Why Visit a Politician?

[James Brody]

Two of us called on Suzie Queue, a staffer for a state senator.

My friend Steve was a first-timer and I was a tenth-timer although we were both new to the Senator and his crew. Suzie had her notepad, Steve had his list of points, and I intended to follow whatever direction he took.
Steve mentioned tort reform, sloppy federal spenders, socialism, immediate increases in taxes, rationing, quality erosion, and constitutional barriers.

He stammered a bit during the first four and her hair stood up a bit after the term “socialism.”

“The Health Care Bill is not socialism! I’m a stubborn Irish woman and you won’t change my mind.”

Well! A hardhead but an open one! I intruded.

“What would it take for the Senator to refuse to vote for the Health Care Bill?”

“There are a hundred possible deal-breakers.”

“Please name a half-dozen.”

“Abortion, illegal immigration, and costs.”

We waited for more than three and then let her off the hook: “These are serious issues for us as well.”

The three of us knew that ER rooms are under siege although she attributed this to a lack of health insurance to pay a private physician, I to the fact that private physicians – due to malpractice pressures – are a pain in the ass to the patient. It’s far easier to go to an ER, “It hurts here” and get a script and sometimes blood work or a scan. (And many folks feel cheated if they don’t get a script even when seeing a private doctor.)

“You know that in mental health the cost-predictors are “diagnosis” and “co-pay”? That people routinely want their fair share of a free service whether or not they need it?” (I thought of Matt Ridley’s Origins of Virtue in which he reports the care given to water, fishing, and hunting territories until such are taken over by the government. Such take-overs are always followed by poaching! Omigod! Poaching for ER care! It happens…I know of one alcoholic who cost the state 115 ambulance rides from the capitol to the hospital.)

“And did you know that one of the major causes for suicide is burdensomeness to family? By putting elder care onto the government you increase the numbers and longevity of oldsters. And you seed advocacy groups who want more and more of a service paid for by other people?” (And more poaching, this time of funds, social workers, and aides from a different culture who are kind because they are paid to be kind.)

Steve gave her his notes, the hairs on the back of her arms were flat, her interruptions and his stammer were gone, and I was just a puzzling old guy in a jacket and tie, a carrier of peculiar notions.

We separated after 20 of our allotted 30 minutes. Even though her stage of life and “health care” make her a socialist and we want to save our Republic, we might speak to each other if we pass again...and most important, we got more out of her than she got out of us.