The misery of small businesses vs. the plush of the inaugural "festivities

[question everything]

Saturday, January 1, we were flying from NYC and I was reading the NYT on the plane. And I could not help but contrasting the two stories, below, about the loss of small business, with the other - that I cannot find online - about the cost of the inauguration ball, so far estimated at $40 million.

Drugstores Fret as Insurers Demand Pills by Mail
By MILT FREUDENHEIM

Published: January 1, 2005

Employer health plans across the country are forcing millions of consumers to change their drug-buying habits. And one side effect could be the decline of the neighborhood drugstore.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/business/01drugstore.html?oref=login

and

A Sudden Slide Down, Physically and Financially

Her nightmare, as she describes it, began in the late 1990's, when insurance companies stopped paying her for her massage services, choosing to pay physical therapists instead. Her business disappeared, and soon she was unable to pay her rent. By the winter of 2003, she was evicted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/01/nyregion/nyregionspecial/01neediest.html

[Patiod]

1. Playing devil's advocate here:

My 81-yo dad still gets pharma coverage from his employer; he actually wrote to them and said "you should make us all switch to Costco by mail - I priced them out and they're substantially cheaper on every one of our meds". He is worried that if costs aren't cut, he may lose his drug benefits (he was smart, and signed up with the VA just in case, right before the sign-up window closed).

As far as the second article, if health care needs to be rationed in any way, I'm not sure massage will make the cut. I'm not disputing the therapeutic value of massage, just wondering if it's a top priority.

/on edit: but I do know where having an elaborate inaugural fits in priority-wise during times of disaster and record deficits.....

[lectrobyte]

2. Let's see, $40 million for the coronation, and $35 million for tsunami

relief. Glad to see our priorities are in order.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[Bridget Burke]

4. And they're sending Jebbie!

Ain't that special.

[lectrobyte]

5. 350, not 35, my bad, I was probably hungover from New Years or something.

Thanks.

[Bridget Burke]

6. 35 million was an earlier suggestion....

One of several that was met with hoots of derision from the civilized world.

Bush has been shamed to kick in a bit more. Or to say he was kicking in a bit more.