[Preechr]

Severe Entitlement Mentality Disorder.

Who is responsible for me getting a cold, or AIDS for that matter? Who is responsible for me getting old and infirm?

You guys? Rich People?

Let me tell you a little bit about insurance in general. The whole thing started as a cooperative effort by farmers to protect one another from financial ruin due to wind blowing over one's crops. All the farmers would pitch in to help when one farmer lost his ass due to an "Act of God."

Insurance was invented to protect normal, hard-working, productive people from catastrophic financial losses. Insurance companies do not insure your car no more than they insure Farmer John's stalks of wheat. They insure your financial health.

Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid... all that crap is insurance. Same general intention applies: Americans believe we should be protected from Financial Death through catastrophic accident, so we have incorporated that concept into the function of our government.... or more correctly, our government has assumed that responsibility from us.

I'll interrupt myself here before I forget to ask this: How many of you Oh So Concerned and Sensitive citizens actually donate your own money to charities that protect old people from Financial Death due to their age? I see no hands being raised. I suppose that's something you only care enough about to bitch when other people don't get forced to put THEIR money where YOUR mouth is, right?

Anyhoo...

Your new cap for your tooth is not a financial catastrophe. In a more efficient and honest world, you wouldn't even be able to purchase an insurance policy that covers something that incidental. You're bitching cause that damned insurance company won't cover your cap under the copayment, but the thing you don't realize is that your so-called dental insurance is costing you way more money than you'll ever save by having it.

Do you guys really think that you are so much smarter and better off than our entire aging baby-boomer generation that it is truly somehow YOUR responsibility to provide for THEIR retirement? Think about that. Are you assuming that all those people are so damn stupid that they never anticipated growing old?

"Damn! How the Hell did I get so wrinkly and stiff all of a sudden?! Is this some strange punishment from GOD?! I thought I was going to stay 18 forever!! DAMN YOU!!!" *shakes fist at sky*

It is sad and unfortuante that our elders bought into the idea that their government, the least efficient mechanism for accomplishment in the history of Mankind, would provide for them in their old age. It's sad because we are seeing the results of those empty promises made by politicians long ago in an effort to get their paws deeper into the pockets of their employers: 50% of Americans reaching 65 with access to less than $500 in cash and effectively no ability to provide for themselves. What was the Amazing American Gubbermint's Wonderful Plan for this again? Oh yeah... here's your big, shiny "Poverty" sticker Granny. If you are really, really good, and cast your vote this Fall, we'll pretend to care a little more about your mounting pharmaceutical bills... though, we won't actually DO anything right now. You'll be long dead before change is forced upon us.

Well, at least Granny gets some hope... and it's good for her to get out of the house at least once a year, even if it is only to vote for a President that got killed 40 years ago.

It looks like this could go on for pages more. I'll just "Submit" now and see if anything I've said so far sparks any interest.