Maggie, in what seems to be a clearing house mood, gave my mother a set of earrings she no longer wears and me a men's shirt that she never wore. I regret not taking a picture of the shirt while it was still in the bag that it came in, but I was coerced to see whether or not the shirt fit. The shirt does indeed fit to the extent that I feel is fitting, so I now possess the free shirt.

Some might find that the style of this free shirt is uncommonly professional for the free shirt archive. I think there is no such thing. I would wear more shirts like this if they were free. Still, I most often prefer the t-shirt style of free shirt to wear.

I know most of the companies are willing to sink as little of their money into shirts as possible and thus they make far more t-shirts. I would rather those companies waste as much money as possible to raise the quality of the shirts that eventually get to me. Although I do enjoy the cheap aesthetic, I do think that if those who made free shirts were just as concerned about making quality things to give away as they were with making a good product it would only increase their customers' opinions on the company. Then the competition would have to match with another free quality shirt or look foolish. If the competition makes a better shirt, I can get a better shirt. If they make a foolish one, well, I stand an even better chance of getting one if the quality of other free shirts improves. I can only win.

The real problem I have is not against the shirt itself, but with the insurance companies that have all of the extra money to waste on stuff like free polo shirts instead of lowering their premiums. The American economy, indeed all capitalism, is built around the profit motive. I understand that as a part of how America works. Spending the money to make free shirts can promote the business plus give the shirt maker business.

What I have a problem with is that insurance corporations have way too much power in current American politics. The common citizen is powerless to stop the corporations' armies of lawyers or out-lobby the campaign funds that get funnelled to the legislatures. Insurance corporations are thinking of their money and not the common good when they fight for themselves.

Sure, business is business. Yet, does business not also take place in society? For example, let me choose to not have auto insurance and gamble that I do not hit anyone for the benefit of our liberty. I can use that extra money per month that I waste on what ends up being a chance. It would be nice to not be considered a criminal if I chose to do so. This gives the police a secondary duty of asking for car insurance in most states. The police have better things to do than worry about enforcing law that only benefits the insurance companies.

Health insurance is the elephant in the room. I feel that health care is far too human of issues to just let insurance corporations chase a buck over. The corporations already have most of the medical establishment in on the game while many people have to scramble around trying to find or get coverage. Especially those with children have to be wary of each financial step that they make lest they lose coverage for their kids. That childrens' lives can be decided or not by a bureaucrat is completely disgusting in a modern society. Universal health care in America may cost a bit, but I would certainly be willing to pay that extra bit for giving children a chance.

Even doctors benefit from the health insurance system as it is, but still get screwed by having to raise their costs getting the medical malpractice insurance to cover themselves. Yet lowering the cost of malpractice is not the solution either because things accidental and intentional do happen and HMO's can still choose money over a life.

I know what I say is not popular and I have not made the best case within the space of a few paragraphs. Think of this as a synopsis that partially describes how I feel.