Too Much Turmoil

Sheri and I were on an early morning bow hunt south of the scout camp. Making our way towards a bugling elk, we heard the sounds of a bear rolling logs in the nearby brush. We moved away undetected by the bear, avoiding a confrontation. One cannot always master their environment but must learn to exist within it.

Our country is embroiled in a massive amount of turmoil. Those pushing for change do not seem to be concerned by the warning signs of confrontation. Programs that promote health care changes, gay marriage, drug legalization, firearms restrictions, financial insecurity and increased spending/taxes are all being forced upon the citizens without its consensus. We have been forced to give up our light bulbs for the lousy, mercury-filled alternatives!

The number of food stamp recipients has doubled. People are demanding increased wages at fast food restaurants because they are being filled by mature adults instead of teens. This leaves the young with limited job opportunities. The pressure builds!

An increased number of shootings and the dismal state of the political discourse are all signs that people are feeling backed into a corner. This country has a groove in which it functions best and people feel secure. The social progressives have undertaken the challenge of uprooting the American culture and lifestyle in order to transform the country. Their heavy-handed tactics have created stress and uncertainty. Those engineering change have not won wide acceptance their agenda but that seems to be of little concern. The architects proclaim that the changes are for the common good. It has been decreed that all must follow their orthodoxy. It would seem that allowing others to live according to their own ideals would be a wiser course.

There is a large grizzly in the thicket. Some refuse to recognize the danger and insist in dragging the bear out of the brush. It is better for all concerned to leave the bear alone.

Not Leaving a Shallow Footprint

You can’t change the instinctive behavior of wild animals. When I am camping or hiking, I avoid actions that entice wildlife to react aggressively towards me. I leave a shallow footprint and hope to pass unnoticed.

A prudent government takes this same approach with its citizenry. Nowhere is this concept more obviously ignored than in implementation of the health care law. A group decided that they could reconfigure the insurance industry and extend coverage to everyone. Policy requirements were designed by lawmakers and advocates.  One example of their wisdom: avoid price discrimination against women by requiring all policies to include maternity coverage, including men’s.

Policy premiums once based on age, sex, health experience and benefits are now priced only by age and benefits. To pay for the relaxed criteria, prices and deductibles have necessarily increased.

The initial targets of the new law are those who own individual policies. Anyone who purchased a policy or made any changes (deductibles or copays included) in the last three years can no longer keep their policies. The plan requires an influx of participants to offset the cost of those who have preexisting conditions and the individual policy holders are the first in the crosshairs.

Citizens who agree with this approach could band together, form an insurance co-op and market their ideas to like-minded individuals. They have decided to impose their concept upon their fellow citizens. An architect of the current health care law said that this disruption in the individual market affected only 5% of the population (several million policy holders) and was a small but necessary step to achieve universal coverage.  I guess you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs! It is tough if you are one of the eggs.

People instinctively do not accept laws against their self-interest, regardless of how it is packaged. Lawmakers have not left a shallow footprint. This behavior doesn’t work with wild animals and will not work with the citizenry either.

No Sympathy?

A couple of weeks ago, the EBT system went down for a few hours in Louisiana. When the food assistance cards were run at a few Wal-Mart locations, the computer system showed no limit on purchases. The word spread like wildfire among local shoppers and they legally looted much of the stores within the space of two hours. There was no concern for those who would have to pay for the shopping spree. It was free stuff!

During same week, I was in a local convenience store. The clerk mentioned that he felt bad for tourists who could not enter Yellowstone Park due to the government slim-down. I expressed sympathy for their disappointment and concern for local businesses but declared support for the legislators who were attempting to stop the new health care law. The clerk (who is approximately my age) expressed enthusiasm for the new law because he expected $100 per month health insurance. I advised him that while he might be saving $400 a month in premium, some of my income was from health insurance sales. This law forced commissions be cut and eventually agents may be phased out completely. So while he was happy for his good fortune, my family would be suffering a large financial loss. Regence Blue Shield has closed most of their local offices as a result of this law and friends that I have known for 20 years are now unemployed. The clerk was not sympathetic. He wanted $100-a-month health insurance!  I let it drop. 

A week and a half later, I entered the store and greeted the same clerk with my usual “Good Morning Sunshine!”  His response took be aback. He glared and responded “You can call me by my name or you can call me sir! If you call me anything else, I’ll come across the counter and punch you!” My only response was “Really, you want to go there?” I paid for my gas and left.

What has happened to our country? People feel entitled to free or almost free goods and services. If anyone suffers a loss as a result of government policies and complains, they are called heartless, stingy or even threatened. You’d think that if someone is getting hosed to give you something for free, a “thank you” might be in order!