The View From My Rocker

When I came out on the porch and sat in the rocking chair next to Henry, he was reading the newspaper and shaking his head in frustration. I wasn't concerned because Henry did that a lot. I was curious as to what was bothering him this morning, but I didn't ask. I knew he'd let me know, and I wouldn't have to wait long.
"I knew it," he said still looking at the newspaper, still shaking his head. "I just knew it."
Now, I was supposed to say 'Knew what?' And then he would tell me. Being the obliging friend I am, I did what I was supposed to do. "Knew what, Henry?" I said.
He folded the newspaper and looked at me. "Some free country this is." He said it with a sarcastic tone.
I didn't say anything. Just waited for him to continue.
"Freedom is an illusion, I tell you. They're always taking away one freedom after another. Always trying to control our behavior. And now they got the big Kahuna of control coming their way."
I assumed by 'they' he meant the government. He always meant the government.
"So what's the topic this time?" I said. I had to show him that I was interested. And I was. Henry always made sense when he's pissed about something.
"Universal Healthcare," he said, as if that explained everything.
I frowned, puzzled. "But that's a good thing, isn't it? I mean everyone would be entitled to the best health care."
He nodded. "Yes. No more levels of health care based upon what you can afford. That's terrific."
"So, what's the problem?"
"You remember the 'golden rule' from business?"
I nodded. "Yep. 'He who has the gold rules.' But how does that apply here?"
"I was just reading in the newspaper about Hillary Clinton's health plan." He picked up the newspaper and opened it. "Let me quote from the article." Looking at the paper he read allowed. "As for ways to reduce pressure on the overburdened health care system, she said she could envision using "carrots and maybe a few sticks" to motivate people to lose weight and make other behavioral changes that could help." He looked up at me. "How does that sound?"
I just shook my head in annoying disbelief.
"Here's another quote." He read again. "She didn't directly address questions of whether smokers or obese people should pay more for health care but said as president she would use the "bully pulpit" to encourage healthy lifestyle choices … " Once again he looked at me. "Now just how free does that sound?"
"Damn," I said. "That doesn't sound right."
"Once more they're trying to control behavior. Good old Big Brother at it again. If we'd had Universal Healthcare twenty years ago, butter would have been banned and we'd all be using margarine, and drinking decaf coffee with skim milk, and eating nothing but vegetables and alcohol would be out of the question and smoking would be a crime. And don't forget the more risky sports. I'm sure mountain climbing, skiing, football … hell, just about any sport where you could get hurt would be banned. We'd be left with Nerf ball and checkers." He shook his head. "We're in for it, I tell you. We're in for it."
I nodded. Whatever we're in for it didn't sound good …