The Sky's The Limit!

As long as none of it has to come out of MY pocket!

A major news-wire story this week dealt with "Loss of Insurance by Middle Class." Featured was a family whose health insurance coverage was lost when the wife was down-sized out of a nice job.

The husband barely eked out a living ($75,000 per annum doing something with cars) and they could no longer afford premiums, so they dropped all coverage including that for their one child (it would have cost $217 per month just for her). They described their "shame at the doctor's office when it was discovered we didn't have insurance" as they sought help for the child's sore throat.

There are several possible responses to this sad story, many of them "knee-jerks" in one direction or other. (From the Far Left: "See, this is a perfect example of why we need a national health program." From the Touchy-Feely Center: "Well, I think that the doctor should have given them a free ride on this." From the Far Right: "Serves 'em right for not having the forethought to have a few thousand in savings for emergencies like this one.") Which is your favorite?

(Ed: Yo'Doc has a fable for you, taken from another sector - the Country's Larder. Here 'tis.)

In the land of Cornucopia, due to concerns about citizens' ability to pay for the huge expenses of Thanksgiving Dinner for twelve or more, Wolfgang Puck Inc offers "Meal Insurance." There are several policies available: 1) Budget: Covers the cost of the turkey and one pumpkin pie, no whipped cream - $5 per mo. 2) Economy: For an additional fee, the mashed potatoes and peas, plus gravy, are thrown in - $10 per mo. 3) Blue Plate Special: Includes sweet potato casserole and provision for any unexpected walk-ins - $20 per mo. 4) Deluxe: Covers all of the above PLUS a selection of beverages and pre-meal snacks - $50 per mo.

5) Premium: This policy pays for breakfast on Thanksgiving Day, cost of gasoline for trips to the convenience market for "those forgotten items, like pickles and squeeze-cheese", and three kinds of dessert - $100 per mo. 6) Executive Suite: All the foregoing AND your own private chef to do the cooking - $200 per mo. 7) CEO / Presidential: We are proud to offer the finest of everything on our lesser menus AND throw in a waitress (costumed by Victoria's Secret) and a maid to clean up! - $500 per mo.

But wait! The populace reacts as follows: "This is too dang expensive, and middle Americans can no longer afford it! The gov'mint has got to do something about it! It's a crisis is what it is! We all have to have what those no-good CEOs get!"

Responding to the crisis in its usual manner, the "gov'mint" establishes a one-size-fits-all national meal service, whereupon a massive revolt ensues. It appears the entire spectrum of the populace has had its ox gored in one way or another. Members of AARP (Active Ancients Reactively Perplexed) say, "We liked it better the other way, and we got more!" The poorest members of society say, "We were better off before - didn't have to pay anything and got whatever we needed!"

The working classes speak out, "Used to be, taxes took only a third of our paycheck. Now it's more like two-thirds and going up!" Wealthy citizens are angry, "Our tax bite makes US feel like someone gave us the bird!" Somewhere in America, a little girl says to her mother, "But Momma, couldn't we just PAY the grocery man and get a turkey?" Her mother responds, "Hush, child! We can't do that. We have to fight for first dollar coverage!"

The only people happy are the bureaucrats, who sit back, smiling and realizing that they have created the biggest monster since Godzilla, and their jobs are secure well into the next millennium.

Then all at once, simultaneously, the turkey crop fails due to lack of money for feed, there are no workers to harvest the pumpkins, and, since the treasury is empty, all other government services grind to a halt. So much for "first-dollar" coverage!

(Ed: We sincerely hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving Day get-togethers around a groaning board of some sort. And didn't it feel good to know you helped save your country by using your own money to buy it all? Or at least some of it?)