But I wanted to tackle a more fundamental question this week. Lost in the smoke and rhetoric of Romney's candid camera appearance was his reference to health care.

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what," Romney explained to a roomful of fundraisers—and one anonymous Michael Moore wannabe.

But this begs the question: Are we entitled to health care? Is health care—or more specifically, free health care—a basic human right? Years ago, as an overly idealistic college student, it seemed like a reasonable premise. But I'm not so sure anymore. It's a nice, if hopelessly naive, concept that doesn't survive its headlong collision with reality.

For starters, if we want to go back to the original text, as citizens of this country, all we're really "entitled" to is "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." While I guess it could be argued being healthy is a prerequisite for any worthwhile pursuit of anything, I think the only promise any of us have is access to health care, not a blank check to live how we want and have your neighbor, co-worker or elected public official pick up the tab.

And that's exactly what we do when we binge on soft drinks, greasy fries and pork rinds, then rush to the emergency room when our chest feels like it's going to explode.

Personal responsibility is more than a political platform or idea, it's the reality of a drunk driver surfing a curb, taking out a few pedestrians and spending a decade in a dirty jail cell. It's the nonpartisan concept of cause and effect. If my son can't pass the seventh grade, he has to try again. If you eat, drink and waste away on your moldy couch cushions like a Midwestern paperweight, you have to pay your own hospital bill. That's your right. And your responsibility. Just like it's my right not to get sucked into your vortex of empty carbs and cardiac infarctions.

And I don't wanna close without touching on the obvious: Nothing is free. Just look at Massachusetts. They have virtually universal coverage—which is all well and good. But it's expensive. Costs are climbing so high there, the governor's looking at caps.

And the flip side? Rationing. Demand is exceeding supply. These are simple free market concepts that should surprise no one. It also reinforces my earlier point about cause and effect. Everyone can get coverage, but it will cost more and you might have to wait in line. Pick your poison.

Which also gets us back to our choices in November…