I’ve been interested in law ever since I took a philosophy class on political theory in college.  It’s not the great laws that interest me-you know, thou shalt not kill stuff.  It’s the little laws on the fringes.  For example, where I live, there’s a sales tax: fair enough.  But food is not taxed, since it’s a necessity.  But restaurant food is, since it’s not a necessity.  So what about a convenience store burrito?  Taxed if you microwave it in the store, not if you take it home frozen, even though it’s the same burrito.

Cosmetic dentistry is another interesting case.  Should health insurance pay for it?  Health insurance won’t cover your makeup bill.  But can a smile makeover solve real psychological issues?  Most people would say you’re on your own when it comes to feeling okay about the way you are.  Then again, in a lot of cases, dental problems cause headaches or painfully popping jaws.  Physical pain seems to indicate a health issue.  But what if misaligned teeth just make it difficult to eat?  Sometimes it seems like a little sedation dentistry is the only answer.  It’s a question of need vs. want, a question I think we could all benefit from considering.

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