Once upon a time. Not so long ago. In a land. Not so far away...
There were sick people. People who were sick, (sometimes but not always), (and to some degree but not completely), due to circumstance beyond their control. People who were living from one week to the next, uncertain if there would be a next. People who were in pain, not just due to their illness, but also in part, due to the anxieties created by their illness. People who were labeled as unfit for civilized society. People who were dubious and/or afraid of the process of getting better and fitting in; being herded like cattle; with no consideration for their individuality; with disdain; and in some cases, with contempt. People who found it very difficult to be at all actively hopeful.
But then, a ruler, (considered wise, just, and benevolent in his self-proclaimed ability to see, interpret, and take action on the BIG PICTURE), came into power. This new ruler made many proclamations... Including a mandate requiring "all illness be treated with reasonable care" not to exceed any of the multitude of limitations put in place by the appointed administrators of the BIG PICTURE. Including an edict prohibiting unreasonably frequent care and encouraging provider penalties as one came closer to stated limits. Including a decree that those with multiple health challenges, (because of the edict on frequency of care), may at times, for some afflictions, be officiously denied care. Including a declarative rallying cry that because many and most do not take undue advantage, we must all be super-diligent in identifying and labeling those who do; (and those who appear to). And including a justification that these reasonable directives will make a whopping dent of a 1.3 percent reduction in this great land's debt.
As time went on, more and more people fell victim to this illness. In part due to the increasingly virulent nature of the disease, and in part simply due to the fact that there were more and more people. Yet the stigma remained; and in an effort to accommodate more and more people, the rules became more and more complex; and less and less forgiving.
The people knew the disease was contagious. Many ignored the danger. The people hoped for a hero. Many sat on their hands and hoped. A few searched for a hero; but many of these, had little experience, low standards, and were looking in the wrong places. There was no hero to be found.
With no hero, and with no cure in sight, the sick people began to shrivel. With dwindling substance, the sick people began to disappear. As the sick people became less noticeable, the sickness also began to disappear. As the sickness became less noticeable, the stigma began to disappear. As the stigma became less noticeable in the increasing numbers of dwindling sick people, the sick people also took note of the less noticeable illness, and soon the sick people also believed that the sickness had begun to disappear. Eventually, the sickness appeared to disappear completely, and the (largest-ever-number-of) dwindling people unanimously rejoiced.
Upon believing they were cured, the people looked to give credit. Many gave credit to the self-proclaimed, wise and benevolent ruler and his self-important minions. This gave rise to additional layers of self-important minions and additional strands of rules. As these sticky complexities became thicker and more complex, the people also appeared to puff up and become more substantial. At first, it was only the self who recognized the additional substance within and around their self. But as time went on, others began to notice more substantial others. As the ever-larger numbers of formerly sick people appeared to add substance to their formerly dwindling selves, and as others began to notice others, they again, unanimously rejoiced. And each day, as time went on, the people awoke more and more puffed up, and each day, as time went on, they again, unanimously rejoiced. And each day, as time went on, they believed that each day would be more puffed up than the last. And they rejoiced.
Then one day, the people awoke; and, with a tickle in the back of their thoughts, they looked again; more closely; for a moment; and then they were reassured by others; and they looked again; and then they reassured their self. Yes! They were indeed more puffed up today, than yesterday. And they rejoiced.
Then one day, the people awoke; and, with a slight uneasiness in the back of their thoughts, they looked again; more closely; for a moment; and then they were reassured by others; and they looked again; and then they reassured their self. Yes! They were indeed more puffed up today, than yesterday. And they rejoiced.
Then one day, the people awoke...
