Arizona offered a public plan option: the state’s taxpayers needed to bail out the plan, and benefits and options were reduced for the families who relied on the plan. See The Arizona Republic: instead of becoming self-sufficient, the growth only increased costs.

A public plan for health insurance for all children in Hawaii was introduced in 2008. After only 7 months, the plan was repealed and abandoned because of high costs. 85% of all children who enrolled in the government plan ALREADY had private coverage. See Heartland Institute: unwise to spend public money to replace private coverage that children already had.

Massachusetts instituted a plan for “universal health insurance” for all of its residents. Since enacting the plan in 2006, the state’s spending on health care has increased 42%. And compared to the national average, Massachusetts, which already spent on average 25% more per person, now spends 33% more than the national average. New York Times: The day of reckoning has arrived.

A mandate that we be forced to purchase health insurance—or pay fines, tax penalties, even have our wages garnished—will do nothing to reduce overall health care costs or improve access for most Americans. In fact, in Massachusetts where there currently is an individual mandate, average health insurance premiums are over three times the national average.

Write your senators, representatives, and local government officials and tell them that we don’t want the government to control America’s health care.

In a revamped health care system envisioned by senators, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now. The government would provide subsidies for the poor and many middle-class families, but those who still refuse to sign up would face fines of more than $1,000.

I wonder how much research has or will be done by the men and women voting on this thing. Massachussetts already requires health insurance on its residents, but did anyone ask them if it works?

It’s hard to trust that the politicians will be thorough and diligent in doing what’s best for their voters on this health care insurance issue, considering how quickly the 1,000+ page stimulus plan was voted through. No one had time to read that whole thing before they voted. (And depending on who you ask, it’s full of crap.. I mean, pork.)

But that’s not what really bothers me.

What bothers me is the idea of mandatory health insurance.

It’s not like mandatory car insurance, despite the parallels some have mentioned. A person could always decide to go without a car.

You’re thinking, “That’s not feasible!” In some cases, you’re right. In other cases, it would be a major pain. But the fact remains that there is mass transit, public transportation, cab companies, and carpool groups that all serve as an alternative to owning a car.

I can understand the logic of a car tax. When you own a car, you drive on roads made specifically for that purpose. Your traffic contributes to the wear and tear of the roads, so your taxes go towards their maintenance. (Please, no comments about all the potholes you have to endure.)

But there’s no option with mandatory health insurance. You’d have to get it. The only way you can opt out is to die. So really, it’s like we’re being taxed simply for being living, breathing U.S. citizens living in this country.

In all other ways that people are taxed, there is some kind of give and take, no matter what you think of the system. You put money into Social Security and Medicare so that you can collect benefits in the future. Your taxes go towards public services and the workings of the government to maintain the country.

At least, that’s how it should work.

But mandatory health care is just taxing me because I live and breathe here as a U.S. citizen.

Also, consider that those who refuse to get insurance may be fined. How will the rebels be found out – when they show up at the hospital? Will you have police stationed at the ER now, to fine the uninsured? Or will there be a door-to-door search?

If they will be fined when the healthcare system learns they are uninsured, why would anyone who cannot afford health insurance ever go to a doctor? So really, the problem of folks without health insurance is not fixed by a mandate.

But what scares me even more is what else will be required in the future.

If health insurance is mandatory, will health care become mandatory too? For example, what vaccines would the population be required to accept? There are vaccinations now, but there is still an element of choice in them. And with newer vaccines — for example, the vaccine against cervical cancer — there are plenty of people with valid reasons to object, both morally and physically.

And who decides what health care is sufficient? Will the government approve or disapprove of certain procedures? The possibility exists that the government could lean dangerously close to eugenics, denying extensive treatments to folks who are deemed too old, too impaired, or simply not useful anymore.

Consider this scenario: An elderly patient with cancer could have several more years with a good “quality of life” if treated intensively for several months. He or She might eventually be denied that treatment in favor of palliative care simply because of their age. It would be deemed “inefficient” to treat their cancer; a committee might decide that the benefits to society do not balance the investment.

Where does it stop?

Write your senators, representatives, and local government officials and tell them what you think of the mandatory health insurance bill.

She started feeling chills and congestion Saturday night, and it started on me late Sunday night. I left work at 3:45 today after slogging through as much as I could, partly because I begrudge using up sick time and partly because I didn’t feel up to driving home after I had lunch. Nothing stomach related, just fever chills and aches, headache,  a scratchy and swollen throat. I sorta felt dizzy for about a half hour. If I could have closed my door and curled up under my desk for an hour, I would have. But I didn’t have a pillow. So I went home about an hour before the Tylenol wore off, after I started getting hot instead of cold.

Anyway, I called my friend this afternoon because I accidentally left my work badge at her house, and she said that she is fighting pneumonia. She can’t get an x-ray cuz she’s pregnant, but she’s pretty sure that’s what’s going on. She’s losing her voice rapidly. I drove out to pick up my badge after I left work, and by mutual consent, she simply taped it on her front door for me to retrieve and be on my way. Neither of us wanted to be around the other. hehe

I have breathed deeply and thankfully my lungs seem fine. I have a bit of chest congestion and my famous cough kicked in late last night, so my throat is scratchy and swollen. My ribs ache though, not from coughing, just in a fever sort of way like everything else.

So, to the title of this post: I just took my temp, and it’s 101.2! No wonder I had chills today. Usually when I feel a bit sick my temp is in the 99 range. Other than that 24-hour stomach flu last year, it’s been ages since I had a real fever.

I picked up Hall’s and Nyquil at lunch, so maybe I can get a good night’s sleep. I’m off to heat some chicken noodle soup. I hope I can go to work tomorrow. Sand, but true. Not because I feel any of that corporate driven stuff, but like I said earlier, I begrudge the time off. If I use up my sick time, I’ll have to take leave under personal time, which I have been calculating into my total vacation hours, to be taken in a trip up North. We shall see.

Edit: I just decided that I really don’t care if I use up sick or personal time. Taking a week of is important — to see my family, and for my mental health — so I’ll take unpaid days if I need to. So there. And I don’t think it’s the fever talking.

It’s been a long time since I had the flu, and I’m sort of marvelling at how quickly and completely it threw me down. And at how effectively it purged my body. I take medicine every day for chronic hives, and if I skip a day or two I will start getting itchies at pressure points — not instantly, and not full hives, but the warning of more. But yesterday I slipped on some sandals to go check the mail and by the time I got back to my house, I had some very itchy red spots on my ankles where the straps had been. It’s been ages since I had instant hives like that. It didn’t even occur to me that the flu would flush medicine out of my system. Thankfully I can take my daily dose again!

I’m not sure if I will go to work tomorrow. Even though I can eat, it’s like my stomach as shrunk and I hardly eat much before I feel full, and I don’t really want to stress my tummy by filling it to the brim. So I still feel wobbly and if I lie down at any given time, I will sleep for at least 4 hours. I think I’ll check my temp again tonight and decide from there.