None of Their Business

Remember when the sobriquet for America was "Land of the Free"? It had a nice ring to it. Try to keep it in mind. There isn't going to be much left if things keep going down this road.

Healthcare "reform" has morphed into "health insurance reform" because Americans have started noticing what the Messiah's plan involves. We don't want it. He's facing policy meltdown and he's watching his polling numbers erode by the minute. So, he's got to do what he does best--create a villain for class warfare. You recall those, don't you? They are anybody who is successful. They are anybody who makes more than you do. They are the dastardly 1% that carry the load for the nation by paying as much into federal taxes as the lower 95% of us. They are the ones I want to join!

Take a look at this latest move:

Give Us Your Records and We Will Decide. Resistance is Futile!

Henry Waxman (D-CA) is "investigating compensation and business practices." That translates to an implicit threat to all of us. It says quite clearly that if you attempt to function in your enlightened political self-interest, such as by protecting your business and opposing the Messiah's healtcare proposals, the federal government will litigate and investigate you into oblivion. It's Hoover's FBI wet dream and IRS audit threats on steroids.

Get this:

The request included records relating to compensation of highly paid employees, documents relating to companies' premium income and claims payments, and information on expenses stemming from any event held outside company facilities in the past 2 1/2 years.

A company in a free country should be able to pay their best employees whatever they want, constrained only by the reasonable control of common sense, stockholder oversight and the bottom line. If they pay too much, they can't compete.

An insurance company's premium and claims performance in a free country are reined in by competition with other companies. They have to keep sound underwriting principles in mind and hold premiums at a level which appeals to customers while paying at a rate that keeps policy-holders satisfied.

And, in a free country a company can hold a company picnic, Christmas pary, executive retreat or promotional reward vacation program outside company facilities any time they wish.

That's in a free country however. Mr. Waxman and cohorts apparently don't believe in those basic freedoms any more. I still do.