Oh there's a big surprise! That's an incredible - I think I'm going to have a heart attack and die of not surprise! - Iago (from Aladdin)

From the Washington Post article, "How Rich People Spend Their Time" -

"People who make less than $20,000 a year, for example, told [Nobel Prize-winning behavioral economist] Kahneman and his colleagues that they spend more than a third of their time in passive leisure -- watching television, for example. Those making more than $100,000 spent less than one-fifth of their time in this way -- putting their legs up and relaxing. Rich people spent much more time commuting and engaging in activities that were required as opposed to optional. The richest people spent nearly twice as much time as the poorest people in leisure activities that were active, structured and often stressful -- shopping, child care and exercise."

I wouldn't say that I "hate" people who watch a lot of TV, but it sort of disgusts me. Maybe that's putting it a little strongly. Hate the sin, love the sinner. Some smart dude said that once. I feel sorry for them, really. George Carlin, the late comedian, said this in an Esquire article once - "I wish that we could measure how much the potential of the mind to expand has been stunted by television." So do I, George. So. Do. I.

Thank You for Smoking

Not only is it an hilarious novel by fellow Portsmouth Abbey alumnus Christopher Buckley, but it's what England's NHS (National Health Service) is saying to that nation's smokers. Not only are smokers taxed at exorbitant rates there and in the US, but now they are subject to penalties if they fail to quit during the four weeks prior to undergoing surgery for non-life-threatening conditions. The reason for the new policy is that smokers have been shown to need much longer recovery time than non-smokers.

A quote from an online forum in this article on the Daily Mail website makes a salient point -

"What about drinkers, drug takers, people who eat too much and people who never exercise?"

I'm not sure that I used "salient" correctly just then, but it sounds good. This debate will intensify as personal behavior and lifestyle choices come under increased scrutiny vis-a-vis healthcare costs. The problem is that the line is difficult to draw, as shown in the aforementioned example in England.

Here's another example: Does the exercise benefit that comes with playing in a soccer league outweigh the risks of injury that come with it? Will people start being asked increasingly personal questions about lifestyle? Will EHRs (Electronic Health Records) destroy any shred of privacy that remains in our society? Do you think George Orwell is as smart as I do? Did I use "vis-a-vis" correctly in the preceding paragraph? Where is the accent grave on my keyboard?

All of these are important questions.

Dude...

"'I’ve torn my ACL, chipped my front tooth, and had surgery – all without insurance,' said a local snowboarder who wished to remain anonymous. 'Now I have $400 a month automatically taken out of my paycheck because I have $40,000 worth of medical bills. I think I could have afforded health insurance.'"

Read the entire article on Planet Jackson Hole Online.

The importance of reviewing your insurance policy -

"Dawn Sheue at Summit Insurance Services believes that she can find affordable health care for most people in Jackson, especially the ski-toting yahoo. 'You have to know how to play the game,' she explained. 'Health insurance is not something you want to settle into because we never see [premium] rates decrease. That’s the reason we review our clients if not every year, every two years.'"

An important quality in an insurance broker (who works for the insured, rather than an agent, who works for the insurance company) -

"Sheue reviews her client’s premium rates this often to make sure they are getting the most affordable rate out there. 'My loyalty is not with the insurance company but with my client. You’re going to have to move from carrier to carrier every two to three years to get that introductory rate. And that’s how you win the game.'"

The reader comments of the article highlight a growing debate in this country surrounding personal versus shared responsibility. I'll tell you my own personal experience is affected. I play soccer once or twice a week and I am thinking about that high deductible insurance plan when I'm out there, believe you me.

Reader Comments