Jeff Childers’ “Coffee & Covid” substack is a great way to start the day. An easy read gathering bits of important virus news sprinkled with a little humor- just what we need right now.
This paragraph in today’s issue reminded me to talk about lines, shortages & central planning:
“Thanks, ObamaCare. Biden is fixing TEST SHORTAGES! Starting Saturday, private health insurers will now be required to reimburse up to eight home Covid tests per month for insureds. Isn’t it great how the federal government now has total control of what insurance companies cover and what they don’t cover? Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
You see, it’s called “central planning,” where super-smart bureaucrats who have your best interest in mind plan everything in the economy without running it by you first, because why should they? What do you know about your own best interest?”
My theory from the beginning of this pandemic is that it was partially manipulated by the government to get Americans used to waiting in lines, and used to dealing with shortages. Notice how no one balked when we were made to stand outside of our local grocery store just to buy basics? I took one look at that and got the chills.
I refused to do that. Never waited in a line and will never wait in a line. No reason for it. We still have options in this country and until the government fully becomes the stock boy at my grocery store, I will always exercise my right to go elsewhere. No lines. Refuse to play the game.
But you do see how the over-reach started. Way back when Obamacare was shoved down our throats and good old Uncle Sam got involved in our healthcare, we gave the thumbs up for more.
Now your insurance company is following orders and it’s not from you or your doctor.
How’s that feel? Hungry for more?
I’m more and more interested in an alternative health system. Naturopaths, homeopaths, whatever. They could charge a monthly fee with a goal of optimizing health rather than just be there for illness and disease. Can they exist, or will government crush anyone not following their orders and take away licenses to practice? Can the parallel economy exist in healthcare? Does it already exist in some form?
Back when the ever-evolving definitions of ideological tribe still called me a "liberal" somehow, I was the only one of my lefty friends who was angrily against Obamacare as it was rolling out. (Looking back, this and a few other of Barry's policies were when I actually started tasting a red pill on my tongue, rather than more recently, as I have heretofore assumed).
To a one, they'd say, "Don't you want everyone to have healthcare?" and then, the deadly liberal weapon, accompanied with Law & Order musical sting: "DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT PEOPLE?"
(The weaponization of "unselfish" and "caring" is worthy of an entire essay.)
I pointed out, to a one, "do you understand that this is the federal government requiring private citizens to purchase private goods, and subsidizing a private business with people's tax money? Weren't you guys furious when they bailed out the banks after we all lost our jobs? What if GM asked the government for help and they punished you if you didn't buy a car every two years? What would that do to our environment? Can you imagine the waste, besides the financial hardship?"
To a one, NO ONE GOT IT. And these were liberals, listening to then-liberal Guttermouth. Don't we hate corporations, guys? Why do we want the government empowering corporations? Now let's go have a three-hour meeting with ridiculous socialist rituals.
Hey, remember when literally everyone laughed at anyone who worried about "death panels?"
Do a global search of Twatter or your favorite social toilet for the phrase "should be denied healthcare."