Food Police in the land of the Free

The food police are out in full force now. It is official. Boston is going to become the next city in a nation of “free” people to ban the use of trans-fats in food. Of course some of you think there is nothing wrong with that.

Boston joins New York City and Philadelphia (the city of Brotherly Love and one of the cradle cities of our nations birth) to ban this heart stopping kind of bad fat. But wait, I thought we lived in the land of freedom. I thought we lived in the land where you have the freedom and the right to chose. I guess some people think they know whats best for you and will chose for you.

Come, on now. Did you honestly think these liberal wackos would stop at cigerettes? It has gotten so bad with those things now, that some cities and towns won't even let you smoke them in public parks. Some states are considering banning them from cars, your car, if it has your kids in it.

The nanny state is going too far and each and ever one of you is letting it happen. Most of us don't remember the time of prohibition. That is a time when our illustrious leaders sought to put a ban on alcohol in the constitution. It was a total disaster and a true attack on personal freedom.

This is getting way out of control. We are bringing homosexual sex out into the open but forcing people who like to smoke and eat into the closet. If you think for one instant that the food and society police are going to stop at this level, then you are stupid. Let me be blunt. You are stupid and probably deserve to have your freedom taken away.

You are now being told what you can and cannot eat. Sure smoking may be bad for your health. But are they so sure that eating trans fats in moderation is bad? No they are not. We seem to find on a daily basis, some culture around the world that eats more of a particular bad food than we do yet they have a much lower heart disease rate than we do. They have lower diabetes rates than we do. They have lower disease rates in nearly everything that we do. And they have no universal health care.

Maybe its just the fact that these people have learned how to live their own lives without the government telling them how to. They have lived their lives and their way of life for centuries without the interference of some busy body government official trying to tell them what to put into their mouths.

Our government can't even get the food pyramid right and you will give them the power to tell you what to eat and how to live? This makes no sense. There should be outrage and loud voices of opposition to this sort of thing.

But no, our governments enact legislation that restricts your freedom and you barely make a peep. So when they come for your favorite pastime or food, when they take away your right to do what you want and should be able to do in your own home, in your own car, you will have only yourself to blame.

Health Care by Government, Only if You Want Medicare for Everone

There has been a lot of talk about health care. There has been a lot of talk about the 35 to 45 million people in the USA that have no health insurance coverage. The politicians claim that these people all want coverage but can't afford it.

Lets be honest here. First of all, not all those 35 to 45 million Americans want insurance. There are many who do not want to spend the money even if they can afford it. I remember when I was in my teens. I did not want to pay for health care coverage that did not make sense to me. Most people who are healthy in their teens and twenties don't see the need for regular health insurance. They don't visit doctors on a regular basis and they know they would be throwing their money away.

Well now, according to 60 Minutes, we have millions of people who are under insured. These people can't afford the co-payment or they don't have dental or eye care as a part of their current coverage. So that boost the number of people who do not have proper health coverage to nearly 100 million people.

That means that one third of the US population does not access the health care system. I find that hard to believe.

First of all, I do not believe that health care is a basic right. I'm sorry, but it is not. It is a business like any other. If it was not a business where a profit could be made, then you would not have the advancements we have had. Yes, if something goes wrong, I certainly want the best possible medical attention I can afford.

That is key. The word afford. Yes, I am sure I have just pissed off a lot of people but that will not change my view. I have been on both sides of the isle. I have had health care coverage and I have been without it. I have always been healthy and I rarely go to a doctor.

Some people would say I am crazy for not visiting my doctor on a regular basis. Why should I? There is very little in our world that people access when they don't need to.

The point is, there is nothing on this planet other than breathing that is given to anyone free of charge. You even have to work for your food. So why do we think we can take what is essentially a business and start giving it away or dictating the cost and price of it.

Communist and Socialist countries have all tried to make parts or all of their health care a free and open access policy and they have all failed or they are currently failing. Canadians come to the USA for basic health care needs because they cannot get them in Canada or their waiting list is too long for the good of their health.

England, Sweden and other socialistic nations have had to change or overhaul their government health care system because their old systems were not working and/or it was bankrupting the government and the people.

Those of you calling for the Federal Government to take over your health care should take a look at Medicare and Midicaid. They should also look at the VA system. All three are in shambles and are shameful examples of how government can screw up your health care.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has changed their health care system. They say they are doing everyone a great service. The only problem is they are in the back pockets and in the bedroom of every one of their citizens. In Massachusetts if you are 18 years old or older you MUST have health insurance. If you don't, then the state will fine you. Now of course if you fall within certain income guidelines you are eligible for a state plan. Again you are forced to have something you may not want. It is not the same as being forced to have car insurance. You can chose to not own or drive a car. The only choice you have with health insurance is to move out of the state.

And yes, Massachusetts is losing population. The neighboring states of New Hampshire and Rhode Island are gaining a good portion of those fleeing the over taxation and over regulation in Massachusetts

Health care and health insurance is not FREE nor is it cheap. To say you want the government to give it to you is ludicrous. It is the very definition of insanity. I do not want an organization that already has made a mess of health care to be in charge of my health care.

I am one of those very healthy people even though high blood pressure and diabetes runs in my family. I choose not to go to the doctor for a number of reasons. Mainly because I am healthy and I eat right and exercise and just plain take care of myself. It is safe to say that if the majority of Americans lived the way I lived, there would not be nearly as high a need for drugs and doctors as we have now. And yes I do eat sweets and junk food on occasion.

The point is, when the government get hold of your health care, they will be able to tell you how to live if you want to continue getting that care. You don't think other measures will come down the pike? Think again.

There are already people in congress proposing a fat tax on snack foods similar to the taxes on tobacco. Sugar soft drinks are also in their radar sites. Yes you will be hounded and taxed to death if you do not conform to someones ideal way of life. That is the power of government and once you give them that power, it is nearly impossible to take that power away.

Remember, just like driving, you do not have a constitutional right to eat anything you want. At least that is what they will say which will give them the right to tax your eating behavior. Snack foods and other foods not deemed healthy will be viewed as privileges. Hell there may even be age limits imposed on snack foods. Petty soon you will need to be 16 or 18 or 21 years of age to buy potato chips. You think I am going too far?

Just look at tobacco, alcohol and some over the counter drugs. Don't think for an instant that the health police will not come after you or tax you and your favorite snack chip. The point is government has no business being in my or your living room, bed room, bathroom or anywhere else in your private life. But you allow them to take over the health care system and you will give them that right.

Not to mention you will be much poorer for it. You think health care in the USA is expensive now, just wait until the government gets hold of it. When was the last time government was able to bring down the cost of anything while keeping the service the same or improving it? Right, there has not been a time.

Our government is here for public safety, yes. Health care is not a public safety issue. You can take care of yourself. And if the government would get totally out of health care, then maybe, just as with car insurance, it will be more affordable for those who want it.

Just think. Right now you can get a health coverage plan in various forms. It could be an HMO or a PPO or even a major medical policy (which makes the most sense for young people who are healthy) but if the government takes control now you can only get what they say and trust me the more efficient policies out there will not be allowed.

I find it horrifying that the American people would allow the government to make decisions as personal as health care.

You had better be careful because if our health care system tanks, then where are you going to go? Already most of the world comes here for health care because your system is the best in the world. So if you destroy the best, who is left? Canada? England? Sweden? France? They all come here when they can. You, the people of the USA, my fellow Americans, will be shit out of luck.

Health Care Inovation Can Solve Crisis

What is wrong with our health care system? To be short, nothing. What is the downfall of our health care system? To be short, government.

Why do I say that? Because government has pretty much eliminated any way for the average person to develop new systems and profit by it. The insurance industry as a whole, is the most regulated industry in our country. Within that industry is the health care and health insurance industry, which is probably the most regulated part of the insurance industry.

Look at it this way. The government gives your employer (not you) a huge deduction for providing health care coverage for you. But only health care. Your employer wont get incentives to offer you car insurance. Your employer wont get government incentives to provide you with legal insurance. In fact you employer wont get government incentives for providing you with most benefits. The only one is health insurance.

By regulation, the government has also made it nearly impossible for the average person to shop around and get health insurance coverage on their own. You don't have the opportunity to shop around for health care coverage like you do auto insurance. You can get great deals on home owner or even renters insurance but you cant get deals on health care coverage of the same magnitude.

Government also makes innovation nearly impossible in health care coverage. Not just anyone can start a health care company. Not just anyone can innovate health care and bring it to market. Lets take a look at legal insurance.

I do not endorse or recommend any of the companies I may mention in this article nor do I have a direct financial stake in these companies.

Pre-paid legal is a Multi-Level Marketing company that provides a sort of legal insurance plan. You can join the company or just purchase the plan from a company member and you will be covered for many legal matters, some of which there is no additional out of pocket cost. Sort of like an HMO for the legal set.

This type of company could never exist in our country with todays laws and regulations. You could not have a true MLM company providing health care coverage. Say what you will about the MLM industry but it has revolutionized many industries in our nation and is responsible for billions of dollars in sales annually.

Take a franchise system. You can franchise just about anything in our country except health insurance. You already know that franchises in our country are hugely successful. They account for about one third of our total GNP. Sure there are some form of franchised health care companies like Health Stop but those are not like a McDonald's or a Rust Check. You have to be a medical professional to have one and they are not insurance plans.

Of course there are all kinds of discount programs out there. Even an MLM version is available. It is called AmeriPlan. But it is not insurance.

You can franchise a real estate company, even though everyone involved needs to be licensed to sell real estate. You can MLM personal financial advise as with Primarica even though all participants who actually sell the stuff have to get financial licenses. You can franchise insurance companies themselves such as State Farm but again you must be licensed.

So if we can franchise other industries that require a license then why can we not franchise, MLM or otherwise open up the health insurance industry so that innovation and competition take hold. So that the American people will have a true choice about their health care. Why do we not have the freedom to chose our health care like we do with just about every other aspect of our life?

The simple answer is government. Get the government out of it and you will see innovation, improved services, lower cost and more people able to afford to access the system. Now that was easy.