Minnesota Unveils New Insurance Plan
November 29th, 2007 - Written by Joey
Just hours ago, the Minnesota State legislature and Governor Tim Pawlenty decided to reimburse the victims of the 35W bridge collapse up to $10,000 in lost wages due to the bridge collapse. This is just the tip of the iceberg…More compensation could be rewarded as a result of legal action, and the Minnesota legislature is looking at the possibility of more funding in February.
Being compassionate with someone else’s money is something that our country has become far too accustomed to. Let’s not forget who’s footing the bill for this “compassionate compensation”…the taxpayer.
So while T-Paw and the rest of the Minnesota lawmakers are spending money that isn’t theirs to spend (again), it’s looking more and more like the good people of Minnesota will be forced to not only pay for their elected officials’ “compassion”, but also for tax hikes to pay for basic infrastructure that should be funded by cutting unnecessary spending.
The worst part of this is that taxpayers are being told to pay for something that was no fault of their own. As a matter of fact, I would say that the lawmakers should make payments out of their own personal checkbooks for not wisely spending the taxpayer funds that they were entrusted with. By not cutting the excess to pay for infrastructure, and by spending the $2 billion surplus on pet projects for special interests, I don’t think this suggestion is out-of-line.
By voluntarily paying these victims’ lost wages with taxpayer funds, the state of Minnesota has casually placed the blame of an infrastructure failure on the taxpayer, when the real fault lies with them.
Another thing to keep in mind is that any one of us could fall prey to a tragedy, at any given time. If we’re wise, we carry disability and health insurance that prevents us from suffering financially while we suffer physically. This is the entire purpose of insurance.
If the government intends to step in each time a tragedy occurs (or at least one that gets national media attention) by offering funds with reckless, emotional abandon, don’t you think that people will start expecting mommy government to step in every time something tragic happens? Don’t you think that people will start seeing insurance as a backup plan, rather than something that is necessary to ensure financial health?
We’ve already seen government insurance plans in action with hurricane Katrina, 9/11, and with drought and flood relief. Where does it end?
This is a slippery slope, and I’m afraid we’ve only seen the beginning.
***ADDITION***
Clarification…It wasn’t the legislature it was a DFL-led committee and Pawlenty.
Thanks, Nutmeg.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Oh, but no one should actually be expected to take care of themselves!
I work at a newspaper and a man called today mad because he responded to an ad that said “make $2k a month in just a few hours a week” and was shocked that it was a scam. And even more shocked that my newspaper didn’t investigate every ad that we take to make sure they are legitimate. Don’t we feel any kind of responsibility?
…um, to make sure that idoits like yourself don’t squander your money? Nope, not a bit.
November 30th, 2007 at 4:59 am
Hey Wendy.
That story doesn’t surprise me one bit. Don’t you know that it’s the newspaper’s responsibility to think for the general populace? Our local papers have figured it out…why hasn’t your newspaper?
Personal accountability – at every level – is falling by the wayside. It’s disheartening that in a country with so many ingenuitive people – who have unlimited access to information and opportunity – still expect “mommy government” to hold their hand through every aspect of their lives.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:18 am
Small clarification…Not the Legislature…a DFL-led committee and TPaw.
November 30th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Great point, Nutmeg. I’ll post a clarification