I am flabbergasted that Rachel continues her defense of Sarah Palins' administrations' practice without ever once addressing the fact that billing the insurance company IS NOT different from billing the victim.

What exactly does she think insurance companies are? Magic money boxes that we all have access to? Insurance is a service that we PAY for, it is MY insurance, not the state's, and I pay the costs for it.

The choice to shift the cost from the state to the victim is still a problem. Inserting the magic "insurance company" into the mix does nothing to change that. We don't see them billing the homeowners insurance of a victim of theft when they dust for prints. They don't bill the auto insurance of a victim of a hit and run when they run paint chips. Because for every other crime, its understood that it is the duty and obligation of the state to investigate.

There is no excuse for this, and Rachel's refusal to see that in fact, there is a real issue here, is insulting. Defend the principle, explain to me why me having to pay for the kit under my deductible is just fine, why my insurance that I have paid for bearing the cost when that is never done wiht any other crime is ok. If you're so sure this is a vicious rumor, show some real analysis.