Thomas's Story

Some time ago, I sent a comment to the Whitehouse via their feedback form on the website. I'm cynical enough to doubt Obama ever saw it. But I let them put me on their mailing list, so I get to see their efforts to play our emotions.

The latest one is about Thomas, who was born with Hemophilia and, his family burned through the insurance before he turned eight. And how the national insurance fiasco helps people like Thomas.

Huge, huge questions begging. I responded as follows:
 

Thomas's story is so sweet.

But the problem is not the lack of government programs.

The problem is deeper, and government programs don't solve the deeper problems. They only make the deeper problems worse.

There will soon be dozens of ways to cheat the national insurance, and then they will have to tighten all the rules and send people around to make sure the Thomases are all legitimate and this particular Thomas may or may not get overlooked in the mess.

Giving the people more ways to depend on the government only makes them less willing to help each other.

Stop it.

Start preaching individuals helping individuals, and when necessary, individuals getting together to help individuals.

That is the solution, and because it is too weak, too simple, too unenforceable, people with the money don't want to hear it. Not enough hidden ways to cheat.

But if the law really is one person one vote, the people with the money are in the minority.

Now, if you read this and are inclined to call me grinch, or worse, let me explain what happens to these government programs.

It's exactly what happened to the insurance in the first place.

Too many people fudging a little, making a little more use of the insurance than they should. But that's not the real problem.

We are supposed to be somewhat forgiving of each other, you see.

But there are these people who go to college and learn how to count beans. And there are these people who are not willing to forgive each other. And these people who are not willing to forgive each other sick the bean counters and the lawyers on anyone and everyone, trying to make the rest of us not forgive each other. And then while the dust is flying, these people cheat huge on insurance, investment, tax, and other rules. And they get all the good stuff and we get all the crud and they walk away with all our money.

The rich should only have one vote. They should not have the privilege of running lobbying machines.

And that is the reason why the Thomases in this world can't get the money they need. In a few years, the bean counters and the rich-in-their-own-minds will tighten the screws on the national insurance, and Thomas will once again have nowhere to turn.

If you're so rich, just give Thomas's parents the money. Set up a trust. Quietly. Don't make a fuss. And Thomas's problem is solved.

If you aren't quite that rich, get together with some of your friends.

And make sure Thomas's parents have work they can do that gives them time to take care of Thomas.

That's the way to solve these problems.

It may not raise your bottom line tomorrow, but it keeps value inflation down, so you don't have to run so hard keeping your bottom line on the steep rise.

In the end, giving from your own pocket is the better value proposition.

Way better than more government programs.