I SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH FOR HAVING A HEAD INJURY

THE INSURANCE FIRING SQUAD.

BY MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT.


As I walked to the capitol that day, I was nervous. Nervous is not the word. Terrified, actually. I had gotten hit by a car when I was eight and so had been denied health insurance for the ten and a half years since getting toO old to be covered through my parents. But then when health care reform was finally enacted, something I'd hoped for since the early '90s, I thought I would have a chance at shopping for something better than a risk pool required by state law to always be twice as expensive as comparable, private coverage, and even at that rate to have a deductible of no lower than $1,000, which meant a $735 Physical Therapy bill had to be paid all out of pocket. But now the new Republican Majority in Congress was poised to repeal the whole thing, and appeared to have the votes even to override President Obama's certain veto. Unless I and others with preexisting health conditions could convince them not to impose this death sentence on some, financial ruin for others, and severe hardship even for those of us who could pay a $735 medical bill.
“Matthew Lucas Beckett,” The Speaker of The House calls my name. “What have you to tell us in wasting our time in repealing Obama Care?”
“At least President Obama does care about those of us with preexisting health conditions and other restrictions to purchasing PRIVATE Insurance under the old system.”
“The market. . .” another Republican begins, but I override him.
“The market worked so well for me, didn't it,” I spit, placing my cancellation of coverage with Golden Rule, Denial of Coverage from World and others, Risk Pool forms and $735 Physical Therapy bill on the overheads before me, so none can miss any of it.
“Well,” says a high ranking Republican Senator. “It's your own fault for being unhealthy.”
Forcing calm, I look him directly in the eyes. “I got hit by a car when I was eight years old,” I say with lethal calm. “I had a plate removed from my leg when I was nine, and have not been an overnight patient in the hospital since. How is that my fault or really even being sick. I had a traumatic brain injury with my acccident aswell, and that's what these companies call a preexisting condition, even though I have had no expenses related to it for years either.”
“That's enough out of you, Mr. Beckett,” says The Senate Majority Leader. “We're here today to repeal Obama Care. Don't confuse us with the facts or try to appeal to our sense of Compassion, because as Conservatives, as you well know, we have none.” He looks at my fellow testifiers. “Anyone else?”
A few others try to convince them not to repeal what for some of us is the only hope we have of life saving medical care, but all to no more avail than me.
“All in favor of Government overreach, wasteful spending and waste aid?” says The Speaker.
As expected, it passes both chambers, The House by a wide margin, The Senate slightly narrower but still the conservative way.
“Now,” says The Speaker. “Since you've been the most vocal and for the longest, you first, Mr. Beckett.”
I blink, puzzled. “Me first for what?” I ask.
“Execution,, of course,” says The Speaker. “As several of you have noted, this vote is a death sentence for all of you wastes of space and air and resources, so no more time will be wasted. And there's nowhere to try to run, we've got all of the exits and entrances covered. Since you're from Texas, we'll let Senator Hutchison do the honors. Go and stand in front of her, and don't waste our time dawdling.”
I feel a stream of urine go down my leg, but at this point don't worry too much about it. Stunned at this level of heartlessness, even from them, but knowing there is no escape, I stand and approach Senator Hutchison, who already has her rifle leveled squarely at my chest.
“I'd say I'll see you in the next life,” I say. “But I don't think we'll end up in the same place.”
“No, we won't,” says Senator Hutchison, cocking her gun.
I lose control of my bowls too, but at this point that doesn't matter.
As she pulls the trigger, I hear my parents scream, “NO!” and then the bullet comes and all goes black.

Undoing Health Care Reform, by Congressional or Judicial Action, would be little better than this for many Americans with preexisting health conditions and other restrictions to purchasing private insurance under the old system. Sincerely, Matthew Lucas Beckett-Messenger.