I think a lot of people would rather have more control over their life than less.

There are only two things as complicated as insurance accounting and I have no idea what they are.

Not surprisingly, the insurance lobby recoils in horror at the prospect of automatic coverage (including, when it was first proposed, Social Security), no matter how efficient it may be. Automatic coverage eliminates sales commissions and profit.

Now listen. You can't fool all the people all the time-- but I want you to try.

Still, most people don't have much money. So finding ways to come out a couple of thousand dollars ahead every year still matters.

The best thing I have are 5 percent bonds from 1780, denominated from $1 to $20. As far as I can tell, they are obligations from the United States of America, so I should be able to walk down to the Federal Reserve and redeem the uncanceled ones. With 217 years of accrued interest, for a $20 bond, that's about $800,000.

Rule of thumb: The more trimmings an insurance plan has and the harder someone is pitching it, the faster you should run.