“By dividing the people we can get them to expend their energies in fighting over questions of no importance to us except as teachers of the common herd.”

- Civil Servants’ Year Book

Although there is no history of asthma in our families, our son suddenly developed severe asthma when he was a toddler. He must carry an albuterol rescue inhaler with him at all times, and during certain times of the year his activities are limited by his health. He also has a nebulizer at home, but he cannot leave the house without his rescue inhaler.

In the past we were able to get his inhaler every month for $4. The major pharmacies provided a list of commonly prescribed medicines at this cost, and it was a huge help to consumers who either do not have access to health insurance, do not choose to purchase health insurance or who, like us, purchase health insurance which we can hardly afford to use.

I’ve noticed our health insurance costs have steadily risen along with our deductibles and copays while our covered amounts decrease and the medicines we are permitted to use are more tightly dictated. In fact, none of the asthma maintenance medicines that keep him from having to use his rescue inhaler so much are covered even though at one time under the same policy they were. Weird, huh?

Wonder where all that is headed.

Sheeple

So I went to get my son’s rescue inhaler a few months ago, and I was told things have changed. In order to save the planet we must now pay $40/month for half as much medicine in my son’s rescue inhaler.

Here’s how it works: We pay $40 for his inhaler, 10 times what we used to pay, but we only receive half the amount. Our insurance only covers the purchase of one per month, so we are on our own to buy a second one for $120.

There is twice as much medical waste, and the cost to our family has risen from $4/month to $160/month.

I’ll confess I am the product of a Texas public school and cannot tell you the % increase – but I can tell you that it’s totally jank.

Here’s how partisan politics works for the government and against people like you and me:

First, you create a polarizing non-issue

Second, you challenge the masses to take an emotional position and begin bickering back and forth

Third, government moves in to save the people.

In this case, the planet is saved by doubling medical waste and dipping into our family’s already tight finances at the expense of our child.

Everyone put on your superhero capes and give yourselves a pat on the back.