As an actuary I applaud your analysis. When I first heard the auto insurance analogy I nearly died of laughter. however, the laughter had to stop when I realized people were actually buying into this comparison. While it is true that states do not have "public options" for auto insurance they do have various mechanisms to provide insurance for those who are unable to get it (assigned risk pools, joint underwrting associations, state funds, etc.)but they are not a competitor to the private market. Seems to me that if we wanted to expand health insurance to those who do not have it we could mirror what states do for auto insurance. In fact I think some states and the fed might already do it for health coverage. While we are on the...

As a practical matter, the U.S. military should have a zero tolerance policy toward the kind of activities in which this mass murderer appears to have been engaged. You spout off at the mouth, email enemies, etc.- you are out! Plain and simple. This would have saved lives.

Isn't it fascinaing that we have zero tolerance policies toward drugs and weapons in our schools that bring about unitneded and ludicrous results. Under these policies if your child brings in an Advil they are suspended. They can't even bring in a toy gun or toy plastic bullets as part of their Halloween costume for the Halloween parade lest they be suspended (or worse - expelled). What a bacwards society we have become.