The government cannot run unfunded programs forever. Yet with the present prescription drug bills now headed for conference, that is about what the politicians are contemplating. To repeat the unspoken truth of these prescription-care bills is that they are not even funded.

The Bush administration until recently included market-based reforms in its plans for prescription-drug legislation. Now it has apparently thrown in the towel. Sen. Edward Kennedy is opposed to such measures. Of course, any market-based reforms can be expected to rouse Kennedy's ire. He wants to move toward a single-payer health system whose proper name is socialism. Any policy that further damages Medicare he believes will put further pressure on the government for his quaint 1930s goal.

Actually, the government already has a solution to the health care muddle, but it is only available to members of Congress and government employees, namely, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). In its 28 years, FEHBP's costs have been no greater than Medicare's, and its benefits are more extensive. Even a hypochondriac can admire it.

Under FEHBP, the government's Office of Personnel Management annually sends out a memo to health insurance providers, outlining goals and soliciting each company to put together plans consistent with those goals. The plans that meet the government's minimum standards are offered to government employees, who can then select the policy of their choice. Furthermore, employees can negotiate with the companies as to which options are included in their personal policy.

I would want the hangnail option. Thus my policy might cost a bit more than Kennedy's, though he ought to take the weight-watcher's option. The government then agrees to pay between 72 percent and 75 percent of the policy premium.

FEHBP has wide acceptance among health specialists and health care providers. Frankly, I cannot understand why Republicans and Democrats cannot agree on extending it beyond government employees to the rest of us. The only reasons I can ascertain are that: A) Republicans are not up to the political fight, and B) Democrats are holding out so as to move national health care toward socialism and away from market reforms.

By now, it is pretty clear that today's reactionaries are with Kennedy.