Monday - August 10, 2009

Category Image Here's What Our Government Thinks is a Health Care Issue


Do you use a seat belt when you ride or drive as a passenger?

How satisfied are you with your life?

Do you smoke?

How often do you drink and drive?

How often do you use a condom?


Are you comfortable answering these questions in a nameless, faceless government questionaire? 

If we get government controlled healthcare, it's a sure thing that this will be required.  The military already requires servicemembers to tell the government all about how often they do or do not use condoms, seat belts, cigarettes and the like.  

In the past, sailors and Marines would be required to undergo a physical exam every five years.  The rectal exam was a common point of humor in that exam.  It was a fairly thorough exam where a doctor looked at you and your body, and made a determination of your general health.  All in all, it was beneficial.  But enter the new cost cutting and our five year physical is now replaced by a questionaire of 21 questions, all similar to the ones above.  It doesn't seem to me that these questions do much to inform a doctor or me of how healthy my body is.  It appears to be more focused on behavior modification or data mining.

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I'm of a mind to believe that these questions are none of anyone's business, and certainly not the government's.

Especially regarding the use of condoms, it seems to me that this is a violation of the law as defined in Lawrence v. Texas.  The government has no legitimate purpose in knowing people's sexual activities.  Disguising this prurient interest as a "personal health assessment" or PHA (because everything in the military must have an acronym) is disingenuous and intrusive.

Pay attention, America!  If the government pays all your medical bills, it will control your entire life and existence.  Every action that a human being makes has a potential impact on his health.  In the military they think that since they pay the medical bill, then can ask you any question at all.  Don't kid yourself that this lesson will be lost on civil health care as well.

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