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Bill Saporito correctly says consumers are at a disadvantage in health care ["The Market Can't Cure Medicare," Time.com May 2]. Unlike in the cases of cars and cereals, the consumer almost never knows the real price of a treatment or pill offered. Yet markets function most efficiently when prices are transparent to all buyers and sellers. If Congressman Paul Ryan wants to provide real price competition, he must find a way to make prices visible in our health care system.

Glen Bowler, WEST CHESTER, OHIO

Publishing medical-service costs is more difficult than doing so for other goods, but one thing the government should do is require every hospital and medical provider to send the same bill to the insurance company or the government or the uninsured patient. Such a government mandate would be an excellent start to controlling costs for Medicare, Medicaid and the individual payer.

Harvey R. Tuck, DAYTON, OHIO

Solving the Deficit

It is interesting that Joe Klein refers to "the tax-allergic Republicans, especially the Tea Party caucus in the House" ["The Gang of Six Ain't Talking," May 2]. It would seem to me all of your readers would be more informed about taxes if you would provide in-depth information on statistics like the one elsewhere in the issue showing that 45% of Americans pay no taxes. Couple that with a company like General Electric making $14 billion in profits and paying no taxes, and you soon realize that all Americans should be a little tax-allergic.

Richard Holt, WILLIAMS, IND.

Run, the Donald, Run

What Donald Trump is doing, if nothing else, is asking the questions the other potential Republican candidates wish they could without getting crucified by the media ["The Big Questions," May 2]. He is also asking questions that a lot of Americans would like to hear the answers to. What Trump realizes is that Obama is running against himself and his failed Administration. It may not even matter which Republican runs; the election may actually already be over.

Ralph Smith, WEST LAFAYETTE, IND.

As seen clearly in Trump's recent appearances all over the media, the real estate mogul's election campaign slogan should be WE SHALL OVERCOMB.

Larry N. Lorenzoni, SAN FRANCISCO

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