Is access to health care a right or a privilege?  This week “we” have decided, apparently, that it is a right.  The businesses that have historically eased that access, the health insurance industry, have been cast as the bad guys, greedy bastards interested only in making a profit.  They will no longer be allowed to make sound business decisions like charging more for older clients and pre-existing conditions.  And when they fail as businesses, well, we can always take on that role as a society and tax ourselves into oblivion by refusing to make those same sound business decisions.  After all, everyone, no matter what, has the right to access to health care.

Is access to food a right or a privilege?  The need for food is more immediate and usually more urgent than access to health care.  It follows that the businesses that grow, process, distribute, and sell our food are greedy bastards, too, interested only in making a profit.  They should no longer be allowed to refuse to give their products to people who cannot or will not pay for them.  And when they fail as businesses, well, we can always take on that role as a society.  After all, everyone, no matter what, has the right to access to food.

Is access to clothing a right or a privilege?  Surely it’s more urgent than health insurance.  What will we do about those greedy bastards who would rather make a profit than distribute clothing and shoes, free, to the needy?  Do they even deserve to stay in business?  Doesn’t everyone, no matter what, deserve access to clothing?

Is access to housing a right or a privilege?

Transportation?  Recreation?  House repairs?  Clothing repairs?  Car repairs?  Snow removal?  A furnace?  An air conditioner?  A water heater?  An umbrella?  Hand sanitizer?

Posted by Sharon under Libertarianism | 1 Comment »

Last fall, we Topekans voted a sales tax increase to fix our city streets. Never mind that city ordinances require that money be set aside from existing taxes for street repair.

For several months now, we have been paying an additional 0.5% (total: 7.95%), and neither I nor anyone I know has ever seen the streets in worse shape. Interestingly, there are a number of road construction projects underway, but precious little repair.

I was inspired to write this piece of literature by the evasive actions required to maintain some semblance of alignment in the front of my car.

The Topeka Pothole Hoedown

Well, swing that steering wheel off to the right.
If you fall in that hole you’ll be out of sight.
If you fall in that hole you will never be found,
And your tires will never again be round.
You will never again see the light of day,
Oh, Yippy Ky-Yo and-a (Stomp!) Ky-Yay!

Well, slam on the brakes and go real slow.
You don’t wanna speed through that big ol’ hole.
It’ll rattle your doors and pop your hood,
And won’t do your axles no darn good.
If my car had wings it’d fly away,
Oh, Yippy Ky-Yo and-a (Stomp!) Ky-Yay!

Oh, swing that steering wheel off to the left.
Ya think the tax increase mighta been theft?
They raised our taxes to fix the roads.
But whatever happened to all that dough?
We may never know, but what the hey.
Oh, Yippy Ky-Yo and-a (Stomp!) Ky-Yay!

Posted by Sharon under Laughter | No Comments »