Some ideas sound great until you realize the actual effect it might have on you. It reminds of one of Aesop's Fables - the one about the mice and the cat. Basically, the mice were being hunted by the cat and they agreed that something needed to be done. Apparently the cat like to sneak up on the mice and there was no time for them to escape. A solution was proposed to tie a bell around the cat so that they would know it was near. Everyone thought this was a great idea until one of the older mice spoke and asked, who will tie the bell around the cat's neck?

We've heard talk about a medical czar and how it is needed to make decision on what is and what is not a reasonable treatment. On the surface this sounds noble, after all, who wants to pay for frivolous treatments? In theory this would work because everybody would get exactly what they needed and nothing more. Nobody will complain until it's their surgery that is rejected. When they want the option to pay more to better their own lives (even if it's all in there heads); the option won't be there. I'm not arguing against all medical subsidies and I'm not even directly arguing against universal healthcare. I'm against taking what should be the choices of US citizens and placing them in the hands of a single US government bureaucrat. It's a loss of freedom, pure and simple.

I've also heard some plans from our new "energy czar" as she's called. We need blah, blah, blah and blah. Oh and smart energy grids. Now I love technology and any of my friends can attest to that. I'm all for optimizing the flow of energy in this country. I'm all for finding alternative sources of energy. I'm even OK with providing tax breaks for hybrid cars (though I'm not entire convinced of their efficacy). What I don't like, is the control the utility companies will have over my energy usage based on what they deem efficient. I'm not against giving the option to have them cut your electricity to save money, but why can't it be at the request of the customer only?

I've also heard talk of forcing hospitals (private) to perform abortions. Freedom of choice? Only for those having abortions. Since when is having an abortion fundamental to your health? OK, OK... just for the naysayers I'll give you the "life of the mother" argument. Let's say that we require those to be performed. But other than that? I wonder if the health czar would approve of that. So I can't have my elective surgery because someone else is forced to allow an abortion? I realize there will be ground rules and I'm not arguing that no good will be done. However, it is still a transfer of control from the US citizen to the US government. Even if you agree now on what is or isn't a required practice, what if that stance changes?

We are being told that we can't decide what is a proper treatment. We are being told that we have too much and that we use too much energy. And we are being told that abortions are absolutely necessary so that hospitals must perform them. Why? Because they know better than us. Funny how getting smart people in office means they can tell you what you need exactly - i.e. All-knowing. It may sound like a great idea to you because right now it does not affect you. In fact you probably won't notice for a bit and you may be able to avoid any problems. But someone will end up suffering - somebody will have to be the one to put the bell on the cat.

I would like to turn the argument around. Why should we give the government more power? They have more power today than ever before and few administrations have done anything to lesse the control of Government. Yet, we are being told this is the worst crisis the country has faced since the great depression. Prove to us that you can handle what power you have and maybe it will merit more. Except then everybody will realize that government is not the answer to all of this country's problems.