Haves and Have Nots: a healthcare parable.

Once upon a time there was living in a proud republic, the Haves and the Have Nots. The Haves were always boasting about what they have, how good they have it and how anybody can have what they have if they just work hard enough. The Have Nots were always wanting what the Haves had but they never seem to have what the Haves have.

Even though the Haves like what they have (and who wouldn't), they didn't really want the Have Nots to have what they have. Along came the the Have A Lots, who are rarely seen in public unless they are testifying. The Have A Lots convinced the Haves that if the Have Nots have what the Haves have the Haves would no longer have what they have. This made the Haves very much afraid and the Have Nots very sad. How could the Haves who really like what they have not want the Have Nots to have it too?

Then something terrible began to happen. Many of the Haves became sick or unemployed or downsized and joined the Have Nots. The new Have Nots began to tell the old Have Nots what they once had and how to have it too. The Have Nots began to believe that what the Haves have is something that everyone should have. The Have Nots worked hard to elect representatives who happen to have what the Haves have, to help them get what the Haves have too so all could peaceful in the republic. The Have A Lots would have nothing of it. The Have A Lots told the Haves that the Have Nots are really "illegals" and socialists and communists and nazis. The Have A Lots warned of death panels and long lines and higher taxes. They said the Have Nots only wanted to take what the Haves have even if they didn't deserve it. The Haves listened to the lies of the Have A Lots and repeated the lies. They organized themselves from behind the scenes and told the Haves to be very afraid and to shout louder and louder in town halls and public squares that the Have Nots could not have what the Haves have because: it would be inconvenient.

Inconvenient? You see, the Haves like what they have. If they have to share what they have with the Have Nots they may have to wait in longer lines to get what they have. In reality it is the Have A Lots who would not have as much if the Have Nots get to have what the Haves have. But the Haves, being a fearful bunch were much afraid to read and find out the truth. They instead listened to Have A Lots who tell them how good they have it and how letting the Have Nots have what they have would be bad for them. Currently the Haves are in danger of becoming a Have Not if they get sick or lose their job or have some pre-existing condition. So, they want to have more of what the Have A Lots Have but not if it means helping the Have Nots to have what they have. They are so afraid of becoming a Have Not, that they don't realize how precarious their situation is. Since the Have Nots have nothing to lose, it was up to the Have Nots to help the Haves continue to have what they have, in the hopes that the Haves will help the Have Nots have what the Haves have.

The Have Nots concocted a plan to make sure the Haves get to keep what they have--and more--security, stability for less money. But the Haves having been convinced by the Have A Lots that they could lose what they have, didn't want to help the Have Nots to have what the Haves had. The Have Nots have had enough of the lies of the Have A Lots and the Haves. The Have Nots tried to tell the Haves that the Haves may not have what they've always had unless the Have Nots can have what the Haves have. But the Haves became deaf to the warnings of the Have Nots that the Have A Lots didn't really care if the Haves lost what they have. This made the Have A Lots very happy.

The End. Or is it?