I NEED A LICENSE FOR WHAT

(Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Reuters, Frazer Chronicle)

 

Sometimes the simplest of subjects can be a real entertaining issue, as long as one keeps his or her sense of humor. Licenses, permits and proof of knowledge on a specific service or materials handling can be a real pain in the butt, some are understandable, while other rules and regulations make absolutely no sense what-so-ever.

 

Of course there is what might be called the blanket requirements, like, in most states, auto insurance, or liability insurance for home, or business. There is also what my sister would call invasive or governmental intrusion!  Like government telling citizens which light bulbs to use, or how people should fill out a census questionnaire.

 

My sister, (I’ll withhold her name), Elaine, feels strongly about government intruding on her perceived privacy. To a degree I feel the same as she, but some of her gripes simply, to me make little or no sense at all. She raised the issue of light bulb usage and the fact that power companies can put a meter on the side of your house that tells the company how much energy you use in a day, and how much you use in each room.

 

At first I didn’t believe her, and researched with glee the issue of the size of light bulbs, the wattage and how many hours a day those bulbs were on, and which rooms took the most energy. My feeling of proving her wrong vanished after less than 15 minutes on my computer. Turns out the fed does have meters on the side of your home, and can read the usage and location of the usage in your house.

 

The only thing that I got her on was the fact that the program to monitor electrical usage and bulb size was initiated by a president…..but it wasn’t Obama, it was George W. Bush, late in his second term in office. I didn’t even bother to point this fact out, pretty much because I felt so despondent about the overall issue…..I hate it when she’s right.

 

A HUGE HUB-BUD

It’s funny how so many people have balked at Obama care, and the perceived implications it’s going to have on people’s rights. I know a fella, one who I respect, telling me that Obama care was a real intrusion of a person’s right to make up his own mind about such a thorny issue.

 

I was kinda surprised, and inquired about his insurance plan and what company he paid his monthly premiums too, and how much it ran him a year…..(he’s an independent business owner), for his coverage. Imagine my surprise when he informed me that he doesn’t have medical health coverage!

 

This man and his wife are in their 60’s and, as everybody knows, the older you get, the more chance you’re going to have to acquire all sorts of medical problems, hell, I’m living proof of that fact, I take a pill to get up, several more to get through the day, then a couple more to make it through the night.

 

Here’s the deal with health insurance, it’s almost like any other insurance, auto, fire, life, liability or any other of the insurances that can be crafted to fit a particular need, no matter what you might think about insurance, when you need it, everybody is mighty glad that they have it.

 

 

 

I used to sell life insurance, the Little Giant it was called, life insurance is by far the hardest sale going, no matter what they tell you, what you are selling is death, the insurance won’t keep you from cheating death, what it will do is give your beneficiary extra money at an extremely difficult time. At times it was a sobering experience for the prospective clients, especially the older people.

 

If we don’t want the government poking its nose into our business, then we need, as responsible people, to conduct ourselves in that manner. People without health insurance are actually a danger to us all. These people, (without health insurance) are going to fall down, break an arm or leg, will get sick, will be injured at work, or around the house…..it’s simply a fact of living, crap happens.

 

Without the proper insurance coverage, the emergency room becomes the health care provider…..and we all know who ends up paying for that type of non-coverage, us, your average taxpayer, the guy skimping along, but doing his best to be responsible. He’s the guy with the beat-up truck who works six days a week…..and has some form of health care; even though there’s a $5000 deductable, he’s gonna help pay for the emergency room guy with no health coverage.

 

Of course I would be remiss in not equating into the mix of licenses, permits and documents of knowledge the National Rifle Association, and their constant whining about the second amendment, federal intervention into their personal lives, and their right to keep and bear arms. The original Second Amendment stated very simply that: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

 

Okay almost everybody gets the meaning of the Second Amendment, but there is no standing militia, those duties have been taken over by the National Guard, the regular military, the state troopers, county and city law enforcement people.

 

It’s the annotations to the Second Amendments that get in the way of interpretation of the Amendment, how it works and what it means. Annotations are add-ons, and there are twelve, which should be read by opponents as well as advocates of the gun debate…..you just might be surprise.

 

YOU’D BE AMAZED

The lengths that the federal government goes to, to keep a finger in the average citizens business really is unbelievable, and really can be a source of distaste and frustration for many, many average Americans. It’s almost like, leave me alone so I can get on with my life!

 

You have to have a license to drive a car or pick-up, a special license to drive a big rig,  to get legally married, hunt, fish, have a dog, or cat, (in some states),sell liquor, buy liquor, be a fireman, rescue people, (or have a good liability policy), sell real-estate, grow nursery stock, be a mortician, and you gotta register your vehicle(s), or if you’re a sex offender, or plan on doing business under an assumed name…..and the list just keeps going on and on, and gets bigger and bigger.

 

I’m not trying to make this an issue about universal health care, or gun control, I’m attempting in my own feeble way to illustrate how ridiculous some arguments are whenever people start talking about infringements into their lives and their personal stuff.

 

If it’s broke, I’m not sure how we can fix it…..our system of government, and the interpretations of the ribs that solidify how we conduct our everyday lives. For many, the inability to face the facts of life, and the restrictions that are placed on us, really for our own protections from…..ourselves, it does complicate everybody’s life.

 

There is a spin out there, unlike anything in our country’s history, people, organizations, and certain elements of our government are ready to pounce at every instance or issues that are in their best interest. These people and organizations deal in convolution, smoke and mirrors, making it almost impossible to get a clear picture unless you are informed, and that can take time, and sometimes effort. However the rewards can be worth it…..try it…..you’ll like the results!

 

HAVE A NICE DAY!