Nobody wants campaign finance reform more than me. It would save me a fortune.

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.

The first life insurance societies where formed in England in the years between 1692 and 1720. In America, life insurance became available to the clergy through the Presbyterian Ministers Fund, founded in 1759 (still in existence), and the Episcopal Corporation, founded ten years later (subsequently merged).

The life insurance industry is filled with good people who believe in their work and their companies, but who may never have challenged the assumptions underlying their efforts.

The industry cannot long offer unneeded or overpriced insurance if people will not buy it.

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

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