After Terri Shiavo

How about a tax credit for people that send, with their yearly filing, a basic living will? It could be a simple form. If something happens that causes me to attain a persistent vegetative state, choose from the following:

Keep me around forever.
Keep me around for number of months.
Keep me around if I respond to shiny or colorful objects.
Keep me around until my medical bills exceed dollars.
Kick out the plug as soon as possible.

Voila. You have eliminated a potentially agonizing dilemma for your loved ones, and prevented the possibility of a drawn-out, legal slapstick routine that resembles Weekend At Bernie's - but with fewer boffo laughs.

If politicians could stop posturing on this issue they might be able to find clever ways to incentivize citizens to take responsibility. Personally, I don't want anyone to sit hopefully in the hospital next to me and machines that keep me alive. Plant me among the flowers, throw a party filled with laughter and tears, and get on with the business of living.