Ownership has its privileges and pitfalls

Republicans have this vision of an ownership society. Americans like to own things. We like it a lot. Home ownership is higher here than in most European countries.

We like to travel in our own cars, not public transit. Conservatives would like for us to individually choose our own health insurance plan and retirement investment scheme. It sounds good in the abstract. I like choice. I don't trust government to reliably protect my interests. Why not own my own insurance and retirement plan- It makes a lot of sense.

Then I remember how much time, effort and money I have to put in to buy and service the things I already own. Next Wednesday the plumber is coming to install a new sump pump in my house. The reason I have to call a plumber is because I know nothing about sump pumps. I do know there is something wrong with mine, so I need to call an expert. This is going to cost me $300 not counting all the time I spent talking to various friends to get their advice on what to do and taking trips into my nasty basement to analyze the problem. Home ownership has its joys. I know them well. But it certainly comes with considerable cost.

Yesterday my car went back to Hershey Tire. Again. This time because the air conditioner was not working properly. This cost me money as well. I don't know enough about cars to do anything myself other than put gas in the tank. So I rely on the experts, and they charge me appropriately. I don't begrudge them their wages. They do a good job and deserve what they get, but I am increasingly aware of the costs of owning anything, especially things that require a team of experts.

Having owned a house and a car, do I want to own my own health insurance and retirement fund- I can absolutely guarantee you I will be as in need of experts to help me with them as with the house and car. Do I really want to go up against some huge health insurance company all by my little self should we have a difference of opinion on what they should be willing to pay for- What chance would I have- How about none- And what do I know about investments- I know enough to know that I don't know enough. I know enough to know that I could even more easily be taken advantage of by shady people who want to manage my money as I could shady auto mechanics or plumbers. And the results of being taken would be a lot more catastrophic.

Even the honest ones could overcharge me and what could I do- I know I am vulnerable to hustlers. Even some really rich people got hustled out of the money by a few big hedge funds, whatever they are. If the rich can get taken, what about me- I get anxious purchasing a car; I want six knowledgeable friends to go with me to make sure I don't get cheated. How am I going to purchase my entire retirement portfolio and health insurance-

I have a list of things I don't want to own: a second house (don't I have enough trouble with this one-), an expensive car (don't want to worry about dings, pay its insurance, or fork over for its expensive parts), a swimming pool (got to clean it), expensive jewelry (I'll lose it), another dog or a hamster, bird, or anything else that needs to be fed. Sometimes I look through the classified ads in the paper just to read a long list of things I don't want to own. Everything I own turns out to own a bit of me, and I want to keep that to a minimum. In fact, I am responsible for about all I can manage right now. Don't give me more to do.

I pump my own gas. I keep copies of all my health records. In fact, I think I am the only one person who actually has a grasp of what they all say. I take health newsletters to keep abreast of pertinent health information. I have the requisite filing cabinet stuffed with the record keeping required of adults in America.

I am about as responsible as I can get: one house, a dog, a cat, a car, a job, a life. America, don't give me anything else to own and be responsible for. I'm flattered that you think I can handle more ownership, but trust me on this: I am not that competent.

Patricia Hunt is a Mary Baldwin College chaplain and Staunton resident.