We simply cannot fathom why some people believe that the best way to bring efficiency to the health care system, and to lessen its cost, is to turn over management to the federal government. Washington’s record in regard to efficiency and frugality is not the best, as we have pointed out.

More evidence to back up our contention surfaced this week.

Remember earlier this year, when the government announced a program to stimulate the economy by providing tax credits? Individuals were to receive $400 credits, with couples to get $800. The credits are being provided through small increases in paychecks; that, in turn, result from slight decreases in amounts withheld for the federal income tax.

In addition, more than 50 million retirees received $250 checks from Uncle Sam, also as part of the stimulus program.

Don’t spend it all just yet. It seems that the government has made some mistakes in its calculations. The paycheck withholding tables used for the program are incorrect in many cases.

How many? More than 15 million taxpayers may owe more than they expected when they file income tax returns next year, the government is admitting. Many of them will be senior citizens on fixed incomes.

And get this: Though the government is aware of the problem, it has not yet corrected it. An Internal Revenue Service official explained that the withholding system “cannot be tailored precisely to fit every individual situation.”

Or even 15 million of them, apparently.

Do we really want to give the government more control over our lives?

— The New Ulm Journal, Nov. 24