It's not "insurance"

Measures by the leadership to protect the health and well-being of those who follow fall under the actuarial heading of insurance in one--guess which one?--nation.

This responsibility (on the part of the leaders) and right (on the part of the led) is one of the fundamental building blocks of social organisation. It is a building block this nation has managed to misplace during the last century and a half. Other nations have been equally careless but have come to their senses. There are many expressions of this responsibility and right, and it says much that in this country, most of them are considered subversive.

When humans agree to follow one leader or one set of rules or one government, call it what you will, one of the understandings is that the leaders will protect the led from harm so far as is possible. We have torn down, trampled and pissed on this basic principle of governance in the name of profit. To protect profit on the one hand, and to restore this basic right on the other, we find ourselves quivering at the precipice of civil war.

If we too don't come to our senses, perhaps we deserve everything we may get.