Is this reality or a weird parody?

October 15, 2009 | Posted by Michael S. Langston

Without apparent concern about the percentage of people who loudly proclaim their dislike of the DMV and use it as an analogy for all that is wrong with the government… the Senate version of the health care bill includes a portion that would allow citizens the pleasure of getting health care insurance through the DMV (Townhall.com):

The most revelatory passage in the so-called “plain English” version of the health care bill that the Senate Finance Committee approved on Tuesday (without ever drafting the actual legislative language) says that in the future Americans will be offered the convenience of getting their health insurance at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

This is no joke. If this bill becomes law, it will be the duty of the U.S. secretary of health and human services or the state governments overseeing federally mandated health-insurance exchanges to ensure that you can get your health insurance at the DMV. You will also be able to get it at Social Security offices, hospitals, schools and “other offices” the government will name later. …

I guess a Social Security office makes a little sense and even perhaps schools as a temporary sign-up location, but it seems to me signing up at a hospital or school isn’t a good idea over the long run. I think the idea is that we will all live in the beautiful world with top of the line health care we got when dropping our children off at school… If so, it seems that getting insurance at the hospital or waiting until my child goes to school would be a little late…

Even assuming all three of those are brilliant ideas – did they really mean to include the DMV?

I have this sinking feeling politicians everywhere laughing at us. Either that or we need a new term other than “out of touch” that connotes the gap between everyday individuals and our leaders is so large as to make the Grand Canyon seem tiny by comparison.

Do they honestly think adding health care insurance to the duties of the the normal DMV clerk will help them pass the bill?

Who knows though? Maybe I’m completely off base and this is setup behind the scenes by some mysterious genius who brainwashed unwitting politicians. <begin dream sequence>

In fact, it’s not stupidity that created this language. Not at all; in fact, it’s a creative attempt at a self destruct device for the bill as is. Where exactly in the world is Hank Scorpio? <end dream sequence>

Of course the latter would assume a complex network of contacts and some people with super powerful persuasion skills while the former only requires a belief in the group ignorance of our current set of politicians.

In experience and recent history is any guide, the safe bet is on idiocy. All day, every day, and twice on Sunday.

Social Service Verification for Helen Kelly

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The following information is provided in response to your request on: 10/15/2009 .
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Social Service Verification

Employment and Income Information current as of:

09/15/2009

Reference Number for this verification:

22578611

EMPLOYER

Employer:

11472 – Johns Hopkins University

Headquarters Address:

3400 North Charles Street
Baltimore , MD 21218
US

Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN):

52-0595110

Division:

52-0595110

EMPLOYEE

Employee:

Helen Kelly

Social Security Number:

XXX-XX-0652

Address:

307 S Cornwall St
Baltimore , MD 21224
US

Employee Phone Number:

Data not provided

Date of Birth:

Data not provided

EMPLOYMENT

Employment Status:

Active

Most Recent Start Date:

02/15/1999

Original Hire Date:

02/15/1999

Reason for Termination:

Data not provided

Total Time with Employer:

Data not provided

Job Title:

Administrative Program Coordinator

Union Affiliation:

Data not provided

Work Location (Job Site):

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MEDICAL INSURANCE

Medical Insurance Available:

Data not provided

Employee Eligible:

Data not provided

Reason for Ineligibility:

Data not provided

Employee Enrolled:

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Eligibility Date:

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Next Open Enrollment Date:

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Coverage Start Date:

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Coverage Termination Date:

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Medical Carrier Name:

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Medical Carrier Address:

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Medical Carrier Phone Number:

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Medical Insurance Policy Number:

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Medical Insurance Group Number:

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Coverage Level:

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Annual Cost for Medical Insurance:

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Dependent Coverage Available:

Data not provided

Per Pay Period Cost to Add Dependent:

Data not provided

Number of Dependents Covered:

Data not provided

	Dependents	SSN	Birth Date
	Data not provided

Participating in Medical COBRA:

Data not provided

DENTAL INSURANCE

Dental Insurance Available:

Data not provided

Employee Eligible:

Data not provided

Employee Enrolled:

Data not provided

Dental Carrier Name:

Data not provided

Dental Carrier Phone Number:

Data not provided

Dental Insurance Policy Number:

Data not provided

VISION INSURANCE

Vision Insurance Available:

Data not provided

Employee Eligible:

Data not provided

Employee Enrolled:

Data not provided

Vision Carrier Name:

Data not provided

Vision Carrier Phone Number:

Data not provided

Vision Insurance Policy Number:

Data not provided

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Receiving Workers’ Compensation:

Data not provided

Carrier:

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Date of Injury:

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Date of Award:

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Claim Number:

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Claim Pending:

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INCOME AND DEDUCTIONS

Average Hours per Pay Period:

Rate of Pay:

$2,237.25 / Semi-monthly

Pay Cycle:

Semi Monthly

	2009	2008	2007
Total Gross:	$37,989.39	$51,359.92	$48,890.04

Payroll Deduction for All Insurance Coverage:

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PAY PERIOD DETAIL 9/15/2009

Income

Withholding

Total Gross Earnings	$2,274.75
Pension	Data not provided
Other Income	Data not provided

Federal Tax	$152.13
State Tax	$52.03
Local Taxes	$34.81
Social Security	$141.03
Medicare	$32.99
Retirement/401k	$916.66
Cafeteria Plan	$0.00
Garnishments	$0.00
Other Withholding	$0.00

HISTORICAL PAY PERIOD SUMMARY

Pay Period End Date	Pay Date	Hours Worked	Gross Earnings	Net
09/15/2009	09/15/2009		$2,274.75
08/31/2009	08/31/2009		$2,274.75
08/15/2009	08/14/2009		$2,274.75
07/31/2009	07/31/2009		$2,274.75
07/15/2009	07/15/2009		$2,274.75
06/30/2009	06/30/2009		$2,274.75
06/15/2009	06/15/2009		$2,445.09
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03/31/2009	03/31/2009		$2,189.58
03/15/2009	03/13/2009		$2,189.58
02/28/2009	02/27/2009		$2,189.58
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01/31/2009	01/30/2009		$2,189.58
01/15/2009	01/15/2009		$2,189.58
12/31/2008	12/30/2008		$2,189.58
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11/30/2008	11/26/2008		$2,189.58
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07/31/2007	07/31/2007		$2,033.34
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06/15/2007	06/15/2007		$2,033.34
05/31/2007	05/31/2007		$2,033.34
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04/30/2007	04/30/2007		$2,033.34
04/15/2007	04/13/2007		$2,033.34
03/31/2007	03/30/2007		$2,033.34
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02/28/2007	02/28/2007		$2,033.34
02/15/2007	02/15/2007		$2,033.34
01/31/2007	01/31/2007		$2,033.34
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Category Categories: Economics, free market, People/Blogs, Political Philosophy, Politics | Tag Tags: Congress, Critical Thinking, DMV, Economics, Government Services, health care, Health Care Reform, idiocy, Incentives, People/Blogs, Political Philosophy, Politics, Stupidity, Thought Experiment | Comments Leave a reply

2 Comments

Jenifer Speach says:

2010/03/16 at 23:44

Hello, like this blog very much. I found it on yahoo will add it to bookmark and come back often again to read and follow. Please continue to do awesome job you do on it.

Reply
- Michael S. Langston says:
  
  2010/03/17 at 17:06
  
  Thank you very much for your kind words.
  
  Reply

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