that shack might now be paying an additional tax.

Many people who own farms and businesses have owned them for years and have seen them grow in value.

Many of these people do not have outstanding retirement programs like you would have as a government employee or as an employee at a major industrial plant. Many of these people are hoping to sell their business or farm to provide for their retirement.

Now suddenly those people will find that they are losing nearly 4 percent of their retirement as a form of a tax to subsidize others health insurance.

Yes friends that is a transfer of wealth.

This tax is no different than many others we have seen in years past. A new administration will arrive. A new need will come forward. Higher taxes will be necessary to pay the load. That 3.8 percent may grow. What's 6, 7, or even 10 percent? After all it is only 10 percent.

The thing that bothers me the most is that the government does not operate too efficiently. I don't believe the government can make this work. It will become a monster out of control that will bankrupt the country.

Our health industry has been operated very poorly. I believe the wages of that industry are out of line with the remainder of society. Medical costs are out of control. Still I do not believe for a minute that the government can do a better job.

The government just does not operate very efficiently.

I am not questioning the legality of the law. I agree it is legal.  

The thing that bothers me most about the operation of the present administration is their selective approach to enforcing legislation. All administrations are bad about this but this one seems to be particularly bad. They publicly state which legislation they will enforce and which ones that they will not enforce.

They have voiced that they will not enforce rules on immigration, rules on gay rights and other rulings.

I have already had Republicans tell me that I should not worry about the health care law because if Republicans take over the White House they will simply not enforce the law. Think about this – spring forward 10 years and the system is not working. The Republicans take over the White House and they put the word out to the IRS.

Forget the Obamacare tax we are not funding it or enforcing it.

By that time, I will be 70 years old and probably need some serious medical care. The Catholics and the Baptists may have thrown up their hands over government health care. I will be priced out of my health care plan and will be relying on the government plan. I will probably have medicare by that time but where am I going to find someone to care for me.

Folks whether you are a Republican or a Democrat that is not the right way to operate the government. Obama is wrong to operate in this fashion now and the Republicans would be wrong to operate in that fashion in the future.