A Call from the Nice Man at Government Healthcare

Wonder about the spin-off impact of government funded and controlled health care? It's pretty clear. Just like the power to tax, the power to control medical services must inevitably lead to control of other items on the agenda.

Here is the phone call I expect to receive from a Faceless Bureaucrat (FB in the dialogue below) quite soon.

FB: Hello, Mr. Deffler?

ME: It's Derfler

FB: Mr. Doorfler, my name is Mr. Putz and I'm from the Department of National Healthcare. I would like to ask you a few questions.

ME: Okaaay.. I guess

FB: We have all of your personal information, but I need to check on a few items for our files that popped up on a routine review.

ME: Hmmmmm

FB: You have listed a daughter, age 12, as a dependant for healthcare purposes?

ME: Okay....

FB: We do not have a record of her vaccinations from your local school district.

ME: She doesn't go to public school.

FB: Oh.. well, if you will give me the name of her private school, we can check those records.

ME: She is home schooled. We feel that at this time she is learning more in home schooling than she would in the public schools and we can't really afford private school.

FB: Ah... well... you see, Sir, if she is not attending a school, then we can not be sure that she is receiving appropriate healthcare, can we? You can teach her at home, but we can't provide health care. I'll pass that to the review committee to deal with.

ME: You do that..

FB: There were just one or two more things. I see that you have a concealed weapons permit. Does that mean you own guns?

ME: It might.

FB: Well, you see, the right to own guns is, more or less I guess, mentioned in the Constitution, but the policy now is that you are not eligible to government healtcare if you decide to own guns. After all, guns injure people and that would raise the cost of healthcare to all tax payers wouldn't it? I'll show you as owning guns and I'm afraid that healthcare coverage will immediately cease for everyone in your household. If you would like to change your status, you can download a form from our Website, certify that you are gun-free, and your healthcare coverage will resume within a couple of weeks.

ME: But, but, that's unconstitutional. The second Amendment....

FB: Oh, Sir, you can have your guns. Certainly, you can have guns, but no healthcare. There is, after all, no constitutional right to healthcare, is there?

FB: Let's see... there was one more item... according to your tax return, your occupation is online journalist. Is that like a ... what are they called? Blogger?

ME: Yes, in fact, it is like that.

FB: Ah, that is considered a high risk occupation. I'm afraid that Government Healthcare doesn't cover people in high risk occupations.

ME: What do you mean, high risk? It's just words...

FB: Ah yes, Sir, but words have meaning. Someone could take offence and harm you. That would raise the cost of healthcare to everyone. That would be unfair.

ME: But the First Amendment... freedom of speech.

FB: Oh, Sir, again you do not understand. You may say anything you like. That is your right. But, the government doesn't have to cover your healthcare if you choose to say controversial things. It would not be fair? Would it?

FB: Well, Sir, that about covers it. As I said, if you want to change your status, then simply download an affidavit, swear to change your ways, and we will reconsider your status. You have a nice day.