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  • #2216874

    “a government-run insurance plan”

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    by maxwell edison ·

    [i]”A key Democrat voiced confidence on Sunday that Senate leaders will include a government-run insurance plan in the healthcare bill they bring to the full U.S. Senate for consideration — and suggested it might even pass.”[/i]

    Source and full context:

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091018/pl_nm/us_usa_healthcare

    What’s wrong with this picture? Or, if you’re bold enough to show your true colors, what’s right with it?

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    • #3010223

      No boldness required.

      by charliespencer ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      I frequently hear the stats that 1/6th of our economy is tied up in health care, and 1/7th of the population are either not covered or inadequately covered. Some regard that 1/6th as making health care too large a slice of our economy for the gov’t to interfere. I regard it as too large a slice to allow to remain at that size, especially with the level of service provided.

      I think the private sector has done a very poor job providing what I consider a necessary service. I don’t advocate any new programs; instead, this service should be provided by expanding those eligible for existing programs.

      For-profit providers costs are out of reach for a substantial number of consumers. Instead of getting routine preventative care, they wait until a problem is critical or use emergency rooms for non-critical issues. Some claim putting these people (including illegal aliens) under a gov’t run program will mean the rest of us will be paying for their care. In reality, their costs are already shifted to the rest of us through the portion of our insurance premiums used to compensate providers for those losses.

      In short, I just don’t see how Uncle Sam can manage this any worse than it already is.

      • #3010187

        I’m “pro choice” in this case (actually in all cases)

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to No boldness required.

        So many people seem unable to back-up a step and consider the more important underlying premise – or principle upon which we govern ourselves. People should have the right to make personal choices in their lives without being dictated to by government. This is another case in which personal choice could be – and most likely WILL BE – infringed upon even more than it is already.

        Spare me the rhetoric about proposed plans allowing people to choose their own insurance options, choosing their own doctors, blah, blah, blah. Those choices – as well as other life choices – WILL BE affected.

        Do you choose to smoke? Do you choose to consume foods that pack on the pounds? Do you choose to have a diet that raises your cholesterol level? Do you choose activities in life that pose a greater risk? If so, be prepared to have some government (or insurance) bureaucrat dictate to you how you need to alter your life choices or pay more – or both.

        And possibly, do you choose to live your life without any insurance at all? There are people who might want to be self-insured. Go to the doctor, pay cash, end of story. In those cases, it might only be the catastrophic cases that throw a wrench into the system. But then again, back-up and consider the whole premise of the system as we currently know it to be.

        A citizen will be forced to buy insurance, whether they want to or not – freedom of choice will be denied.

        A citizen will be forced to alter lifestyle choices or pay more, or be penalized – or both – etc. – freedom of choice will be denied.

        More nanny state equals less choice. It’s simply not possible to have more of the former without having to give up more of the latter.

        I don’t know about you, but being dictated to by anyone in government – presuming government knows what’s best – is most distasteful. In fact, it’s simply not acceptable to me.

        • #3010179

          Normally, I’d go along with choice

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to I’m “pro choice” in this case (actually in all cases)

          The country needs to provide medical coverage for its people. To me, that’s simply a given. If we’re going to use the insurance model to cover medical costs, then everybody has to buy it. I think that insurance isn’t the best way; costs have gone out of control under insurance. But insurance seems to be what we’re going to do.

          In any case, people deserve medical care that won’t bankrupt them. It’s the mark of a decent civilization that has achieved a certain level of prosperity. We already do guarantee all people necessary coverage; we just limit it to people who will fit under certain government programs, and to anyone else in emergency cases, and pass the costs on to the insured base and to the taxpayer. It’s not efficient and not effective.

          There’s lots of choice that’s already gone. Try not paying your taxes, or not buying auto insurance, or remodeling your house outside of the building code, or printng your own money, or walking naked in the streets. When I was young, there was a draft; you couldn’t disregard it, at pain of going to jail; and if you cooperated, you could be sent into combat. There’s too much that is compulsory about life to pretend that you’ll be saved by basing medical care (i.e., life and death versus bankruptcy) on private choice and private resources.

        • #3010169

          Your first sentence

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Normally, I’d go along with choice

          You said, [i]The country needs to provide medical coverage for its people. To me, that’s simply a given.[/i]

          What do you mean, [i]the country needs to provide [/i]…..? We’re a nation of self-governed individuals. For someone to say that [i]the country needs to provide[/i] anything is just another way of saying that one individual [i]must provide[/i] something for another individual.

          Moreover, [i]medical coverage[/i] and medical care are two things that are distinctly different, yet talked about as though they’re one in the same. They’re not one in the same.

        • #3010160

          Self governed?

          by jck ·

          In reply to Your first sentence

          Or, self-indulgent?

          If all people would govern themselves properly, you wouldn’t have cases like Caylee Anthony, Adam Walsh, Nicole Brown, Sharon Tate, and Matthew Shepard.

          Until then, you and I both need government to provide.

          Otherwise, someone might self-govern you with a gun if you switch lanes too fast and cut them off.

          After all, it would be their choice. Right?

        • #3010156

          Oh please, give me a break

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Self governed?

          Self governed and individual rights – AS LONG AS THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS IS NOT INFRINGED UPON.

          Why do you insist on citing such silly examples?

          The role of government is to protect individual rights. One person does not have the right to, as you suggested, [i]self-govern (me) with a gun if (I) switch lanes too fast and cut them off[/i] – just like there is no right to force me – or you – into any medical scheme.

        • #3010152

          Are you being forced now?

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          Does your job make you pay for insurance out of your check?

          Mine does. They won’t give me the hundreds per month they pay. I get no option.

          So, cry me a river. That’s already happening to millions of working Americans and you failed to write a big rant about that.

          Or is it business’ right to push things on you, but not government?

          So please. Make your assessment of process fair and equal whether private or public…before you put the onus of responsibility on the shoulders of your government alone.

        • #3010147

          jck

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          You said, [i]Or is it business’ right to push things on you, but not government?[/i]

          Those are two distinctly different entities with two distinctively different issues. You choose to work for your company. Any benefit and compensation issues are negotiable.

          If I work for you, as an example, absolutely yes, you do have a right to dictate terms of employment, and I have a right to either accept or decline. Competition (for employees) in a free market system tends to create a lot of companies that treat employees pretty well. If you’re at a place that doesn’t treat you fair, well, it’s your choice to remain.

          If your analogy had any merit at all, I could choose to opt out of any government mandated program, which I don’t.

          Business: I can choose to opt out of a company sponsored 401(k) plan. Government: I cannot choose to opt out of the Social Security ponzi scheme.

          Don’t you see the distinction between the two?

        • #3010142

          absolutely wrong there, Max

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]Any benefit and compensation issues are negotiable.[/i]

          It’s not a negotiable set of benefits at this job, or any other job I have.

          They say “This is what we offer.” not “This is what you can choose from.”

          I don’t get a la carte or even yes or no choice to getting benefits or receiving the compensation they’d otherwise pay for me.

          So, why not? Why can’t I have the money ($1,000s a month) instead of accepting insurance.

          Reason: My job doesn’t give me the choice.

          Besides, government is going to give you more choice than I have. You can choose from a plethora of plans from different carriers.

          Whereas now, I get to take a choice of 2 plans from 1 carrier.

          So, this government health insurance will be good for me. I can shop around and get the best rate, then make my employer let me have the choice where the benefit I EARN is spent.

        • #3010129

          Some do, jck

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]Does your job make you pay for insurance out of your check?
          [/i]

          But you are not being FORCED to work for them… yet!

        • #3010119

          A La Carte Benefits

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          I did have an employer who did this.

          Of course major medical was government, short term/long term disability was fixed, but the areas of the plan where we had options were in dental, prescriptions, life insurance, optical etc.

          This allowed not only the ability opt out (why pay for optical if your eyes are perfect) but also for better co-ordination of benefits – if you are married and you can get a benefit from your employer or you partners employer, you can taylor your plan to cover the things your partner’s plan is weak in.

          James

        • #2820245

          choice and a la carte

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          Tony:

          The vast majority do not. Since all employers do not offer me that, I can not truly pick and choose who I work for. I worked at a job where I had *no* benefits, but the money was vastly higher. I could pay for insurance out of that. That was choice.

          But, you aren’t going to see most companies paying people 60-75% more than what they pay now to give their people open benefits options.

          Why? Because when they sign up with a single carrier, they get a price break for essentially forcing you to take their benefit plan AS IS. In essence, the insurance company gives a kickback to someone who is willing to force their employees to take their plan ONLY.

          JamesRL:

          Trust me, I’d like to have government healthcare. As bastardized as I’ve heard Canada’s system is, at least you get treatment for a critical need.

          I sat in an ER, a couple weeks out of spinal surgery, with an infection and almost 101F fever for over 5 hours. I never got seen. They still charged my insurance $800 for taking my blood pressure and temperature twice, and having done a base urinalysis on me.

          There’s one reason why our medical system here is so ridiculous. I got no care, and my insurance still paid $800 to them.

          They should have gotten $100 for the UA, and $40 for the 20 mins total that RN spent with me charting me and taking vitals.

          Oh well. Guess it doesn’t matter. I can’t change anything.

        • #2820218

          jck

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]The vast majority do not. Since all employers do not offer me that, I can not truly pick and choose who I work for.[/i]

          You CAN choose. You just don’t like the choices. Boo Hoo.

          [i]I worked at a job where I had *no* benefits, but the money was vastly higher. I could pay for insurance out of that. That was choice.[/i]

          I think that “vastly higher” money could be considered a benefit 🙂

          [i]But, you aren’t going to see most companies paying people 60-75% more than what they pay now to give their people open benefits options.

          Why? Because when they sign up with a single carrier, they get a price break for essentially forcing you to take their benefit plan AS IS. In essence, the insurance company gives a kickback to someone who is willing to force their employees to take their plan ONLY.
          [/i]

          If the company gives you exactly what they are currently paying for insurance, how is that any burden on the company? (in fact, by NOT paying for your insurance, they would probably have less in administrative costs.)

          I’ve stated before that this is a problem. You don’t really get a price break with an employer paid plan. You pay MORE because the insurance company has a captive customer base. The solution, however, isn’t a government paid insurance plan, it is employee choice. This will spur competition and lower prices.

          Fix the real problem. Don’t create more!

        • #2820212

          Really, Tony?

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          At one time, I had a job I liked. I wanted to stay there. I liked my benefits. I liked my pay. I liked my co-workers.

          My contract was ended. There was other work to be done. I was the best qualified to work and maintain and expand that software I wrote for them.

          So when the programming job opened, why wasn’t I considered for it?

          I had no choice, even though I was the most knowledgable about the software and had the most experience working on it.

          Ooops. There goes your ideology about me getting to choose what I like in the circumstance where I was the most qualified.

          So sorry. You’re not right.

        • #2820135

          Sounds like

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          you want to MAKE someone like you. Indicates possible issues. Maybe the employer picked up on it too.

          [i]I was the best qualified to work and maintain and expand that software I wrote for them.

          So when the programming job opened, why wasn’t I considered for it? [/i]

          Maybe someone else offered faster and/or better and/or cheaper. Maybe it was the owner’s nephew. Who knows? Who cares? It’s not the only job.

          Eventually you’ll find a balance between the desire to control what other people choose, and the desire to eat. Good luck in your quest.

        • #2820128

          No, it’s not about control

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          It’s about showing you were wrong. I had no choice in the matter to choose to go to work at a place that I like for which I was most qualified.

          You said I had choice. You were wrong.

          And it wasn’t the owner’s son. It was the director’s daughter’s fiance who was a new grad from North Carolina State University who had no previous experience in the field and no knowledge of the 10,000s of lines of software I’d written.

          I hope they got their money’s worth. I could have done it faster and better.

        • #2820101

          The original premise

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          was that you can choose (for the time being…) where NOT to work, not that you can choose where to work.

          There’s an easy way to tell if you’re as valuable to your employer as you think you are…. tell him you’re going to quit if you don’t get what you want. See what happens. You’ll have your answer.

        • #2820096

          The original premise

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          pertaining to choice was that government is going to come in and take your choice away.

          Well, employers already do that. I have no choice to have the insurance I want. I have to take what I’m given. They take part of what they would otherwise compensate me, and make it a “benefit”.

          And since we’re on choice, you said I can’t force someone else to let me have a job?

          True. However when I am the person who designed, created, tested, and implemented a system…there is no one in the world who knows more about it than me. When that job opened, I was truly THE best qualified in the world for it.

          Now tell me, Tony.

          What is so right about a company having the right to not practice fairly and take the best people who CHOOSE to apply for a job for which they are qualified.

          But, your government can’t CHOOSE to practice the same way as business?

          Why do you refuse to let anyone except a select group, which in most cases is the wealthy and/or those in control of the business sector, have freedom to do as they wish on a level playing field of professionalism?

          Why don’t you see that denying me the right to do a job that I am the best qualified for…is FORCING me to CHOOSE something I don’t want?

          Basically, your premise that making choice that you wish doesn’t apply in all cases. It’s a fairy tale that fair, free choice will ever exist ubiquitously. And since government and people can’t have it, neither should business.

        • #2820084

          Wrong

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]Well, employers already do that. I have no choice to have the insurance I want. I have to take what I’m given.[/i]

          There’s (currently) nobody preventing you from refusing your employer’s plan and buying your own coverage except you!

          As I said, you might not like the choices, but they ARE there!

        • #2820079

          Sorry, Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]There’s (currently) nobody preventing you from refusing your employer’s plan and buying your own coverage except you!

          As I said, you might not like the choices, but they ARE there![/i]

          Yep. No one is preventing me from walking away from something I have EARNED.

          I EARN that. WORK for it. Why can’t I choose what to do with that money?

          Aren’t you the one always bitching about “don’t tell me how to spend my money”?

          Well, why don’t you stand up for me now? I work 40-50 hours a week, plus put in time at home and even have worked from a bed with a broken neck to get my work done when most people would have laid around and watched Jerry Springer.

          You’re full of hog wash. You stand up for business getting all the benefit and choice, and letting the little guy have the scraps.

          Well, sorry. I think that if I EARN a right to have insurance, I should not have to have coverage from an insurance company not of MY choice.

          So, stand up for me and my right to spend my money as I see fit, Tony. Don’t be a hypocrite.

          And, yes. I can tell you for a fact. My employer allocates me a portion of money every month, then deducts it as “med ins” on my check stub. So, it is actual money I EARN that they take away from me and give me NO CHOICE.

          Thank you.

        • #2820043

          No, jck.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]I EARN that. WORK for it. Why can’t I choose what to do with that money?[/i]

          Government provided insurance isn’t going to solve that problem, it’s only going to change who’s keeping you from spending your money as you wish. Only if you don’t like it, it’s harder to change countries than it is to change jobs. The only way it makes sense is if you’re of the mind: “If I can’t do what I want, nobody else should be allowed to either”.

          Misery loves company.

        • #2819881

          That’s funny, Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]Government provided insurance isn’t going to solve that problem, it’s only going to change who’s keeping you from spending your money as you wish. [/i]

          According to the legislation, it establishes an “exchange” for priced options in healthcare insurance. People will be able to choose from those.

          Right now, I have 1 choice.

          Are you saying the exchange will have 0 choices?

          [i]Only if you don’t like it, it’s harder to change countries than it is to change jobs. The only way it makes sense is if you’re of the mind: “If I can’t do what I want, nobody else should be allowed to either”.[/i]

          Trust me, I know how hard it is to get a job in Europe. I’ve tried leaving.

          My mindset is:

          If Tony tells me all the time that he is for people being able to spend their money that they earn the way they want, why won’t he back me in being able to spend the money my employer takes from my paycheck and funnels to one insurance firm they brokered a deal with?

          You have said it before: people should be able to spend their money as they see fit.

          So, now are you practicing a double-standard because I am the person who wants to spend their money as the want?

          And, are you advocating to hold only government not to spend your money for you as they want, but will allow any employer to take your money from you and do that to you?

          Two double standards.

        • #2819814

          I’ve not “not backed” you.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]If Tony tells me all the time that he is for people being able to spend their money that they earn the way they want, why won’t he back me in being able to spend the money my employer takes from my paycheck and funnels to one insurance firm they brokered a deal with?
          [/i]

          You SHOULD be able to take the money your employer pays for insurance and buy your own. I’ve said it over and over again… on this board, on other boards, in letters to my representatives…

          The government doesn’t have to go to the extremes it’s trying to to fix that problem.

        • #2819810

          Really?

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          It is a compensation I earn at my job, yet my employer is not required to pay that to me if I choose not to have insurance.

          Say I was married, and I don’t want their insurance. My spouse has a far superior coverage. I want to take that money and buy supplemental life insurance instead, or AFLAC for specialty coverage.

          My employer doesn’t have to give me squat.

          You are saying on one hand I should get the money.

          On the other hand, you are saying that even though there is no way on God’s green earth I can get that money that the intervention of the institution whose duty it is in this world is to protect my rights and serve to make the country better…shouldn’t be mandating my employer give me that option you say should be that way?

          What’s wrong with this picture, Tony?

          I should have it, but yet when I don’t have it there’s no way I can get it and government shouldn’t make a bill that requires them to do so?

          Jesus.

        • #2819748

          My employer doesn’t have to give me squat.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          No, and you don’t have to work for any employer who doesn’t compensate you in the manner you want (but see note at end).

          Jck, I agree with you that you SHOULD get the money he is paying… The only difference between it and money on your paycheck is that you’re not paying income tax on it.

          What I disagree with is that employers give some more than others based solely on whether you get family coverage or single. It’s should not be his burden whether you choose to marry or have children. Every employee should have the same dollar amount paid toward their insurance (or as I would prefer, their health spending account).

          (Note: As more “transfer of wealth” policies go into effect, that will probably change… Human nature says that eventually, people will decide not to work as hard if they’re only going to have more of the fruits of their labor taken away and given to someone else. As work output starts to decline, less money will go into the government coffers, and more will go out. The government will then have no choice except to force labor. At that point the collapse of the country is imminent!)

        • #2819744

          but that’s the point

          by jck ·

          In reply to Oh please, give me a break

          [i]No, and you don’t have to work for any employer who doesn’t compensate you in the manner you want (but see note at end).[/i]

          You earn that insurance. They are paying $x for it. That is YOUR $x. It should be YOURS to spend as you wish.

          And you’re right. They don’t have to.

          But if the health insurance reform passes, your employer will have to let you CHOOSE. They are required to pay, and you will be allowed to shop for what you want.

          [i]Jck, I agree with you that you SHOULD get the money he is paying… The only difference between it and money on your paycheck is that you’re not paying income tax on it.[/i]

          Actually, I looked at my stub online now and looked at the tax tables on the IRS site. I don’t know if it’s difference in state law or what, but my insurance is pulled out post tax.

          [i]What I disagree with is that employers give some more than others based solely on whether you get family coverage or single. It’s should not be his burden whether you choose to marry or have children. Every employee should have the same dollar amount paid toward their insurance (or as I would prefer, their health spending account).[/i]

          My employer doesn’t do that. They pay wholly for single coverage. If you do single + 1 or single + family, you pay the difference in premiums.

          [i](Note: As more “transfer of wealth” policies go into effect, that will probably change… Human nature says that eventually, people will decide not to work as hard if they’re only going to have more of the fruits of their labor taken away and given to someone else. As work output starts to decline, less money will go into the government coffers, and more will go out. The government will then have no choice except to force labor. At that point the collapse of the country is imminent!)[/i]

          That’s foreshadowing that it will kill the country, like we weren’t already going to hell in a handbasket.

          Fact is, public healthcare would save money in the long run. It stops conditions from worsening that require more expensive and lengthy treatment, more hands on care vs medication, and better prevents spread of communicable disease.

          That’s why I would like to see us have a public health system. That way, ERs don’t get tied up by the “splinter in a finger” folks. And, someone doesn’t have to worry whether or not they can afford going in to see someone for chest pains or blood in their stool.

          Preventative care provided by public services would be far cheaper than critical care by public services, which is what occurs when those who can’t afford it don’t get the basic care they need and their problems compound from something only needing an ointment to something requiring surgical procedure and rehabilitation.

          Besides if your theory were true, I’d have quit working and gone on welfare years ago.

          Maybe I should.

        • #3010155

          Terms defined

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Your first sentence

          “Medical care” is something you periodically need to keep on living. “Medical coverage” is paying the bills for care, so that you can get what’s necessary if you don’t have money, and so you won’t go broke in case you do have money. The threat of bankrupting one’s self would discourage a lot of people from getting care. In fact, it does so today, in a minority of cases, but still frequently.

          To say that a country of self-governed individuals is nothing more than individuals, and that to pay somebody else’s medical bills is to financially favor one individual over another, is a fallacy. First, a country is more than the sum of its parts; it is beyond an aggregation of individuals. America means history and purpose, as well as laws, money, roads, the army, police, food inspection, free markets, etc.; lots of rights, rules, and freedoms that don’t come into being just because a dozen people get together in a room. Second, the wealth and opportunity we enjoy is due to the common work of all America; individualism counts, but the individual can leverage his initiative with social institutions that confer him wealth beyond his own powers to create it. Third, however your background may improve or limit your power to choose freely, sickness and accident are not in most cases the results of choice. You may choose to smoke or not, and either way you go, you may or may not get cancer; and the same goes for your dependent child, who never smoked. Of course, smoking, drinking, motorcycling, and overeating all increase risk, but there is more to health than statistics.

          The government has an interest in the welfare of individuals. Its duty to care for individuals by overriding the rights of other individuals is accepted in the cases where children are removed from the homes of sexual abusers, or firemen break through doors to rescue somebody. Medical care is life over death, or well-being over suffering. Coverage is necessary to the care. Government is obliged to guarantee it.

        • #3010128

          Really?

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Terms defined

          [i]”Medical care” is something you periodically need to keep on living.[/i]

          Someone who’s never been sick “needs” medical care?

        • #3010122

          Actually

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          [i]The government has an interest in the welfare of individuals.[/i]

          It only has that interest as long as the individual is contributing to society more than he’s taking from it.

        • #3010106

          Actually, back to you

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Really?

          Government… “only has that interest as long as the individual is contributing to society more than he’s taking from it.”

          Supposing that a person has contributed his life long, and is now retired. Does anybody have an obligation to him, in light of contributions past, though little is left of him?

          Suppose a person, a child or a student, has not yet begun to contribute, and has only absorbed resources. Is it in anyone’s interest to guarantee his wellbeing, in light of contributions yet to come?

        • #3010093

          Only up to the point

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          the accounts equal out. After that, no.

        • #3010074

          Sounds like death panel logic to me

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Really?

          “Only up to the point the accounts equal out. After that, no.”

          Sounds like an actuary gets to figure out which boy gets chemo, under your social justice. “Let’s see, Jimmy doesn’t have the grades that Joey does, so his future value is reduced. If his dad was anything but a forklift driver, the boy might pull out of it, but he’s looking like he’ll always be a working class loser. So, let’s give the $40,000 leukemia treatment to some more deserving kid.” If Darth Cheney were given the mandate to work up medical cost savings, death panels is what he’d think of. It explains why the phrase comes so naturally to Republican lips.

        • #3010035

          Survive or die.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          [i]Sounds like an actuary gets to figure out which boy gets chemo, under your social justice. [/i]

          No, you decide, by choosing to earn it.

          The fact of my birth creates no obligation in anyone else except perhaps my parents, and only then for a specific time. It also creates no obligation in ME to anyone… It’s a contract I didn’t sign!

          Also, I don’t think I should be allowed to CHOOSE to partake in risky lifestyle choices and expect the cost of the consequences of my choices to be forced onto others (If I CHOOSE to go skiing and break my leg, that should be on me. The alternative would be that since others are going to pay, they get to decide if I’m allowed to go skiing. You may value liberty less than safety, but I do not). The only time you should be obligated to pay for my illness or injury is if you were the cause of them.

          None of that, however, prevents one from ASKING for help, nor from CHOOSING to provide help. But it should be voluntary. Otherwise, what’s the point of even trying? Why should I bother working, for example, if you’re just going to take it away from me and give it to someone else?

        • #3010022

          Survive or die

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Really?

          Isn’t it amusing that so many people that support the Theory of Evolution would work to fight the benefits of that system on the human race?

          If Evolution is natures way of improving a species, what happens to that species when nature no longer plays any roll? DEevolution.

        • #3009991

          You talk as if you never had kids

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Really?

          or as if you don’t need them around for long. Since I don’t believe that, I can only conclude you don’t mind talking no sense.

        • #2820247

          Not sure who you were replying to

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          But I know JD and I are both fathers (and I am a grandfather).

          [i]as if you don’t need them around for long.[/i]

          I “need” air, water, food, and shelter… Everything else is gravy.

        • #2820226

          In natural selection

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Really?

          there has always been the caring of the young, or haven’t you ever paid attention to National Geographic?

          Less emotion, it does not win discussions.

        • #2820216

          Survive or die?

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Really?

          I guess that by this you mean that if you can’t pay for medical care, it is fair that you die, and if you can, it is fair that you survive. JD cheerfully suggests that this is the happy game of natural selection at work, and if you can’t afford to keep your kids or yourself alive, you aren’t the kind of bloodline the rest of us need around. So, die.

          I pointed out that anyone who was willing to flush financially impaired youth down the toilet of evolution spoke like he didn’t have kids of his own to protect (though knowing that you both do.) I remember a time when I had no insurance, two kids and a wife, and made about $5 an hour (1979.) A bad emergency would have put me on the wrong side of your survival line. Probably, if you’re a typical American story, there were equally hard times in your pasts, too.

          So, whaddaya think? Is extinction what you meant, or would you have some kind of exception for your kids? And for yourself, and people like you?

        • #2820153

          Wrong Del

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Really?

          I do not believe in the Theory of Evolution as it is handed down to us from the Alter of Science, that all life originated from a single cell, that mutated into everything. There would be a DNA link between ALL living creatures if that were the case.

          My point that it is people that DO believe in evolution that are fighting the effects of evolution. Sorry that you missed that point of my post.

        • #2820130

          Given only that information,

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          [i]I guess that by this you mean that if you can’t pay for medical care, it is fair that you die, and if you can, it is fair that you survive.[/i]

          yes.

        • #2820123

          Careful JD

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          [i]My point that it is people that DO believe in evolution that are fighting the effects of evolution.[/i]

          Someone will soon make the “you-know-what” reference.

        • #2820066

          So Tony

          by ic-it ·

          In reply to Really?

          If Mother Teresa was still alive (and you can count the many that lead similiar lifes) and needed care, she would be SOL???

          I don’t think it adds up.

        • #2820018

          Many would CHOOSE to help her,

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          but I would not FORCE you to!

          More pointedly, if I thought I needed such, I would ask (and ask NICELY, even). I would not DEMAND!

        • #2820013

          So IF they

          by ic-it ·

          In reply to Really?

          heard about it in time and IF enough donated in time and IF they then could schedule her, then she MIGHT survive.

          Doesn’t sound like a very good system.

        • #2819974

          It’s the only one

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Really?

          that preserves liberty.

        • #3010113

          Who do you seek to protect?

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Normally, I’d go along with choice

          It isn’t the poorest that don’t have health insurance because they don’t end up paying for major medical issues.

          Who is it you wish was covered, yourself?

          My biggest problems:
          We can not just run around and have the solution for every bleeding heart program be “lets make someone else pay for it!”.

          We can not make ANYTHING “free” or it loses value to the user and overhead shoots out of control. Think UAW workers with zero deductible vs someone that has a high deductible. Who is more likely to go in for every splinter to have removed?

          There is not a successful government model ever to show that “the government” will provide a workable solution. We are suppose to learn from history.

        • #3009990

          300 million Americans

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Who do you seek to protect?

          including the little brown illegals who pick our onions and blow our leaves.

        • #3009965

          This will not help the little brown illegals

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to 300 million Americans

          as they currently get FREE health CARE, why would they want to pay for health INSURANCE?

          The only people that have to fear losing everything because of medical bills are people that have something to loose.

          If the current negotiations in congress/senate were honestly for our best interests, it would be about health CARE, but it isn’t.

        • #2820116

          posted in wrong place

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to This will not help the little brown illegals

          .

        • #3010177

          Additional issues.

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to I’m “pro choice” in this case (actually in all cases)

          I don’t see a government option as an alternative to private insurance as automatically leading to government dictation.

          I too am opposed to mandatory insurance. In particular, it makes no sense to mandate insurance and then compensate people to buy it. This in particular makes the argument for a government option more persuasive. Why fund another program to launder tax money through private citizens on it’s way to insurance companies. Expand an existing program and keep it all under one roof.

          I don’t see anything in the linked article that references the personal choices you mention. I’m opposed to government interference in those areas, but are the topics you raised included in any of the proposed legislation? If so, I’d appreciate links; I’ve been unable to find anything.

          I don’t buy into ‘slippery slope’ arguments; I find concerns about what might be are too often used to prevent any change at all. I believe you and I have a philosophical difference on this subject.

        • #2820246

          When, in the entire history of humanity,

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Additional issues.

          [i]I don’t see a government option as an alternative to private insurance as automatically leading to government dictation.
          [/i]

          has that NOT been the case?

        • #3010162

          the problem with “pro choice”

          by jck ·

          In reply to I’m “pro choice” in this case (actually in all cases)

          If you give the person the right to choose whether or not to have medical insurance, then you must give the medical establishment open right to choose who they treat.

          Because, most hospitals are open to tort if they do not treat someone with illness or injury. Yet, they can not be guaranteed to make any income if that person can not pay.

          Therefore, you must either provide both person and establishment the right to choose. Otherwise, you give the person all the power and the business no option in many cases.

          BTW, the government-run insurance is an *option*. The privately-run insurers will still be there to choose from.

          Also, it’s funny when you say this:

          [i]Do you choose to smoke? Do you choose to consume foods that pack on the pounds? Do you choose to have a diet that raises your cholesterol level? Do you choose activities in life that pose a greater risk? If so, be prepared to have some government (or insurance) bureaucrat dictate to you how you need to alter your life choices or pay more – or both.[/i]

          There are government-run health systems all over Europe, and none of them charge different rates for different people. How do they survive?

          You and other Americans would have people believe they can’t. However, look at Holland, Italy, England, Australia, Israel, etc. They all still exist after decades. I wonder why?

          Doom and gloom. Doom and gloom.

          But I have to agree with you. Being dictated to by most anyone in government is distasteful. Maybe because of the fact that most of them are paid-for and bought by special interest.

          If I had people up there who actually knew what it was to work for a living (instead of a bunch of silver-spooned capitalists), I might have less doubt.

        • #3010111

          Your dreaming

          by tnt@support ·

          In reply to the problem with “pro choice”

          Government health coverage is far from the utopia you make it out to be.

          1. You say if the consumer has choice then the hospital/doctors must have a choice for who they treat. doctors, and to a lesser extent hospitals, do have choice. They can transfer or discharge patients for most any reason (there are exceptions, of course).

          2. The government run “option” will only be an option for a limited time. It is not a slippery slope, nor is it guess work that the government plan will become the only plan. The government doesn’t have to compete for customers the way insurance companies do, they don’t have the overhead private companies do and they are not subject to all the same laws companies are. It is not a level playing fields. Many insurance companies have already come out saying they would gladly dump their more costly patients into the government “option”.

          You ask how European health services survive, and the answer is “they don’t”. Most of them are bankrupt, or close to it, or severely limit care, or put off procedures in hopes the patient will die before it can be performed. There is a reason the worlds wealthy come here when they need serious care. Did you know there are more MRI machines in my home state of Colorado than in all of Canada and Europe combined?

          The problem with our insurance coverage isn’t the industry, its the current level of government involvement. The government tells insurance companies they cannot compete across state lines, and require certain expensive but rare medical problems to be covered. Insurance companies would love to offer ala cart options, but government regulation makes it impossible. Get government out of the industry and you will see prices drop.

          The one way the government could help is (1) go to a loser-pays legal system and (2) limit the damages that can be assessed for malpractice suits. This would lower doctors insurance rates and lower health costs all around.

          And as long as we’re throwing out our own version of heath care utopia, I’d like to see a system that more closely approximates auto insurance. If I become seriously ill I should be able to call my “agent” who comes out and works with the hospital to help control costs and improve coverage. My agent could make sure I’m not being charged $10 for a single aspirin and assure I’m receiving the attention my case deserves.

        • #2820244

          A little nit.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Your dreaming

          [i]they don’t have the overhead private companies[/i]

          Actually they do…. they just don’t have to pay for it out of their own pockets.

        • #2820234

          If they are setup right, they do

          by jck ·

          In reply to A little nit.

          Look at how Citizens Property Insurance in Florida works, Tony.

          It is mandated under enactment to pay for itself out of premiums it charges, not taxpayer funds.

        • #2820236

          hahaha

          by jck ·

          In reply to Your dreaming

          [i]Government health coverage is far from the utopia you make it out to be.[/i]

          Utopia? No.

          Better service in most cases than US healthcare that we end up paying through the nose for anyway? Yes.

          [i]1. You say if the consumer has choice then the hospital/doctors must have a choice for who they treat. doctors, and to a lesser extent hospitals, do have choice. They can transfer or discharge patients for most any reason (there are exceptions, of course).[/i]

          Yes, they should have a choice. If a person refuses to carry the insurance and can’t pay the bill out of pocket, a medical provider should have the option to say “if you can’t pay for my services, you won’t get treatment.”

          And as I said, medical professionals don’t have a choice in the fact that under law in most states they are obligated to render care to the sick or injured. Hospitals can’t refuse critical care in most places. Even if they do, they risk tort from the person or their family if something befalls them that is deemed legally to have been “preventable”.

          [i]2. The government run “option” will only be an option for a limited time. It is not a slippery slope, nor is it guess work that the government plan will become the only plan. The government doesn’t have to compete for customers the way insurance companies do, they don’t have the overhead private companies do and they are not subject to all the same laws companies are. It is not a level playing fields. Many insurance companies have already come out saying they would gladly dump their more costly patients into the government “option”.[/i]

          Then in your noble wisdom and knowledge, please explain to me how private homeowners’ insurance companies in the state of Florida still exist while there is a state-run homeowners’ insurance carrier?? Please?

          Doom and gloom. Doom and gloom.

          Private carriers can compete with a public option. Believe it or not.

          [i]You ask how European health services survive, and the answer is “they don’t”. Most of them are bankrupt, or close to it, or severely limit care, or put off procedures in hopes the patient will die before it can be performed. There is a reason the worlds wealthy come here when they need serious care. Did you know there are more MRI machines in my home state of Colorado than in all of Canada and Europe combined?[/i]

          1. Most of them are bankrupt now, because of ailing economies. Look at the 1990s instead of a current, downturned economic climate which has effected everything.

          2. Most of the world isn’t wealthy. Most people can’t afford to travel for healthcare.
          Of course, look at Farrah Fawcett. Nothing worked for her in the United States. Did she stay here because it’s the best in the world.

          Nope, she went to Germany.

          Wonder why?

          [i]The problem with our insurance coverage isn’t the industry, its the current level of government involvement.[/i]

          Nope. It’s the fact that every year, the premiums go up, and your level of coverage goes down. That’s not government regulation. That’s capitalism. That’s companies, not government.

          [i] The government tells insurance companies they cannot compete across state lines, and require certain expensive but rare medical problems to be covered. Insurance companies would love to offer ala cart options, but government regulation makes it impossible. Get government out of the industry and you will see prices drop.[/i]

          Funny. BCBS has an arm in almost every state. They can’t compete across state lines? I had BCBS-MI at one time, and I live in Florida. Please explain this.

          Insurance can compete across state lines, as long as they get licensed in the other state to do business. I can prove it to you. I have coverage letters from BCBS-MI for a job I held in Largo, Florida. My employer was not required to only use Florida-only insurance.

          If your state doesn’t allow it, then change your state. But, don’t cripple OUR federal government because YOUR local government sucks.

          [i]The one way the government could help is (1) go to a loser-pays legal system and (2) limit the damages that can be assessed for malpractice suits. This would lower doctors insurance rates and lower health costs all around.[/i]

          Actually, our system would be better if we went to a “fraudulent claims pay” system, where the system isn’t full of BS suits.

          As long as malpractice has to cover reasonable life-of-detriment circumstances, I agree. Limited punitive and reasonable care funds should be given.

          [i]And as long as we’re throwing out our own version of heath care utopia, I’d like to see a system that more closely approximates auto insurance. If I become seriously ill I should be able to call my “agent” who comes out and works with the hospital to help control costs and improve coverage. My agent could make sure I’m not being charged $10 for a single aspirin and assure I’m receiving the attention my case deserves.[/i]

          $10 for an aspirin? Try $14 for a 500mg Tylenol as of March 2009. I’ve got the itemized bill to prove it.

          BTW, how much cost do you think it would take to employee enough people to handle things on a case-by-case basis?

          Talk about causing skyrocketing costs.

        • #3010145

          I don’t care to lose choice of specialists

          by forum surfer ·

          In reply to I’m “pro choice” in this case (actually in all cases)

          If we’re forced to go with whatever specialists our gov’t run health care providers deem necessary, I’ll be highly displeased. My son has a condition with allergies and a problem with range of motion in his right foot. I take great care in going to the most highly reputable specialists within traveling distance, expenses be damned. If I am forced to go with whatever half assed joe schmoe md is close by, words cannot describe my outrage.

          The healthy lifestyle bit is already being forced upon us. My health-care provider requires that I take physicals and “readings” by their “health-care team professionals” once per quarter. I always schedule physicals with my regular doctor on the same days, and my results are always predictable worse with the insurance doctors. Go figure. I still like to walk in with my own charts and histories just to be an ass about it. Then they tell me I should exercise more often because I’m in the upper regions of my bmi. I then explain that I have been exercising regularly 1.5 or more hours a day, 7 days a week in order to gain weight. The fact that BMI means nothing escapes them. The fact that my doctor says I am more healthy than I was ten years ago also escapes them. That isn’t covered on their little insurance exam placard. These people have just enough medical certifications to write down readings taken from samples they barely understand on machines they can barely operate. Yet their finding directly impact my wallet.

          Insurance companies already suck. 🙁

          I for one, believe the government will screw up health-care even more. The only difference is that I’ll be paying for all these people out there who elect not to have insurance because their premium’s high prices affect their lifestyle. I’ll also be paying insurance for people who are too lazy to work. We need “lazy ass” reform in this country, not health care reform. I’m a firm believer that people who need help should get it, but I’m also a firm believer that you should attempt to help yourself first.

          -end rant-

          🙂

        • #3010134

          Who says you will?

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to I don’t care to lose choice of specialists

          In Canada, we can sign up with any specialist we like, and I’m sure many of the other countries that offer government programs are the same.

          Like I’ve mentioned here before, my mom chose to go to a specialist in Toronto, about 100 miles away, for shoulder surgery, because she had heard he was the best in the country. Her family doctor wrote up the referral. The point is she could chose anyone at all. All of them would be covered by insurance (in the province, if she went outside, they may or may not cover it, depending on the situation).

          And we don’t have quarterly physicals, nor in fact any requirements for physicals. I have to think your insurance company is trying to find a way to exclude you.

          I have heard of a doctor (one in all of Canada) who decided to exclude smokers from transplants because they had a lower probability of success. Many other doctors mused they wouldn’t, when this story hit the news. But the doctors make that choice themselves, not government bureaucrats.

          James

        • #3010108

          No motivation to be great

          by tnt@support ·

          In reply to Who says you will?

          The problem with your system is “the best doctor in the country” is paid exactly the same as the worst. There is no incentive under a government program to be the best in your field, except maybe as a matter of personal pride. And I’m sure that while you have your choice of specialists, the expense of getting to that specialist is on you. In our system the better a doctor is the more he is paid, so we have many specialists and many people all across the country who are truly great at what they do.

        • #3010097

          Not entirely

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to No motivation to be great

          The only thing that fixed about pricing in Canada is the price of the actual procedure.

          But of course the better you are, the more complex procedures you can do, the more money you get paid. Open heart surgeons get paid more per procedure than docs who do tonsilectomies. And the best in their field get asked to do more of them.

          Also doctors can be part of their hospitals administration, teaching staff etc. So there is an incentive to be good, because the fees(salaries) they get paid for those tasks aren’t at all regulated.

          Doctors here aren’t civil servants who scrimp and save. They make big incomes, and the best make small fortunes. The head of a big hospital makes more than the Prime Minister and the Governor General combined.

          James

        • #3010085

          What a delusion

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to No motivation to be great

          American doctors aren’t paid based upon their greatness. They’re paid based on what they bill and how many patients they see. Surgeons and radiologists are paid more than internists and generalists. Does that mean a scale of greatness has been applied?

          Actually, Canadian doctors are paid varying amounts of money, based on a lot of factors. They are hospital and clinic employees, not government employees. In Canada, you are usually reimbursed for the cost of visiting a physician, if travel is involved. You can also see any specialist you want; you aren’t restricted to a few (like in an HMO, something a lot of Americans depend on.) There is no less or more a financial incentive to be superior in Canada than there is the United States; in both, the physician is paid through a third-party network of accountants and bureaucrats, government or private insurance, who are not connected to the actual work of patient care.

        • #3010114

          Your government run health care providers?

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to I don’t care to lose choice of specialists

          So you are now FINALLY ale to afford medcial?

          or are you assuming that you will lose yoru current option to pay the insurer of your chocie?

          Either way, noody dictates who you can or can’t see, THAT is the result of private insurer’s that only want to pay for the level of care YOU pay for.

          Under our government subsidized system, I can see the same professisonals and specialists that Bill Gates or President Obama could in Canada. I can walk into any hospital, doctors office, walk in clinic etc. ANYWHERE in Canada, and be accepted and seen to just the same as anyone else is.

        • #3010099

          It won’t be government-run health care

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to I don’t care to lose choice of specialists

          It’ll still be insurance-company-run health care. That’s the Baucus plan. So, you won’t be going to see doctors under a hammer and sickle, each one with a commissar behind his back, guessing whether or not your treatment is worth it to the people. (Check Tony Tiger’s posts for an example of that sort of thinking, by the way.) It’ll still be under the sign of Aetna and Metropolitan, with an accountant behind every care provider, making sure it’s them who swindle you, and not the other way around.

          Insurance companies will still determine whom you can see, and whether you pay extra for preferred specialists, if they give you anything at all. However, they won’t refuse you the freedom to see anybody at your own cost, the same as now.

        • #3010120

          Forces

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to I’m “pro choice” in this case (actually in all cases)

          Look at Canada for example, our government spends a lot of money campaining about healthy diets, smoking cessation, drinking less etc.

          Before I go on, I do agree that the bans have gone to extremes, in the sense of truckers being fined for smoking in their trucks, as it’s a workplace etc.

          Health Canada has also pushed fast food joints to offer better menus, less fat, salt etc.

          They have also made EVERY food manufacturer sellign into Canada, include the full dietary and nutritional contens on all food packaging, in the same format for easy recognition.

          THESE are the invasive health practices we have forced upon us due to the govfrenment payign for health care. If i eat myself to a heart attack, it isn’t effecting my ‘insurance’ in any way shape or form. If I smoke myself into tripple or quadrouple bypass surgery even multiple times, my health plan is still nto effected.

          They let consumers do as they please, they enact rules agains the manufacturers of such products to ensure the consumers have a choice and know exactly the dangers of their habits or chocies, they don’ thowever restrict those choices from the consumer though.

          [i]”I don’t know about you, but being dictated to by anyone in government – presuming government knows what’s best – is most distasteful. In fact, it’s simply not acceptable to me.”[/i]

          Me neither and that’s not the case here at all.

        • #3010104

          And that’s why

          by tnt@support ·

          In reply to Forces

          That’s why your system is bankrupt, why it takes forever to get an appointment with any specialist or to line up any kind of specialized procedure.

          As I mentioned in another post, we have more MRI machines in Colorado than you have in all of Canada. Yes our coverage is expensive, but only because it is the best.

        • #3010089

          There’s another reason American care is expensive

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to And that’s why

          It’s not because it is the best. Canadians provide better, on the average, than Americans do. American care is expensive because there are no controls on it. In most free market transactions you have a consumer exercising choice, but in health coverage, the consumer doesn’t make a contract with the insurer; his employer does. When the consumer gets health care, he doesn’t see the bill; the insurer does. The consumer makes no choices regarding cost or the composition of services he receives. The bills keep going higher. The doctor charges more; the insurer pays more; the employer pays more. The more it costs, the happier you are that you have insurance, ’cause otherwise, you’d be shafted.

          In Japan, it costs under $100 to get an MRI, usually in no-waiting walk-in clinics. Why does it cost $1200 here? We have more machines to pay for, and nobody bothers to operate them in a cost-effective way.

        • #3010086

          More myths

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to And that’s why

          System isn’t bankrupt, its under pressure, its not perfect, but neither is your system.

          More MRIs in Colorado than Canada? Really – do you have a citation for that?

          As for time to get an appointment with a specialist, thats another myth. There may be situations in some areas where it takes time, but I’ve read studies that say it doesn’t substantially differ from the uS, and certainly I’ve had many instances where I’ve seen no waits, or little waits.

          Yes my Mom had to wait three weeks to see the best guy in the country for shoulder surgery, but it wsn’t an “urgent case”.

          When my wife had an accident that caused brain damage, specialists were there within hours to help make assessments and map out treatments. One of them recommended a rehab program at another hospital and it took under a week to get her enrolled.

          When my son had an medical issue as a toddler, he got an MRI in 2 hours, and that was after he was “stable” and in no immediate danger.

          James

        • #3010080

          Are there 2 different healthcare systems

          by netman1958 ·

          In reply to More myths

          in Canada? That is, would someone in Nova Scotia be under a different system than you are? The reason I ask is because Daryl’s take on the Canadian system is much different than yours and some other Canadian posters. See his post in this thread:
          http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=102&threadID=319303&messageID=3184354

        • #3010072

          Provinces deliver health care

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Are there 2 different healthcare systems

          So yes, its different in each province to an extent, although it federal legislation that outlines the high level rules (no extra billing etc).

          Prescription drugs aren’t covered here in Ontario or Nova Scotia (except for those on welfare, or in Ontario some co-pays for the elderly). But as Oz mentions, his province (BC) has generous government drug plans.

          And things change over time. I remember when Alberta made big cuts and everyone from there complained, but now their system is generally acknowledged to be well funded.

          That may be somethign to consider in the US, Canada is much smaller in population than the US (33 million versus 300). It would not be easy to force one system onto a population that large.

          James

        • #3010057

          Nova Scotia

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Are there 2 different healthcare systems

          The people are undeniably some of the nicest people that walk on Earth. It is one of the most friendly and homely and welcoming places I have ever experienced.

          It also sux in every other aspect though: Took cold in winter, too many black flies in summer. Education is a complete joke, I couldn’t believe how backwards the school was when I moved to Cape Breton, I swore I had just fallen from grade 4 to kindergarten again. I rememer laughign to my mother befor eexpressing concern tha i wasn’ tgoing ot learn ANYTHING living in Canada, thankfully when I moved out West things got better, but not to European standards by any means.
          Health care, I remember my dentist in Cape reton, not that i could possibly forget such horrors. Belt drive drill, hard seat with little round pads for a headrest. a nightmare for sure.

          But again, nicest people on the planet, warmest neighours and community spirit you will ever encounter.

        • #2819773

          In my experience

          by fregeus ·

          In reply to More myths

          I often find that most Americans say they have the best health care system in the world, until they get sick. Most Canadian say we have the worst system in the world, until we get sick.

          Its all perceptions. 😉

          TCB

        • #2819651

          That’s true

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to In my experience

          The people I hear moaning in Canada are people who get into a bar fight at 2AM and have to wait in the emergency room for an hour before getting their broken nose fixed.

          or

          People who haven’t needed to be in hospital for a while and have listened to teh NDP whiners going on about poor nursing conditions, crowded hjospitals etc.

          The people who have just come from a doctor or have recently been released from hospital say how awesome our system is and how greateful they are for our health care plan.

          Great oservation TCB!

        • #3010061

          Is that so?

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to And that’s why

          Our system is bankrupt. Our system is SLOWLY falling apart but still nowhere near the level seen in the USA under yoru existing private structure.

          As for takign forever to get an appointment, what BS media spin have you been reading?

          A friend was told he needed a CAT scan a few weeks back, that particular hospital had a 3 week waiting list, they then asked is he could make it to another a few miles away, which I took him to the very next morning.
          He is now ack at awork, and EVER SO THANKFUL that he left Alaama 8 years gao to start his family in BC. He said withotu our health care, he couldn’t provide insurance for his kids, would have died himself (diagnised with a kidney disease that threatened his life but he wouldn’t have even been diagnosed in Alabama)and now would have been immobile and suffering from acute sciatica. As he lives in Canada, his children are healthy, he is still alive and was able to see the specialists he needed and get the treatment he needed right away.

          Having suffered severe spinal injuries for most of my life, I have seen more specialists than I can possibly count. Not ONCE, have I had to wait for anymore than a few days to see a specialist, get an MRI, CAT scan or any otehr treatment.

          What you are parroting is the horror stories from people who demand non emergent support.

          Something that Americans don’t understand is that people in teh most need get seen to first, people who have lots of money don’t take precedence over those who are the most sick. You WILL be made to wait, if you are ASKING for scans or treatments or specialists when other people in real need for such treatment are in line.

          I find this upsets Americans, as flashing their money no longer gets them what they want.

          Sick people taking priority over wealthy people when it comes to health care? Whatever next?

        • #2820017

          It’s impossible for your system to ever go bankrupt.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Is that so?

          Unless everybody who earned money stopped or left.

        • #2819766

          Wrong

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to It’s impossible for your system to ever go bankrupt.

          Not even remotely close.

        • #2820074

          Really? The New England Journal of Medicine begs to differ

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to And that’s why

          http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/349/8/768

          Basically it (and many other studies) show US healthcare is expensive because of the administrative overhead.

          How about outcomes?
          http://jpubhealth.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/22/3/343

          This one shows if you are poor and have cancer, you will live longer on average in Canada than in the US.

          These are peer reviewed scientific papers, not “journalism”.

          Oh and I’m still waiting to hear about how many MRIs Colorado has…..I’ve now read articles on the internet about how “Colorado/Pittsburgh/Kentucky/LA County” have more MRIs than Canada. Yet none of those posts on the internet list the number of MRI units in any of those places.

          The most up to date number I have for Canada is 222 MRI scanners, which is one less than the 7 scanners per million OECD average. But there are other reports than show we make more scans per machine than other jurisdictions.

          James

        • #2819846

          And putting government in charge of ANYTHING

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Really? The New England Journal of Medicine begs to differ

          increases overhead. So an existing system that is over priced because of overhead will be made less expensive by adding governmental overhead?

        • #2819830

          Depends

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to And putting government in charge of ANYTHING

          Why did the overhead in the US grow over time, the numbers showed that in the 70s, the size of admin(number of people involved in admin as a percentage of the total healthcare workforce) was roughly the same between the US and Canada, but the number of healthcare admins ballooned over the past three decades.

          I can’t speak to the system thats being proposed in the US, it looks very very complicated. In Canada, with a single payer, its simple. Someone in the doctor’s office/hospital looks at the services provided. If they are on the “list”, they bill the government. If they aren’t on the list, they bill the patient. The government does have some auditors to look for doctors who may be billing for services not provided. But nothing like the massive infrastructure that reviews and approves and monitors and bills in the US private insurance. BTW my dental is provided by a private insurer, and I go through the same kind of bureaucracy as an HMO customer for that.

          Single payer would simplify the bureaucracy, but thats not whats being proposed.

          You assume that governments are worse at managing than private companies, but the recent recession has shown that bad management exists in many private companies as well. I’d say that many of the worst private companies are worse/more bureaucratic than a reasonably well run government program.

          James

        • #2819829

          Actually a lot less overhead

          by ic-it ·

          In reply to And putting government in charge of ANYTHING

          Lets see;
          No overpaid Board of Directors
          No Stockholders
          No motivation to use profits to drive the business model and overpaid salaries.

          Some superior Gov. run US Health Care Programs already in place;

          http://www.healthinsurance.org/blog/tag/tricare/

          Tricare Prime has been very good for me.

        • #2819768

          Actually

          by jck ·

          In reply to And putting government in charge of ANYTHING

          Government wages tend to be lower than private sector by 14-40 percent outside the management band.

          As well, the US government gets bigger discounts on their benefits for employees, or self-insures.

          So, yes…it is cheaper for them.

      • #3010132

        Look at Massachusetts

        by tonythetiger ·

        In reply to No boldness required.

        Private insurance increasing in costs… deductibles rising… new taxes…

        “I see a bad moon a-rising.”

        • #3010004

          So one bad implementation means they’re all bad?

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Look at Massachusetts

          Good think Oog didn’t quit after that first fire went out.

        • #2820251

          Yes.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to So one bad implementation means they’re all bad?

          They’re all bad. Some are just more bad than others.

        • #2819834

          So what changes would you propose?

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Yes.

          Or are you satisfied with the system as currently run by the private sector?

        • #2819818

          Briefly

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to So what changes would you propose?

          Create choice.

          I believe that employer-paid plans are a large part of the problem. They have their employees in a virtual monopoly! I think we’d be better off if they put the money they are currently spending into a dedicated account, and allow us to choose our own insurer to be paid from that account.

          Letting employees choose their own would put tens of millions of new customers in the market. Insurers would then be tripping all over each other to get our business, and prices would fall… to the point where it would be more affordable to more people. While this won’t entirely eliminate the problem, it would reduce the number of uninsured to a level that would be a lot less expensive to deal with.

          We’d also have more choices… People have unique needs and each could customize their coverage to fit their needs, and change it as their needs change. And it would eliminate portability problems such as when changing jobs, since the account would remain with the employee, only a different employer paying into it. If your choice is less than what the employer pays in, the balance could be used for unreimbursed medical expenses. I would also like to see any balance in this account roll over.

          Another small but real benefit would be a reduction of paperwork for the companies… time and money they could put into the VALUE of their product or service.

          Families are struggling, and even though they say they only want to tax “the rich” to pay for it, we all know (or should know) that the rich eventually get it back from the consumer in the form of higher prices, so if we could figure out a way to improve the situation with a minimum of intrusion and tax money, it would be better for everyone.

        • #2819799

          Maybe we’re not that far apart.

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Briefly

          I too would like to see employers removed from the system, and also support putting that money (and decision) in the employees’ hands.

          We differ over the government involvement. I don’t want the feds as a ‘single payer’ or ‘sole source’ system, but as one alternative to the private system. I’d like to hear more details about co-op systems too.

          What I’d really like to see in ‘A Perfect World’ is people over 18 who don’t buy even the most basic insurance being held financially responsible for their treatment, to the point of denying treatment for those who repeatedly abuse the system. I believe society has a responsibility to offer affordable health care, but individuals who want to utilize it have the financial responsibility to cover their expenses.

        • #2819761

          Problems with your ideology on what should happen

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]Create choice.[/i]

          The bills in both houses of Congress do that. It’s called an “exchange” where people can go to compare and contrast plans offered by multiple carriers.

          [i]I believe that employer-paid plans are a large part of the problem. They have their employees in a virtual monopoly! [/i]

          I’ve been telling you they’re doing that to me every month.

          [i]I think we’d be better off if they put the money they are currently spending into a dedicated account, and allow us to choose our own insurer to be paid from that account.[/i]

          There’s one problem with that:

          Fund management costs, and that means employees would have to pay for some fund management of that account to some company. That’s a waste of money we should not be spending. So, you want to advocate spending more of the employees dollars on unnecessary things?

          Put the money in the hands of the employee.

          Not some money fund management group.

          [i]Letting employees choose their own would put tens of millions of new customers in the market. Insurers would then be tripping all over each other to get our business, and prices would fall… to the point where it would be more affordable to more people. While this won’t entirely eliminate the problem, it would reduce the number of uninsured to a level that would be a lot less expensive to deal with.[/i]

          Insurers will never chase “individuals” for their business.

          What would happen?

          Insurers would meet with groups of employees, rather than the HR department to woo you into their plan. And, they’d offer a speel about “the more of your co-workers you can get to sign up for our plan, the cheaper it gets for all of you!”

          You’d basically set up a lot of pyramid schemes doing it through a managed fund at work.

          [i]We’d also have more choices… People have unique needs and each could customize their coverage to fit their needs, and change it as their needs change. [/i]

          Nothing mandates that insurers open a la carte options to their plans as of now.

          What makes you think sticking money into an account at your place of work will do that?

          [i]And it would eliminate portability problems such as when changing jobs, since the account would remain with the employee, only a different employer paying into it. [/i]

          If this money isn’t going into an account with your employer, who is going to host it between employers? Do you realize the tax/finance management burden this represents?

          [i]If your choice is less than what the employer pays in, the balance could be used for unreimbursed medical expenses. I would also like to see any balance in this account roll over.[/i]

          That’s where medical reimbursement accounts work differently from what you want. Most of them at the end of the year get to keep any unused amounts.

          That’s why I avoid reimbursement accounts. You go to submit stuff in November…they take 40 days to process it. They deny it all. You don’t have time to re-file. They make a quick $400 off ya.

          [i]Another small but real benefit would be a reduction of paperwork for the companies… time and money they could put into the VALUE of their product or service.[/i]

          As i’ve pointed out, your ideology would increase the management required to maintain, monitor, file things for the account you’ve proposed establishing.

          [i]Families are struggling, and even though they say they only want to tax “the rich” to pay for it, we all know (or should know) that the rich eventually get it back from the consumer in the form of higher prices, so if we could figure out a way to improve the situation with a minimum of intrusion and tax money, it would be better for everyone.[/i]

          Um…a question about finance for you.

          If you don’t take the revenues you have and use them, and you don’t increase your customer base to generate more revenue to spend…how do you pay for something?

          Just curious about your answer to that.

          No new revenue = no new spending…unless you want to put off those resurfacing projects on I-80 for 10 more years?

          That’ll save several hundred million there. That’s a nice start. 😉

        • #2819747

          jck,

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Briefly

          “Insurers will never chase “individuals” for their business.”

          Then I wish that duck, gecko, and the gal with the heavy makeup job would go the heck away. If that advertising isn’t chasing individuals, what is it?

          Well, actually, the chick’s kinda hot, kinda like a high-end mannequin or a very expensive inflatable.

          If the only thing we’re quibbling about is whether the money goes to an administrated fund or directly to the employee, we’re closer to an agreement than our elected officials.

          “That’s where medical reimbursement accounts work differently from what you want. Most of them at the end of the year get to keep any unused amounts.”

          Must be nice. The reimbursement account where I work now is ‘use it or lose it’, as it was at my previous employer. My understanding is the law establishing them also specifies ‘use or lose’.

        • #2819743

          I don’t see it.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]Fund management costs, and that means employees would have to pay for some fund management of that account to some company. [/i]

          I have my electric, gas, phone, and cable bills automatically come out of my checking account. Doesn’t cost me a cent.

          (perhaps you misunderstood. Employers would pay into an individual account for each employee. Not one account for multiple employees. This is no more complex than the direct deposit most employers now do.)

          How is this different?

          [i]Insurers will never chase “individuals” for their business.[/i]

          They’re already doing it. Can’t watch TV for an hour without seeing at least one add wanting you to “change your car insurance and save hundreds a year”. Health insurance will be no different.

        • #2819742

          that’s what i was saying, Palmetto

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          I had a med. reimb. acct. once. I had over $400 of it left. I filed prescription receipts plus cold meds and stuff from when I was sick in the calendar year. They refused over 90 percent of my claims, citing the receipts “didn’t have enough information of qualifying purchases”.

          What a crock. It said “ACE BANDAGE” and “CVS Pharmacy” at the top. I would say that means…I bought an ACE bandage at CVS.

          They’re a scam. I agree.

        • #2819734

          jck, if you think they’re a scam, you’re not agreeing with me.

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Briefly

          The problems you describe are more due to the administrator chosen than the concept. I don’t have a problem with giving the money directly to the employee, but I think an administrator is needed to ensure the money is spent on medical expenses and not blown on cigs and lottery tickets.

          It takes some planning every fall when I decide how much to allocate for the next year. I collect the previous years receipts and add in any anticipated one-shot expenses like new glasses and a filling or two. I usually exhaust the allocated amount by early November. If a person can’t make an close estimate on how much to allocate each year, he or she probably isn’t capable of selecting a health care plan and should consider paying an administrator to make those decisions for him.

        • #2819727

          What I was talking about

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]If you don’t take the revenues you have and use them, and you don’t increase your customer base to generate more revenue to spend…how do you pay for something?[/i]

          was who pays for tax increases on the rich. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

          Suppose I own a company. Hell make it simpler. Suppose I own a rental property.

          I have costs for repairs and upkeep and taxes, and I’d like to make a little income (else what’s the point, right). I consider that when I set the amount I charge for rent.

          Now suppose my property taxes go up. I guarantee that the rent is going to go up by the same amount (as soon as the current lease period expires).

          A company is no different. Everything’s a business cost, which gets included in the price of the product or service. If any of those costs increase, you either have to cut something else, or raise prices.

        • #2819723

          I’ll explain, Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]I have my electric, gas, phone, and cable bills automatically come out of my checking account. Doesn’t cost me a cent.

          How is this different?[/i]

          Your employer has a bank

          You have a bank

          When you earn money, your employer puts it directly to your account (or pays you a paper check you deposit where you wish)

          An account like you’re talking about, where gross proceeds are held in escrow, are not individual accounts.

          If they are kept individually as you would like, then you tend to either require hiring more accounting/auditing people to keep track of those accounts, tax liabilities, dividends earned on such monies, etc.

          Or, you end up hiring a money management firm (like is what are done for most group funds of individual accounts, such as group retirement funds).

          Either way, you are going to spend MORE just to have/manage/run/administrate that account, than you would just to pay the people to deposit the check and spend it how they wish.

        • #2819718

          Palmetto

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]but I think an administrator is needed to ensure the money is spent on medical expenses and not blown on cigs and lottery tickets.[/i]

          It needn’t be elaborate. You can have “health checks” (or a health debit card) that takes qualifying purchases from that account. This is simple for today’s retail technology… identical, in fact, to how they figure what items are food-stamp eligible.

        • #2819717

          Palmetto

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          It was the plan…period.

          When I am told “you get reimbursed for any out of pocket medical expenses up to the value of your savings”, I expect when I submit a CVS pharmacy receipt that shows “ACE BAND” which is pretty clear to me that an ACE bandage was bought by me at CVS…that I’ll get my $6 or whatever back.

          The receipts even had item codes on them that would prove what the item was. It was like the plan was requiring me to get a dump of CVS’ database for them to prove what the thing was.

          I can understand not paying for cigarettes and stuff. But, my God. I had legitimate, illness-oriented purchases that they refused and had told me my money would be paid back to me for buying.

          To me, that’s fraud.

        • #2819715

          Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i] What I was talking about was who pays for tax increases on the rich. I don’t know what you’re talking about.[/i]

          The rich can pay for it. It’s called decrease in profit.

          [i]Suppose I own a company. Hell make it simpler. Suppose I own a rental property.[/i]

          Okay.

          [i]I have costs for repairs and upkeep and taxes, and I’d like to make a little income (else what’s the point, right). I consider that when I set the amount I charge for rent.[/i]

          Yep.

          [i]Now suppose my property taxes go up. I guarantee that the rent is going to go up by the same amount (as soon as the current lease period expires).[/i]

          Not necessarily. You can eat the cost if it’s only $80 a year. Or, you can charge another $100 a year and make a 25% profit on that $80 tax bill.

          [i]A company is no different. Everything’s a business cost, which gets included in the price of the product or service. If any of those costs increase, you either have to cut something else, or raise prices.[/i]

          Not everything is a business cost. That’s why companies take a business loss sometimes and write it off their taxes and end up getting back monies.

          You don’t *always* have to roll an associated expense into your turn-around.

          For example:

          I operate a business. Part of my expenditures is insurance for my employees. I get to write off that liability as an operating expense and it decreases tax paid on gross funds.

          Then of course, I file for a capital loss because I depreciated the value of my assets over a 5 year period, and lost the last 20% value of them which decreased my income level to a deficit in net.

          Nonetheless, it’s a misnomer that business always has to increase rate based on expense to make a profit.

          If your profit margin is adequate and you bankroll enough, when you reduce profits later because of small increases…you don’t have to worry about making minor rate alterations all the time.

          Sorry, but the floating profit model of business is just a reason for poor business and finance management, and not a real reason to increase a price based on any cost shift occurring for or within an organization.

          Otherwise, Wal-Mart would increase or decrease the cost of your can of pork and beans weekly.

        • #2819712

          You’ve misunderstood then.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]An account like you’re talking about, where gross proceeds are held in escrow, are not individual accounts. [/i]

          I’m talking about nothing more than a standard checking account in your name but only for health care purposes. You employer pays (the amount he is paying for health insurance) into that account. The health insurer of your choice withdraws premiums from that account. If the insurance you choose costs less, you can use that account to pay for your band-aids from CVS by using a card or check on the account (clearly identified as a health care account) when you pay for health care related purposes.

          If the insurance you choose costs more than what the employer pays, you will have to add more money to that account.

          What’s so difficult about it?

        • #2819710

          The problem with it, Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          For every individual holder, you have to provide statements, end of year totals, constant customer care, etc.

          No bank is going to do that for free.

          Hell, they won’t even let you talk to a teller free more than 2 times a month at Bank of America. They charge you per counter visit now after 2 times. So if you get paid weekly and want someone to deposit it for you, it costs you $3.50 per week after the first 2…to put money in their bank!

          But what you are proposing spends your employees’ money, and according to you that is something that no one should do for them.

          So, why do you advocate it?

        • #2819707

          I don’t know about where you are…

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]Otherwise, Wal-Mart would increase or decrease the cost of your can of pork and beans weekly. [/i]

          but here they nearly do! Some things even more often! Milk, for example, can go up, down and back up in the same week. It’s almost as bad as gas 🙂

        • #2819705

          milk vs pork and beans

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          One lasts 2 weeks. The other lasts 5 years.

          If you had to pay for major work or an overhaul on a rental house every 2 weeks, you’d fluctuate your rates too. :^0

          Stuff like pork and beans, little debbie snack cakes, bottled water, etc., have a pretty stable price.

          It’s high volatility with short lifetimes that are priced in more rapid fashion.

          Hopefully businesses aren’t always restructuring every couple of months.

        • #2819696

          Choice also

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Briefly

          [i]The bills in both houses of Congress do that. It’s called an “exchange” where people can go to compare and contrast plans offered by multiple carriers.[/i]

          means the choice to “not choose”. Believe it or not, some people are perfectly capable of paying for their health care needs out-of-pocket, and should not be penalized by the government for choosing to.

          It’s just crazy. On the one hand, they want to penalize you for not having a plan, and on the other, they want to penalize you for having one that’s “too good”.

        • #2819695

          Its not shelf life re:milk

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Briefly

          Milk is a staple. People buy it often, and often the need for milk alone initiates a trip to a store.

          So stores use it as a loss leader. Milk sometimes gets sold even below cost, as stores are betting that people who come in for milk will buy a few other items, and in the end they will profit.

          But no one wants to lose too much, so they try and stay at or near the lowest price but not by much.

          Thats why milk prices fluctuate.

          James

        • #2819689

          Choice and Milk

          by jck ·

          In reply to Briefly

          Tony:

          [i]means the choice to “not choose”. Believe it or not, some people are perfectly capable of paying for their health care needs out-of-pocket, and should not be penalized by the government for choosing to.

          It’s just crazy. On the one hand, they want to penalize you for not having a plan, and on the other, they want to penalize you for having one that’s “too good”[/i]

          I agree. If you can pay for all of your medical costs out of your own pocket, you should be considered “self insured”. Period.

          But if you take the risk and don’t carry it and can’t pay, I want doctors and hospitals to have the right, without fear of being sued, to be able to refuse treatment. Period.

          JamesRL:

          Milk, like bread and cheese, has more spoilage too.

          That’s why you’ll also see bread going on sale every week at a store because of it’s diminshed shelf-life.

          But, that high turnover and higher than normal spoilage drives prices up and down based on consumer demand.

          That’s why you don’t see a can of pork and beans $1.09 one week and $2.50 the next.

          Plus, pork and beans are just fine food 🙂

        • #2819679

          Spoilage versus competition re Milk

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Briefly

          Mom and Pop convenience stores with local ownership may focus on having sales to reduce stock levels to reduce spoilage, but I can tell you that supermarkets/Walmart/Costco do not. They focus on the market. If you go into a mom and pop, there isn’t much to impulse buy. Walmart/supermarkets try to price to get you to come in.

          The big national chains have target prices for these things, but they allow for regional pricing, and they allow local regions and even stores to adjust prices to match or beat competition.

          One proof of this is when a new Walmart comes into an area. They will try to have the lowest price on milk and bread. But there have been monitors that show if some of the local competition close their doors, the prices on these items creep up.

          Big store buyers adjust their orders and schedules to try and reduce the amount of spoilage.

          James

      • #2819685

        Name one time

        by stvroy22 ·

        In reply to No boldness required.

        Name one instance where the government did anything cheaper than the private sector could. How does adding unnecessary bureaucracy save money?

        A PWC study found that the average family policy rate will increase by $4000 in the next 10 years if the bill is passed as-is.

        Furthermore, the tax rates in countries with socialized health care are astronomically higher than our own despite the fact that their health care systems are inferior. (on the basis that we have a longer life expectancy)

    • #3010184

      How dare you spam my discussion

      by maxwell edison ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      Go crawl into a hole with the other snakes.

      • #3010176

        I’m with you on that one 100%

        by charliespencer ·

        In reply to How dare you spam my discussion

        I suspect we’d have more participants on this discussion if this PTBs would drop the bomb on this idiot and his buddy. The topic is buried in all the ‘updated’ zombies.

        • #3010170

          I think you’re correct about that…

          by darryl~ ·

          In reply to I’m with you on that one 100%

          People just can’t figure out which are the active discussions because of the amount of spam these people are generating.

          For the most part, I’m staying out of this discussion….but I know people in Canada are watching what’s going on down there with great interest. They’ve been “trying” to fix our health care system for years….it seems like it just keeps making things worse.

          We may have free visits to the doctors/hospitals/specialists but we are taxed heavily for that & we have long waits for many procedures (years…not weeks), and when it comes to medications you darn well better have Blue Cross or some other insurance up here….so in addition to the taxes, I’m also forking out a couple hundred dollars a month for my Blue Cross.

          So like I said earlier, many up here are watching with great interest & hoping we can grab a few ideas to sort out our messed up health care system.

      • #3010159

        Actually…

        by jck ·

        In reply to How dare you spam my discussion

        I found it hilarious!!! :^0

        Poor Max…SPAMMED. :^0

        • #3010154

          Actually, everybody is being spammed by this guy

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Actually…

          Look at all of his posts over the past day.

          http://techrepublic.com.com/5268-6257-0.html?id=6265779

        • #3010150

          I’ll cry for them later too

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, everybody is being spammed by this guy

          Tears of laughter.

          I know how to block people from my website…hilarious this isn’t nipped my some web admin deep in the bowels of CBS Interactive.

        • #3010146

          I wonder the same thing

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to I’ll cry for them later too

          [i]…hilarious this isn’t nipped by some web admin deep in the bowels of CBS Interactive.[/i]

          Exactly. Why can’t they stop this guy?

        • #3010141

          No clue

          by jck ·

          In reply to I wonder the same thing

          Each website should have its own log and IP exclusion list.

          It should be a matter of finding the submission for one or all of those spams…then shoving it in the exclusion list.

          Maybe they already have, and the spam bot just posted that fast.

          Oh well.

        • #3010101

          Being handled all wrong

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Actually, everybody is being spammed by this guy

          why does the profile still exist?

          I can see the need to put in anti-spam efforts in place.

          First, the most posts by a valid users (or jck) is only about 300/400 over a week. Clearly, something like a 20 post cap per day on anyone who hasn’t been a member for a few months is not rocket science. There is already a 10 peer limit per day, why not in the discussions?

          Another option, people that have not been members for at least a week should have to do the visual confirmation of a pic of text for every post.

    • #3010167

      What’s right/wrong with it?

      by jck ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      What’s right? Providing affordable healthcare insurance. If you’ve ever had to pay over $10k a year just for a health insurance policy out of your wages, you would know why this is the right thing to do.

      What’s right also? Maybe a government-run healthplan that’s priced fairly will make insurance companies either operate at a fair rate, or run the ones out of business who can’t compete with an insurance group outside of the ones whose executives they can schmooze with at the country club on Saturday to collaborate on rates and profitability.

      What’s wrong? There are already regulations that, if enforced, would cut the cost. This is just double spending. The federal government needs to get off their arse and do their job, rather than pandering to each special interest that comes along.

      Moral to this story: Never trust politicians to fix things.

      Send a housewife or a farmer to represent you next time, who actually has to do something in life all day long to make things work.

      Not some overly educated ninny who thinks his high-cost diploma makes his feces not stink.

      Nuff said.

      • #3010127

        “Send a housewife or a farmer to represent you”

        by notsochiguy ·

        In reply to What’s right/wrong with it?

        Of the people, by the people, for the people??

        What a quaint and novel concept!

      • #3010123

        Government competition

        by oz_media ·

        In reply to What’s right/wrong with it?

        I think many people see this, as healined often, as a way for the government to compete with private, free enterprise.

        I don’t see that at all.

        In countries with socialist, government run programs, such programs are monopolized and VERY expensive as a result. Offering government ALTERNATIVES to private business doesn’t compete with them, it offers what they refuse to offer themselves.

        If all policy providers were offering affordable health care and the government competed to drop prices, that’s a different story.

        What I see is a government filling a long needed hole that insurers were more than aware of in the past and have failed to provide a solution to, as they are focused on a much more proftable market segment.

        • #3010059

          Is there a private option in Canada or the UK

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Government competition

          I thought I had heard in Canada you could not pay to go to a private health care provider?

        • #3010052

          There are some pushing the envelope

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Is there a private option in Canada or the UK

          First of all, the hospitals, walkin in clinics, doctors ARE private health care providers. Where there is a law, it says that you cannot charge someone for a service that is mandated as medically necessary by the province. Prinvate organizations, who bill the government for their services.

          For example lets use cirucumcision. Most North Americans take this for granted that newborn boys get circumcised, whether they be Christian or Jewish (though its less common than its used to be). It used to be on the list of “covered” procedures, so no one could charge. Now its not, so if a doctor does do this, they can hand the patient (or their parents) a bill.

          The ones pushing the envelope, in Vancouver and Montreal, are “wellness” clinics who are looking to do more proactive diagnosis. They want to sit with you and do a whole battery of tests before they recommend lifestyle, diet changes etc. They would order up MRI, Cat scans etc., but not to diagnose an ailment but to get an overall picture of health. And they charge big $$. The courts have not yet ruled about whether it violates the principles of the Canada Health Act.

        • #3010032

          Pre-screenings

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to There are some pushing the envelope

          have heard of them starting here as well.

          I wouldn’t trust them.

        • #3010031

          It would be one thing

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Pre-screenings

          If they were screening on something from your family history – genetic predispositions. But they seem to be on a fishing expedition.

          The one I heard about in Vancouver charged a big upfront $$ and they expected to have periodic appointments for checkups forever. It was kind like joining a gym.

          James

        • #3010026

          Wellness clinics

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to There are some pushing the envelope

          It’s abotu time the government caught on to such fraud, and teh consumers who believe in such S too. It’s like Feng Shui, you can pay THOUSANDS for a Feng Shui ‘master’ to come and rearrange your furniture. Another who claims to be equally qualified, will then turn up and exlpain how everything is wrong and should be the reverse.

          Bottom line it’s a fabricated trade, like hollistic medicine at al. It’s not really a trade its no different than religion, it just maks people mentally secure in their own minds without any science or fact to support it.

        • #3010051

          You can

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Is there a private option in Canada or the UK

          But nobody does.

          My brother did a while back. He had a spinal injury that they said could be cured by a US doctor now owning a private practice in Vancouver. He was told it was a proven procedure that had been used by the same doctor (as well as may others) with great results in the US for a numer of years, yet unapproved in Canada. He researched it and all American medical teams seemed to think it was a great operation to undergo. My brother’s one rich mofo so he forked out the dough and was VERY impressed with the no wait line, the in and out service, the fancy office and gorgeous nurses.

          He still suffers from the exact same acute pain, is now seeing a normal specialist and undergoing therapy which is helping a lot more. The spinal surgery he got in such quick time, at a premium price was absoluetly pointless and completely useless.

          In fact it lengthened his pain as he had to recover form that before he could seek a more viable treatment.

          So yes there are options, for those who actually want to pay more for it.

        • #3009980

          There are several in the UK

          by tony hopkinson ·

          In reply to Is there a private option in Canada or the UK

          It’s also not that expensive for basics, as the NHS being free at the point of demand cuts the amount of potential profiteering.

          Some would consider that a cloud round the silver lining. 😀

          However you do or even don’t fund health care, the cost, which is f’ing huge will pop out somewhere.

          Saying you don’t want to pay for others care is fine as far as it goes. But that just shifts the cost, employment, welfare, crime, defence, policing, insurance, cost of being civilised.

          The thing about government funded healthcare is, like welfare it’s another vote buyer, and you can bet your arse politicians of all persuasions will start cashing in on it at the first opportunity.

      • #3010110

        That is funny

        by jdclyde ·

        In reply to What’s right/wrong with it?

        [i]”Send a housewife or a farmer to represent you next time, “[/i]

        This, the one that has nothing but hate for Palin (someone he has never met, based only on what reporters have said about her) and her lack of qualifications, while has had nothing but praise for the current sitting president thanks to his education level.

        Consistency, you know it not.

        • #3010065

          We think alike, jd

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to That is funny

        • #3010041

          Logic takes you to logical conclusions

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to We think alike, jd

          It is like in a programming class, other than the names of the variables, if you follow a consistent form of logic, you will repeatedly come to a similar outcome.

          It is when you are illogical or just lying that there is the deviation we see among many, especially where politics are concerned.

          Emotional justifications always fall flat.

        • #3010028

          Your consistent form of logic

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Logic takes you to logical conclusions

          Okay, now that I stopped laughing…consistent form of logic.

          The only consistency you show here is to take ANYTHING the media claims about Obama and run with it as if it is gospel.

          Logic? yeah right, logic. 😀

        • #3010019

          Yeah, right.

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Your consistent form of logic

          Logic.

        • #3010008

          Talk about hypocrisy

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Yeah, right.

          JDClyde and logic in the same post, I could barely type it myself without laughing.

          You are one of the most biased and easily lead people I’ve read on TR, you just seek out that which complies with your predetermined mindset and then parrot it as if it was truth.

        • #2820225

          jdclyde logic

          by jck ·

          In reply to Logic takes you to logical conclusions

          10 palin = vice-president candidate
          20 congress = lawyers writing stupid laws
          30 vote for house wives to congress = white house control
          40 end

          No wonder you’re into fixing PCs. Wizards don’t let you make critical choices.

        • #2819697

          I don’t fix pc’s

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to jdclyde logic

          network/system admin. B-)

          It is what [b]I do[/b] that ALLOWS what [b]YOU do[/b] to work! 😀

          [i]yes, joking aside, I recognize both professions are ineffective without the other, and neither is more important. A perfect network is nothing without something to run on it, and great software is useless if the user can not reliably access it.

        • #2819687

          You allow ME?

          by jck ·

          In reply to I don’t fix pc’s

          *cough cough bull$hit*

          I help do the Cisco routers where I work, administrate the DBs on SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL, etc etc etc.

          I wear your hat [b]AND[/b] mine at my job.

          My main function is programming software for end-users, but I still have to help do everyone else’s job. We are a shop of 11 people supporting all the IT needs of almost 1,000 end users on 5 campuses.

          Plus i do all my own network, database, systems, programming and HTPC systems work at home too.

          I don’t need your services. I can configure Start->Control Panel->Network just as easily as I can use ipconfig, iwconfig, etc. 😉

          So, I’m self sufficient in every aspect. I just don’t have MCSE, MCSD, CCIE, CCNA, or CNA behind my name. :p

          Thanks tho. Nice of you to offer. :^0

        • #2821192

          Silly me

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to I don’t fix pc’s

          I wasn’t aware that you also ran the routers, switches, and firewall for where you work. That is normally done by people that specialize unless it is a very small business, like back in days of old when the Accountant was IT by default.

          So, are you really Network Administrator as well as Programmer? Sweet.

        • #2821188

          Run?

          by jck ·

          In reply to I don’t fix pc’s

          No, I don’t “run” them.

          I help troubleshoot them, including the scripting languages and configurations for them.

          Just like I optimize databases, yet I’m not a DBA.

          I wear a lot of hats.

          I also do my own home improvements. I guess I’m Bob Vila too now.

        • #3010030

          And neither do you, JD

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to That is funny

          “Consistency, you know it not.”

          Talk about hypocrisy. You jump on anythign that is printed abotu Obama withotu hesitation, whether correct, a ridiculous spin etc. ANYTHING th media says you will jump all over and start a thread dedicated to teh crap they sling. However, when it is anyone but Obama or someone else you opt to dislike for the sake of it, you quickly dismiss anything the media says against him/her and throw it out as media BS.

          I also agree with Max in that you two are very alike, in that specific manner anyway.

        • #3010021

          Blah blah blah

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to And neither do you, JD

          I do not take one stance one day, and then another as time passes on. That is what consistency is.

          I have been consistent with my objections to what Obama stands for, so? Disagreeing doesn’t make me inconsistent.

          And I would never consider being compared to Max an insult.

        • #3010006

          No it isn’t

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Blah blah blah

          You seem to be confusing stubborn blindness with consistecy and again, Max does the same, sorry Max, I know it wasn’t your comment.

          The ability to evolve, learn and change opinion as new information is found is what it takes to offer reasoned, rational thinking.

          That is the core foundation of science, good scientists seek to be proven wrong, such proof illustrates fact as a result of theory.

          Someone who is bent on simply sticking to their own biased beliefs, regardless of changing facts and sceintific proof, is a religious minister.

          An inability to see beyond a predetrmined conclusion, regardless of contrary evidence and an ever changing landscape results in blind stubborness.

          You have been consistent with your “feelings” towards Obama, unfortunately the stories you are being consistent with are NOT consistent except in their vengeance against Obama. It makes you a blind naysayer who wouldn’t accept anything Obama did as being correct, whether it is or isn’t, you simply will not allow youself to open your mind up and accept that he is actually a great benefit to your nation, because you didn’t vote for him. That unwavering dedication to dislike is not consistency beyond being consistently without justification.

          In fact you are so blindly stubborn that you can’t even recognize how stupid and ignorant such a narrow, biased view really is.

          Even I gave Bush credit where credit was due. I even supported McCain through some of his campaign speeches against Obama because he made more sense on certain subjects, THAT is being aware and paying attention to what is actually said without bias. It is easier for me to see your government without bias as it isn’t MY government, my only vested interest is that they don’t cause more problems for us than they already have; whether that means a republican or democrat in office makes NO difference to me at all.

          You, on the other hand, are hell bent against ANYTHING Obama says, without questioning validity, application etc. It is simply Obama so it’s wrong and must be opposed, and YOU see that as being consistent. Consistently biased perhaps but not consisntent in that you weigh issues carefully and seek out the best solution.

          th reverse is just as lind, supporting a president through al actions whether right or wrong, and withotu question. Why do Americans do that? “I voted for him so I have to support everything he does.” or “I didn’t vote for him so NOTHING he does is correct.”

          I would never think that being compared to Max is an insult, I was actually apologizing to Max for bringing his comments up in a post to you, I really don’t like to use third party references to support my comments.

          You simply don’t understand the terminology or application behind half of what you speak of.

          To recognize blind conformity as being ‘consistency’, in a good way, is simply a result of blindness, a poor education and a complete misunderstanding of morals and justification.

        • #3010002

          Lots of talking without saying anything

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to No it isn’t

          I reject the notion of adding one more government program after another, and the only “solution” offered is to go after “the rich”.

          I don’t buy into the class warfare, nor all the race-baiting of anyone who would disagree with Obama or his policies.

          Not agreeing with the likes of you is not a basis of being correct or logical, and while there are many adjectives people would use to describe you, “rational” is not one of them.

          You are also not anyone I would ever take morals lessons from.

        • #2820122

          Race baiting?

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Lots of talking without saying anything

          Obama is actually teh one person who DOESN’T bring his race into everything he does, the media doea that.

          Your third paragraph uses a double negative and thus doesn’t meant what you intended it to mean.

          As for robing from the rich and giving to the poor, well if that’s what you truly believe as you fail to consider each actiion as an individual action instead of lumping everything into a ‘left is wrong’ mindset, Robin Hood was the people’s hero.

          Morals lessons, as you clearly have no idea what the term morals means, you couldn’t take such lessons from anyone anyway.

          Seriously, your overt and unapologetic bias towards anything democratic, simply makes all of your views on such issues laughable and pointless. I don’t even know why you bother other than to troll the forum.

        • #2820099

          No, he doesn’t.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Lots of talking without saying anything

          But his supporters sure do!

        • #2820075

          I see Tony

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Lots of talking without saying anything

          So because some people who rely on the media for their own publicity use racial assertions, then Obama is a flawed president.

          That makes sense, I suppose, if you’re not very clever.

        • #2820046

          Not “some people”…

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Lots of talking without saying anything

          People who are working with and for the President pushing their putrid agenda.

        • #2820044

          Okay, you’ve intrigued me

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Lots of talking without saying anything

          So what such people (working with or for the President) are using racism to further their putrid agenda.

          Can you give me some examples of such racism used to further putrid agendas.

        • #2819976
        • #2819751

          That’s your support for accusations of race baiting?????

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Lots of talking without saying anything

          You are kidding right?

          “I don’t buy into the class warfare, [b]nor all the race-baiting of [i]anyone[/i][/b] who would disagree with Obama or his policies.”
          -JDClyde

          To my comment that Obama does not race bait, you then said:
          “No, he doesn’t.
          But his supporters sure do!” – TonytheTiger

          Yuo then reiterated:

          “Not “some people”…
          People [b]who are working with and for the President[/b]pushing their putrid agenda.” TonytheTiger

          In what way does Jimmy Carter, commenter in your first link, work with or for Obama?

          “WASHINGTON (Reuters) – [b]President Barack Obama’s spokesman publicly disagreed with former President Jimmy Carter[/b] on Wednesday over Carter’s contention that some conservative opposition to Obama is based on race.

          “The president does not think it is based on the color of his skin,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.”

          You have NO point there at all, Obama’s staff publicly denied Carter’s ‘theory’, who neither works for or with Obama.

          From yoru second link of hopeless “proof”:
          ACORN neither works for or with the president, it’s a collection of small community groups. That’s like saying just because a group of peers on TR says something about racism that they represent “People [b]who are working with and for the President[/b]”

          From your Washington Post BS:
          “Jan Erickson, NOW Government Relations Director”…

          NOW is the National Organization for Women. I suppose in your mind they too represent “People [b]who are working with and for the President[/b]”

          She noted racism because she “saw (protesters displaying) images of President Obama juxtaposed with the Nazi swastika and charges of socialism and a government “take-over” of health care.”

          Since when was displaying images of a swastika NOT racist?

          She was pointing out how protesters, those who support the republican agenda and oppose Obama, are displaying racial images. How is that wrongly portaying racism to further their own putrid agenda?
          Based purely on your own criteria, it is then fair to say that those {b]who are working with and for the Republican party[/b] are displaying racial images.

          You are WAAAAY of base Tony, you DON’T have a point that you can support.

          Actually it was JD’s false claim that you tried to defend, with garbage unrelated to the comment itself and one even proved that such accusations were indeed accurate against Obama protesters.

        • #3010001

          I’m truly surprised at you, Oz

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to No it isn’t

          You seem to be confusing a principled based position with, as you called it, [i]stubborn blindness[/i].

          Actually, my eyes are wide open, and I don’t like the direction the country is going.

          I don’t presume to dictate to others how they live their lives, but others on the left can’t make the same claim. That’s what they do; that’s who they are; and those are the kinds of policies they support.

          For as long as we’ve engaged in various discussions, to see that you still misrepresent me is rather surprising. I often wonder why you do it. I suppose if I had to guess, you probably get more out of challenging me than trying to understand me. (Talk about [i]stubborn blindness[/i].)

        • #2820118

          I have debated it with you before

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to I’m truly surprised at you, Oz

          And I have been very clear as to why I see what you feel are core values and principles as being stuorn blindness.

          You actually believe that one set of principles covers all issues regardless of their complexity, instead of understanding and considering each element as an individual motion for serious consideration.

          A core set of values, such as the ten commandments is not a bad thing to live by as a simple basis of consideration at all. But when you apply the ten commandments to every factor of life and sternly at that, you fail to recognize the intricacies that require individual consideration.

          I think there are many things that you do actually consider on an individual basis and don’t apply a one size fits all set of rules to, however when it comes ot stomping your feet on a single political position, you feel that all arguments are one size fits all. Not recognizing that most of thse issues require independant consideration and can’t be lumped into the democrats always take and repulicans always give mentality.

          Poltics meets in middle ground more often that you seem to realize and THAT’S where your blanket set of rules fails to offer righful consideration.

          Perhaps in your case it’s not quite as bad as with JD, as he clearly doesn’t offer ANY consideration to what Oama does, he just downplays ANYTHING he says as left wing Obama BS. In turn it makes one apper to be shallow, small minded and plainly ignorant due to lack of consideration.

        • #2819980

          Oops.Wrong spot.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to No it isn’t

          .

        • #2820230

          I wasn’t talking about being the president or vice president

          by jck ·

          In reply to That is funny

          I was talking about Congress, not the White House you ninny.

          And if you knew much about Congress and how it came about, you’d understand that the people who originally went there were representative of the people of the times: tobacco farmers, plantationers, businessmen, etc.

          Evidently, your form of consistency is formed of making correlations between congressional representation and White House administration as the same thing.

          That’s real logic.

          I don’t need it. So, take your form of consistency and shove it up Univ. of Michigan’s and Detroit’s rear…maybe it’ll help Fraudriguez and your auto industry out.

      • #3010067

        Send a housewife or a farmer to represent you . . . .

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to What’s right/wrong with it?

        [i]Not some overly educated ninny who thinks his high-cost diploma makes his feces not stink.[/i]

        Of course, if it’s a conservative Republican [i]housewife[/i], that person will be deemed unqualified for the job because she’s not an [i]overly educated ninny (with) a high-cost diploma.[/i]

        Kinda’ like you were saying a year ago about Sarah Palin.

        • #3010062

          It was surprising

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Send a housewife or a farmer to represent you . . . .

          just how personally hateful people got towards her. It is one thing to disagree with someones politics or even dislike them based upon the way they are presented in the media, but to just be foaming in the mouth hateful like that?

          I have disagreed with just about everything Obama has said or done, but I don’t recall attacking him based on his personality or lack of one? He is arrogant, true, that that isn’t what I disagree with, nor WHY I disagree.

        • #3010005

          Arrogant?

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to It was surprising

          I think after the bumbling insecure fool you had ruin your global reputation for 8 years while sinking you into a deficit you are not likely to see the end of in your lifetime, ANYONE would seem arrogant.

          The fact that Bush WAS arrogant was completely lost on you as yuo velievd all he said. He was the lord to never be questioned or you shall be deemed anti-Ameican and they’ll take your flag away so you can’t wave it aimlessly in the shower on Tuesday mornings.

          Taht cocky Texan Prick was teh epitomy of arrogant Americans. “we are right in every way, you are either with us or against us.

          There is no room for individual thought, I am correct and you shall all follow blindly or I shall spite thee.!”

          So you then elect someone who actually HAS a thought process, and a few brain cells to support it and you call HIM arrogant for actually focusing on bettering your own nation, instead of trying to fix what he displays as someone else’s problems that he needs to resolve for the benefit of his own friends and family.

        • #3009996

          Yes

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Arrogant?

          and I did disagree with Bush on many issues. He was NOT a fiscal conservative.

          As for the stance on countries that openly and knowingly harbor terrorist training camps and their leaders, he was right.

          Of course, most of your attacks, be it against Bush, someone else in global politics, or even someone on this board, usually just turn into personal attacks instead of discussing the ideas presented.

          Have fun with that. moving on….

        • #2820215

          Really, jd?

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yes

          [i]As for the stance on countries that openly and knowingly harbor terrorist training camps and their leaders, he was right. [/i]

          Most Arab country’s leaders know that there are Islamic terrorist training camps within the remote areas of their borders. Most of them turn a blind eye to it, because of religious purpose.

          Yet, Bush was all huggy-hug with the crown princes of Saudi Arabia who are *known* to have contributed funds to Al-Qaeda fronts and still do to this day.

          So, your boy Bush was full of crap. Just admit it. It was more important to him to cover up his hypocrisy than to do what he said he was.

        • #2820114

          LOL

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Yes

          Your personal attacks on Obama are so bold and mindless you are hardly one to talk. YOu will take any tiwsted tale and repeat it as if it is real news, without even lookign for validity. If it smears Obama you’ll jump right on it without any further consideration.

          This is where you again show your utter hypocrisy, it’s like you are completely deaf dumb and blind to what you say yourself but accuse others of.

        • #3009960

          Sarah Palin’s politics were only part of the issue for me

          by nicknielsen ·

          In reply to It was surprising

          I didn’t think she was any more qualified to hold the office of Vice-President than the then-current incumbent and definitely didn’t feel that she would be ready to be President should something happen to John McCain.

          As for the way she was presented, both by the media AND the Republican party, the impression I got was that she was a female GWB; that didn’t improve my opinion. Don’t doubt it played well to the party faithful, though.

        • #2820224

          She was there

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Sarah Palin’s politics were only part of the issue for me

          to make up for McCain being such a weak candidate (who I did not vote for).

        • #2820211

          bwahahaahah

          by jck ·

          In reply to She was there

          Make up for McCain being weak?

          Let’s see…

          A man who served his country, sacrificed body and mind, and has been an elected official, statesman, and diplomatic person for over 20 years…

          is going to be reinforced by…

          a 1 term council member, 1 term mayor, not even 1 term as of running time governor, whose experience was confined to one state, and who couldn’t remember the name of one magazine or newspaper she’d read.

          Yeah. I’d say…a fine fine example of a backup. No wonder the republicans lost.

        • #2820199

          Weak candidate

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          does not mean weak person.

          There are very few issues that I agree with the man on, and I know I am not alone.

          Now, if Mitt had gotten the nomination instead, he would have given Obama a real run.

          If nothing else during the last election, it was a joy to see the media finally turn on the Clintons…… Hillary finally knows what it is like to be a Republican running for office. 😀

        • #2820191

          whoa…hang on…

          by jck ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          [i]Weak candidate does not mean weak person.[/i]

          Since when does over 2 decades of elected representation make him weak?

          [i]There are very few issues that I agree with the man on, and I know I am not alone.[/i]

          And, you’re not the only opinion. Because he doesn’t suit your every need, it doesn’t automatically make him “wrong” or “weak”.

          [i]Now, if Mitt had gotten the nomination instead, he would have given Obama a real run.[/i]

          Actually, Mitt would have lost too. Polls showed that.

          The person who had the best chance against Obama was indeed Rudolph Giuliani. He had the personality, the smarts, the sensible demeanor, didn’t come off like a car salesman, and had a proven track record as a state attorney and as the mayor of a city with a bigger GDP than some states.

          [i]If nothing else during the last election, it was a joy to see the media finally turn on the Clintons…… Hillary finally knows what it is like to be a Republican running for office.[/i]

          Why was it a joy? You like to see people suffer or be brought to tears? Holding a grudge against her because of her filandering husband?

          The one issue I had with Hillary is that she tried to be too powerful and strong. She should have let her feminine side out more. People liked seeing an intelligent, articulate, strong woman who could also be feminine.

          Of course, they did the same thing wrong with Palin making her into a GOP pitbull. Really bad idea though, especially since she came in politically handicapped and nowhere near as bright as someone like Hillary.

        • #2820158

          A weak candidate

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          is someone that does NOT strongly represent the people of the party. Something a blind, lockstep Democrat like you will never understand.

          Who would know more about fixing an economy, a community organizer or a very successful business man?

          Why was Mitt’s religion fair game, but Obama’s wasn’t? Because they couldn’t find any real dirt on him.

          Why was Palin’s family fair game, but Obamas are not? (all kids should be off limits, but that will never happen for democrats that will do or say anything to achieve their goals “at any cost”).

        • #2820156

          As for Hilary

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          she made herself an unlikeable b1tch back in the days of “WE ARE THE PRESIDENT!”

          It still amazes me that ever womens rights/advocates group out there didn’t turn on Bill over the abuse cases. Again, at any cost. So what if he committed sexual harassment, it was all in good fun, right?

        • #2820136

          reply #1

          by jck ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          [i]A weak candidate is someone that does NOT strongly represent the people of the party. Something a blind, lockstep Democrat like you will never understand.[/i]

          1) I’ve never been a Democrat. If you need proof, I’ll provide you with a copy of both my Florida and Oklahoma voter registration cards.

          2) Your description of a strong candidate implies they are a “blind, lockstep” person who follows “strongly” to the party line.

          You will call me wrong and weak for having my own views (that you profess to be “blind, lockstep”, when in fact i have my own views…and don’t march to any party), yet you will praise someone in politics as “strong” when they are “blind” and “lockstep” to the party and the whims of others.

          That’s called hypocrisy, jd. You say I’m party and weak for it, yet you qualify someone else as strong…simply because they are of your beliefs of YOUR party.

          Thanks for proving the level of yours.

          So set your standard for what makes someone weak or strong, and don’t waffle like ole Dubya.

          [i] Who would know more about fixing an economy, a community organizer or a very successful business man?[/i]

          First of all, it depends on what’s wrong with the economy.

          From what I can see, it’s coming back pretty well. Unemployment in most of the country has stabilized or improved. So has the housing market.

          I guess that community organizer has done something right with his liberal buddies, huh?

          As for very successful…what? Who? Let’s examine all this Republican success you’re implying:

          McCain hasn’t been in business. His 2nd wife’s family was successful in Anheuser-Busch distribution even before they were married.

          Palin’s husband’s family’s fishing business wasn’t a success. It made profits. But, they never lived well.

          Bush bankrupted a baseball team and 2 oil companies.

          Cheney operated Halliburton into debt.

          Romney did well, but he was a hatchet man. The one positive I can say about Romney as a businessman was that he practiced what he preached. He went to cutting people and pay at the SLOC, and he took his pay and donated it. At least he’s not a hypcrite.

          Oh, and Romney wasn’t a self-made millionaire. He came from wealth.

          However if a good businessman would have made a good leader, Ross Perot should have been president…and Sam Walton.

          [i] Why was Mitt’s religion fair game, but Obama’s wasn’t? Because they couldn’t find any real dirt on him.[/i]

          Did I ever say Obama’s wasn’t? Moot point.

          They never got dirt on Obama about his religion. He has been a Christian of his own choosing since he has been an adult. As a child, he could not help the schools he was forced to attend.

          The reason that Romney was in the spotlight is because of the curiousity that Christians have in regards to the Mormon religion, e.g.- what is often referred to as “magic underwear”, etc etc.

          [i] Why was Palin’s family fair game, but Obamas are not? (all kids should be off limits, but that will never happen for democrats that will do or say anything to achieve their goals “at any cost”).[/i]

          Sarah Palin voluntarily went trapsing her children on stage with her at events other than the national convention, which is the standard.

          Not to mention when you are a social conservative who preaches family values and no sex before marriage and religious values, then your 17 year old daughter comes up pregnant…well…you don’t seem to have passed on your “values” too damn well to your kids, now did you?

          She set herself up for failure.

          Obama kept his children out of the political arena. He did one interview with them involved. That’s it.

        • #2820132

          The only people who hated Romney’s religion were

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          …Republicans. Bible-thumping, holy-rolling, TV-preacher-watching, abortion-fighting evangelical Christians, 99% of whom seem to be Republicans. They couldn’t trust a Mormon because Mormonism was a “sect”. Democrats and main stream media didn’t do a hatchet job on old Mitch. It was the primary voters he was trying to appeal to, the grass-eating lunatics who’ve taken over the Republican party, who sabotaged him.

          Incidentally, to poke another hole in your sense of victimhood, yeah, Obama’s religion was fair game. You remember how many weeks that crackpot preacher of his from Chicago, his “spiritual mentor” Jeremiah Wright, dominated the news? Two dozen times more prime news time was exhausted on that guy than on Romney’s Mormonism.

        • #2820131

          reply #2

          by jck ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          [i] As for Hilary
          she made herself an unlikeable b1tch back in the days of “WE ARE THE PRESIDENT!”

          It still amazes me that ever womens rights/advocates group out there didn’t turn on Bill over the abuse cases. Again, at any cost. So what if he committed sexual harassment, it was all in good fun, right?[/i]

          You know what’s really funny?

          You’ll come down on Hillary so hard for being somewhat militant.

          But, you have never gone off about Bush having been a convicted drunk driver.

          I’ve said over and over and over Bill’s infidelity is wrong, and that Hillary should have been able to cut off his penis for it.

          Why not man-up and be a good example and tell the world what you think of Bush and his drunk driving conviction, and how it was wrong of the court to let him off so lightly?

          Come on. Step up. Admit your hero was a drunk who endangered the lives of others by getting behind the wheel of a car drunk.

        • #2820127

          Delbert: you’re right on the money

          by jck ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          The bible-thumping Christians fear that which they don’t control.

          And what is their party of choice?

          Republican.

          Nice point made there. 🙂

        • #2820092

          The people that brought the religion to the tv everynight

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          were the same people that are typically anti-religion to begin with.

          Wright? It wasn’t because of HIS religion people had a problem with him, it was because he was/is a hateful racist punk. And then to have Obama like that he had no idea? 20 years and he had no idea the man he thought of as an uncle was a hateful racist punk? Got some swamp land in florida to sell you.

          So, everyone who has ever gotten a DUI is worse than a sex offender? No, I do not believe that, but that is just my standards. Sad that you think so.

          Bill is a fun party guy, so it shouldn’t matter? After all, he paid millions to settle out of court, AND lost his law license, but he is a swell guy…… And why did he do it? “because I could”.

        • #2820088

          TV people like Fox News, right?

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          Don’t know where you get the idea that television is a religion-hating institution. But, the biggest network of them all, Fox, is certainly willing to suck up to any important Republican or conservative constituency, and Fox was the biggest voice trying to link scary socialist Obama to the America-hating scary black wackadoodle preacher in Chicago.

          Fox hates religion? Really?

        • #2820073

          wah wah wah

          by jck ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          [i] The people that brought the religion to the tv everynight
          were the same people that are typically anti-religion to begin with.[/i]

          Wrong. Billy Graham, a staunch, long-time Republican supporter, was one of the first, and the most prolific people to bring television evangelism to America with his “television crusades”. He was far from anti-religion.

          [i]Wright? It wasn’t because of HIS religion people had a problem with him, it was because he was/is a hateful racist punk. And then to have Obama like that he had no idea? 20 years and he had no idea the man he thought of as an uncle was a hateful racist punk? Got some swamp land in florida to sell you.[/i]

          And Jimmy Swaggart, a big conservative supporter, was caught in a hotel with a hooker.

          Louis Farrakhan is considered ultra-conservative.

          Proof that stupidity knows no political affiliation.

          [i]So, everyone who has ever gotten a DUI is worse than a sex offender?[/i]

          Are you accusing or implying that Bill Clinton committed an act of rape or molestation, jdclyde?

          [i]No, I do not believe that, but that is just my standards. Sad that you think so.[/i]

          Your standards are to excuse your heroes and buddies from recrimination.

          First of all, learn what a sexual offender is.

          If Bill Clinton had raped Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, or Monica Lewinsky, I would have been for him going to prison and getting ass raped.

          Don’t even imply I condone rape or molestation…ever.

          Just because you excuse Bush from his drunk driving and won’t publicly chastise him for a criminal offense that endangers people doesn’t make Bill Clinton’s extramarital affairs that of a “sexual offender”.

          [i]Bill is a fun party guy, so it shouldn’t matter? After all, he paid millions to settle out of court, AND lost his law license, but he is a swell guy…… And why did he do it? “because I could”.[/i]

          Again, you’re being an idiot.

          Bill Clinton paid what?

          $850,000 to Paula Jones, even after she had been ruled against.

          Gennifer Flowers got nothing from Clinton. She had a consentual affair with him.

          Monica Lewinsky got nothing. She had a consentual affair with him.

          So far, not even $1M. So, your number’s a bit skewed there, Einstein.

          So, you go on excusing the fact Bush is a convicted drunk driver…

          And, I’ll go on excusing Obama because he’s literate in the English language.

        • #2819968

          jck

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          “…literate in the English language…”, in which, the “L” of language needs be capitalized, is your forte? The one by which you applaud Obama? Pity Obama.

        • #2819874

          Actually, santee

          by jck ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          By rules of composition of the English language:

          Nouns, as well as adjectives describing nouns, are only to be capitalized in the case they are proper or of a full official title (in most cases).

          “English”, in the context of my post, is the denotation of specific formal name of a derivation of a language subset.

          “language” would not need to be capitalized, since it in itself is a generic term for a linguistic form of communication between 2 or more parties.

          You are assuming that the phrase “English language” is equivalent to that of an official name such as “The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building” or “The United States Supreme Court” as a full and proper name.

          However, “English language” as used in my post is within the parameters of discussing the specification of a particular type of designation, such as:

          While in Asia, I fed the Indian boy.

          You would not put “Indian Boy”. “boy”, in this case as with my use of “language”, is considered a common noun and should be lower cased.

          Nice try, though.

        • #2819631

          You did a somersault

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          And landed running.

          Pretty good.

        • #2821241

          No somersaults here

          by jck ·

          In reply to bwahahaahah

          I just remember my English classes.

          I can’t do any gymnastics anymore. Effects of a neck injury.

        • #2819969

          McCain was not a weak candidate

          by nicknielsen ·

          In reply to She was there

          McCain’s [u]media image[/u] was a weak candidate.

          But since it was to the benefit of both Democrats and the Republican core, nobody said anything.

        • #2819698

          Everyone has their own ideas of what is important

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          And I could not, would not support him, regardless of the letter behind his name. Something jck can’t recognize as NOT blindly following a political party.

          I believe he would have been a disaster, had he been elected, if a slightly different but similar disaster than where I see Obama taking us.

        • #2819686

          You’re amazing, jd

          by jck ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          [i] Everyone has their own ideas of what is important
          And I could not, would not support him, regardless of the letter behind his name. Something jck can’t recognize as NOT blindly following a political party.

          I believe he would have been a disaster, had he been elected, if a slightly different but similar disaster than where I see Obama taking us.[/i]

          Do you remember what I even said about voting?

          Did I say I’d vote for Obama in EVERY case?

          See, this is where you’re just talking out of your arse.

          I preferred Huckabee to Sarah Palin as a candidate for VP. He represented a moderate, conservative view with sensible ideals on how to implement change without shoving it down everyone’s throat.

          I even told you I would have voted for a McCain/Huckabee ticket because I felt it was a more balanced, more experienced ticket.

          I would have voted for Rudy Giuliani before any of them. The guy knows how to manage a big budget, lots of diverse people, etc. He knows how to get things done.

          Anyways, you’re either just trying to yank my chain or don’t remember the conversation we had about a year ago of the candidates we preferred.

          I have never EVER been party line…EVER. Democrat or Republican. PERIOD.

          I think for myself. Unlike you.

        • #2821302

          Bottom line

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          you voted Democrat again, I voted independent. Tell me all about it, and following party lines.

          NO ONE that was going to vote for McCain would change their vote for Obama because of ANY VP pic. Just a lie. total lie.

          You loathed her, because you are just that way.

          There was never a single thing about Obama, past or present, that would make me vote for the man. there is very little about McCain that would get me to vote for him, and I refused to vote “lesser of two evils”.

          I was hoping to get more votes for Barr to ate least get the Republicans attention that they can no longer take votes for granted and throw anyone in front of us and expect our votes.

          I will not vote for McCain.

        • #2821247

          Ummm..JD?

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          My current boss defines himself as a fiscal conservative. He always votes Republican. He said he WOULD have voted for McCain, but with Palin as his running mate he had to vote for Obama because the risk of having Sarah Palin in office was too scary for him to contemplate.

          I’m sure he’s not the only one. To difinitively state that NO ONE would ever change their vote based on a VP pic is ludicrous. How could you know that?

        • #2821223

          More of jd talking out of his rear-end orifice

          by jck ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          [i] Bottom line
          you voted Democrat again, I voted independent. Tell me all about it, and following party lines.[/i]

          Again? Hm. Who did I vote for in past general elections that wasn’t Democrat?

          1988 Bush Sr. (not Dukakis, the Democrat)
          1992 H. Ross Perot (Not Clinton, the Democrat)
          2000 Harry Browne (the libertarian)

          Wow, I vote REAL party line there.

          You’re wrong again, jd. Admit it.

          [i]NO ONE that was going to vote for McCain would change their vote for Obama because of ANY VP pic. Just a lie. total lie.[/i]

          So I’m a liar now because I don’t make choices like you? That’s rich, oh all-knowing one.

          As I said, I feared that if something happened to McCain, I wanted someone I believe could take over and manage the country. I didn’t think she could. I think Huckabee could.

          [i]You loathed her, because you are just that way.[/i]

          I loathed her? I thought she was hot. I just thought she was incapable of national leadership, and that she was a poor example of someone who supposedly espoused living and raising her children to have “family values”.

          I never loathed her. I loathe child molesters. I don’t loathe hot women who I think are not capable or qualified to be 2nd of command of our country…just like I wouldn’t vote for a half-ass male candidate like Mike Dukakis in 1988.

          [i]There was never a single thing about Obama, past or present, that would make me vote for the man. there is very little about McCain that would get me to vote for him, and I refused to vote “lesser of two evils”.[/i]

          So you voted for the least of all the evils?

          [i]I was hoping to get more votes for Barr to ate least get the Republicans attention that they can no longer take votes for granted and throw anyone in front of us and expect our votes.[/i]

          Oh well, there ya go. Vote for Bob Barr. Guy jumped ship on the Republican party (weak candidate because he didn’t STRONGLY hold their values…remember?), waffled on same-sex marriage when he flipped parties (car salesman…says what you wanna hear), and supposedly opposes abortion even though he had his ex-wife get one (can you say… hypocrite??).

          No wonder you endorse him. He’s such a “strong” candidate.

          [i]I will not vote for McCain.[/i]

          That still doesn’t change the fact you’re wrong. I don’t vote party line. Never have.

          Rant on someone else you know things about that are factual, rather than what you want to think are.

        • #2821195

          Let me refraise that

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          I do not believe anyone that says that. Doesn’t mean they are lying, just that I do not believe them.

          There is no conceivable way anyone that is a “fiscal conservative” would have supported Obama, ever. Ask him how fiscally conservative his vote turned out to be, if what you/he said is true.

          IF Palin scared him away, he would have turned to the next closets match to his ideals, Independent, as I did, although I did because of McCain and all of the Republicans in Congress/Senate.

          I believe someone could not vote for McCain because of it, but no, I do NOT believe for a second anti-Palin would make someone Pro-Obama in the voting booth.

        • #2821191

          rephrasing things

          by jck ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          doesn’t change that, in most peoples’ eyes, Sarah Palin was not a strong candidate and did not help McCain’s chances.

          And maybe they weren’t “pro-Obama”. Maybe they just saw less of a chance of more damage by Obama-Biden than they did McCain-Palin?

          Anyways, you didn’t stick to your party. By your own criteria, you’re weak candidate for office, jd. Never run.

          BTW, Barr is in no way a fiscal conservative nor for minimal government. Go look at his track record. He only voted for the Patriot Act after they voted in his pork on the bill.

          He’s a scam artist like most of the rest of them…no matter what party he suckers into supporting him.

        • #2821154

          Wrong again, jck.

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          The people in the party moved away from me, not the other way around. Once you move away from the big two parties, it is nothing more than a symbolic vote to try to get peoples attention, but since you don’t have, nor believe in core principles, you would never understand.

          And it was Mae that brought up fiscal conservative, not I.

          One more chance of you trying to argue instead of converse, and again, you shoot and miss. Doesn’t that ever get old for you?

        • #2821143

          blah blah blah

          by jck ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          [i]Wrong again, jck.[/i]

          That is your opinion. Again, not a fact.

          [i]The people in the party moved away from me, not the other way around. Once you move away from the big two parties, it is nothing more than a symbolic vote to try to get peoples attention, but since you don’t have, nor believe in core principles, you would never understand.[/i]

          So, you gravitated from John McCain who is not a fiscal conservative, to Bob Barr who is even less of one?

          Exactly what about Bob Barr’s belief system distances him from John McCain and not the Republican party values that you hold in such high regard? Please give me definitive examples.

          [i]And it was Mae that brought up fiscal conservative, not I.[/i]

          And, you made a definitive, absolute assertion that “no fiscal conservative” would do something. You don’t know what all fiscal conservatives would do. In fact, you are not the absolute authority on what the term means and stands for in America. Therefore, you are trying to project your beliefs on everyone else. How liberal of you.

          [i]One more chance of you trying to argue instead of converse, and again, you shoot and miss. Doesn’t that ever get old for you?[/i]

          How did I miss?

          a) I pointed out that you went to Bob Barr
          b) I pointed out how Bob Barr does not hold more close to Republican values (or any other for that matter) that you supposedly hold so dear.
          c) I point out that, as Oz and Mae have told you, you make incredibly blanket, generic, inaccurate assertions about things as if you know everything without presenting proof.
          d) I pointed out the hypocrisy of Bob Barr.

          How is that shooting and missing?

          I’m right on target. Barr is a man who jumped ship, went to another party, says what they want to hear, and has been a hypocrite for over 20 years all along in his political career.

          You are the one leaping to conclusions and pretending that you have all the answers when your basis for doing things is founded on conjecture and knee jerk reactions.

        • #2821126

          If Obama ran with a Palin or a McCaughey, I’d have gone GOP

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          I didn’t like Palin a bit, even less than I liked GWB, whom I abhorred. She was an information-free goofball who knew how to do a few things well, like run a campaign that played up to popular paranoia. She has also turned out to be a complete publicity hound and self-serving narcissist. Of course, people who are in love with her don’t see these things as problems.

          If Obama had chosen a VP who acted like her, I could not have taken him seriously. I didn’t think McCain was untrustworthy until he picked her. Given that he was in his 70s, if he had become President there was an excellent chance of him dying in the saddle, and Caribou Barbie taking over.

        • #2821116

          you gotta hand it to her though, Delbert

          by jck ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          Palin is a really good looking woman. 🙂

        • #2821109

          Tell me Del

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          how happy are you with the VP we ended up getting stuck with?

          Is he there for comic relief or as a distraction?

          I admit to not being up on his life, but he was supposedly brought in because of being such an expert?

        • #2821075

          Joe aint so bad

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          Biden’s problem is that he can easily come up with good-sense practical-sounding ideas, which tend to be at odds with each other (or with the president) from one day to the next. Joe does like to hear himself talk.

          He was actually my first choice for prez.

          I think I’m happier with Obama, but I am starting to think that Hillary would have been best of all. However, unless Obama gets lung cancer and has to drop out of the 2012 race, we’re not likely to see Hillary make the push again.

        • #2821522

          Even I have the republican candidates credit on this one

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          I actually started a thread about how I gave McCain credit too. Both him and Obama were fair candidates for each party, far better choices than have been seen in a long while.

          I had doubts about Obama as well as McCain, but say that they both had merits.

          I think I had concluded that, IF I was American, I’d have voted for McCain based on his internal policy campaign. As a non-American, I supported Obama due to his campaigning on global affairs.

          What I thought a bit odd was the running mates, I saw Palin as more toward Obama’s side and Biden as more republican. However THAT was also a good play on the part of the parties too, both seemed to offer a little more middle ground to their respective party and that would sway the voters still on the fence, one way or the other.

          I’ve watched quite a few US presidential elections and the campaigns that lead to them and must tell you that this was one of my favorite, a real head scratcher at times too. But i think Palin blew it, the old age smear campaign against McCain was effective and yet the racial slurs and religious attacks on Obama just made him look even better to his part followers as THEY are the people that really don’t care about race and religion. All it did was make republicans look bad in the process.

          McCain and Biden would have been interesting to see together, Obama and anyone else but Palin would have been interesting to see too.

        • #2821471

          What smear campaign?

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          Oz said, “the old age smear campaign against McCain was effective” … I don’t recall what that was about. What were the accusations?

        • #2821462

          Too old

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to McCain was not a weak candidate

          They spent time focusing on the fact that he probably wouldn’t last a whole term, and two would be a real stretch. Which would of course make Palin president; yes, I cringe at that thought.

          It was also brought up here a few times when it was being pushed through the various media outlets. You have to remember also, this it the USA and people don’t live as long in America, despite having what is purported to be the world’s best health care system. 😀

        • #2820219

          I don’t see where you draw your conclusions

          by jck ·

          In reply to It was surprising

          A) I complimented Palin…on her looks.

          B) Since when is Obama arrogant? This is a guy who goes out in work clothes and plants trees with normal people, as well as deals with leaders of countries. Seems pretty level-headed to me, as opposed to other leaders who pretty much never stepped outside of the White House except to go to their ranch.

          You do have a bias though. That’s been pretty clear since February.

        • #2820112

          Neither does JD- unless he has a mirror

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to I don’t see where you draw your conclusions

          He sits on it all day so he can’t possibly see it either.

        • #3009989

          Sarah Palin is more a reality show contestant than a governor

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Send a housewife or a farmer to represent you . . . .

          I guess that’s why she’s so popular in the party of hard-nosed unreality.

        • #3009964

          It would seem to me

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Sarah Palin is more a reality show contestant than a governor

          for her opposition to get so down, dirty and personal with her, it had to come from a need to destroy something they were afraid of.

          You have to admit it was very shrill. When has there EVER been a time when a candidates family was attacked like that? Never.

        • #2820242

          Didn’t seem like that to me

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to It would seem to me

          Sarah Palin came out of the gate with a shrill and confrontational style of attack. She was drafted into the job to be an attack commando, to fight harder and meaner so that the presidential candidate wouldn’t have to lower himself to do it. Palin brought her family to the fore, making them into lifestyle ads for her campaign, even going through handshaking lines with her Downs syndrome baby in a sling on her stomach (as if to say, look! He wasn’t aborted! Don’t forget!) Her family and the Johnson boy clearly didn’t feel comfortable in that spotlight.

          I don’t know how I’d score how many snide things were said about the family; I’m sure a lot were. I bet there would have been a lot fewer if Palin had left her daughters home, and just suggested they deserved privacy. It isn’t true, by the way, that no other political family was ever attacked shamefully; Limbaugh made a famous comment about Chelsea being the White House dog. Hillary Clinton became more hated than her husband in the early first term, which took me by surprise; many seem to have despised her for being the wrong kind of woman, and for driving the news, which apparently also made her a fair target.

          Palin would have experienced a less vicious sort of criticism if she were a less mean campaigner, but also if she had looked less like a silly amateur with delusions about being ready to take over the nation’s business. What made 25% of the nation love her (she’s just like us!) convinced 60% of the nation she was a ditz, a laughingstock, the nightmare of the Bush mind born again in curves on three-inch heels. She just looked crazy-stupid, playing to people who prefer that stuff over boring old competence and expertise.

        • #2820221

          That doesn’t change

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Didn’t seem like that to me

          she WAS the home town girl that JCK just lied about wanting a few posts higher.

          Did or did not Obama use his daughters as props regularly? Why, yes, he did…..

        • #2820222

          Sarah Palin’s place of education

          by jck ·

          In reply to Send a housewife or a farmer to represent you . . . .

          was never an issue to me.

          It was the fact that she was absolutely dumb as a rock.

          Are you disagreeing? Have you ever told someone you read certain things, then couldn’t tell them the name of at least one publication that you read?

          To me, that was the earmark of either being blatantly stupid or blatantly lying about reading so much.

          Usually when I grab a magazine or newspaper, I see the name of it before i open it.

          And btw, most of the overly-educated ninnys on capital hill with high priced educations…are dumb as rocks too.

        • #2820197

          When put on the spot

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Sarah Palin’s place of education

          I have always been great at math.

          Playing a game of 501, standing at that chalk board, all of a sudden the simplest of calculations just fail…..

          But your bias would never allow you to see a Republican in any other light, so why bother?

        • #2820189

          Hm

          by jck ·

          In reply to When put on the spot

          [i] When put on the spot
          I have always been great at math.

          Playing a game of 501, standing at that chalk board, all of a sudden the simplest of calculations just fail…..

          But your bias would never allow you to see a Republican in any other light, so why bother?[/i]

          So because she is Republican, we should just overlook the fact that she freezes up when put on the spot?

          Is that who you want making decisions for your country?

          Your bias would never allow you to see that we need capable, qualified, well-educated people to make good decisions…rather than someone who looks hot in a red dress or has slicked-back hair and a shiny white grin.

          Guess when someone is well-spoken, easy-going, and worked their way up to get where they’re at…it’s not good enough…is it?

        • #2820176

          Yet you give Obama a free pass

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Hm

          Just how many states did he campaign in again? That is what I thought.

          He has become a joke world wide as the teleprompter president because he can’t speak without it. When he doesn’t have it, it is “um, ah, um , well, uhhhh”

        • #2820165

          Tha’s not the only. . . . .

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          ….. free thing jck would give Obama!

        • #2820144

          Earth to space cadet jd

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          States has what to do with being dumb as a rock or less of an experienced person than John McCain?

          Actually, Obama is considered far more acceptable worldwide than Bush ever was. People respect him for his sensibility in that he is willing to try and work with countries rather than just throw a hissy fit if they don’t agree with him when he wants something done.

          It’s called diplomacy, not stupidity.

          As for the ‘um, ah, um, well, uhhhh”, your hero Bush was the king of that.

          Since you’ve been really good about using YouTube, let’s take a look at some clips of your hero Dubya:

          Stammering about if he did or didn’t confront King Abdullah about a woman who was lashed for being gang raped in Saudi Arabia:

          Stammering about politics:

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ChWyZZAaA&feature=related

          Waffling:

          Showing off his linguistic skills:

          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W28CQQsH9S8&feature=related

          Stammering collages:

          There ya go, ladies and gents. The King of Articulation and Proper Speech has spoken!! :^0

        • #2820106

          My,my, my Max…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          Would you like to be explicit about the terms of that implication you just made?

          Want a reason I hate the “good ole freedom loving get government out of my pocket” conservatives?

          I gave the Red Cross a chunk of my annual salary in 2005 to help Katrina victims. Good, honest, conservative people I thought.

          Over $1B was funnelled off or embezelled within the organization alone. $300M just in funds that ended up missing.

          And who were most of those big shots at ARC that did it: former RNC people.

          It’s the “conservatives” that burned me on their agenda, which seems to be “don’t spend my money so I can spend yours the way I want and get more for me”.

          Even the rich should work for what they have…and to keep it.

          Seems all they can do is horde what they have, and take charity jobs making more and sucking off money from those who really need it.

          Otherwise, they wouldn’t shop at thrift stores and buy up cheap things that needy people could use.

        • #2820104

          Articulation

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          Articulation, being a bending pivotal point does actually describe Bush’s speeches quite well.

          He would stammer a lot but would twist and turn anything asked of him into something else completely different that he actually could answer without needing the puppeteers hand up his arse..

          But I suppose, accodring to JD’s hopelessly flawed theory, that poeple like Bono, Eric Clapton, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickenson, any famous actor or actress, any newscaster, and almost anyone else who addresses the pulic directly, is also a bumbling fool as they all use a teleprompter in order to remebmer the words they wish to present properly.

          The only reason Bush didn’t use a teleprompter was because you have to be able to read. I can just see him turning to ask his cronies to help with the bigger words, and mouthing all the words he could figure out as he sounded them all out before repeating them.

          Actually, maybe it would have been better for him to take 20 minutes to read a 2 minute speech out loud. At least it wouldn’t be a 2 minute speech with 18 minutes of mindless, filler BS in it.

          Bush seemed to be struggling with the children’s story he read to little kiddies while his nation was being attacked by terrorists, but Bush trying to keep up with a telemprompter would have been something really fun to watch actually. 😀

        • #2820098

          Typical jck fashion

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          excuse one because of another.

          What does states have to do? Obama had visited more states than we have, that could be seen as a problem?

          As for Bush or not, has nothing to do with Obama. Does not take away that he can not give a speech without the prompter.

          Yeah, the world likes to have a US president that agrees with them, but most people are like that. They like the person that tells them they are right, don’t they?

          And yes, the world recognizes him as the teleprompter pres. That they like the “we are wrong, you are right” message has nothing to do with that.

        • #2820081

          typical jdclyde rhetoric

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          [i] Typical jck fashion
          excuse one because of another.[/i]

          Who excused anything?
          Bush is a bumbling fool…8 year track record of it.
          Obama tries to phrase things properly with thought and consideration.

          Besides, you tried to excuse Palin with your own bumbling in some childhood school game. Running America is not a game.

          [i] What does states have to do? Obama had visited more states than we have, that could be seen as a problem?[/i]

          I’ve visited over 40. I don’t know about you.

          [i] As for Bush or not, has nothing to do with Obama. Does not take away that he can not give a speech without the prompter.[/i]

          He can give a speech without a teleprompter. He has done it before.

          Oz made a good point, however. He uses a teleprompter to articulate points and phrase things correctly. When he speaks off the cuff, maybe he does bumble. But (unlike Bush), Obama doesn’t seem to have trouble coming up with words like “independent” or “self-governing” instead of only being able to say “sovereign”.

          Obama knows his native language well.

          [i]Yeah, the world likes to have a US president that agrees with them, but most people are like that. They like the person that tells them they are right, don’t they?[/i]

          The world likes a US president that doesn’t go and make unilateral moves, and tries to work with the rest of the world instead of rushing like a bull in a china shop.

          [i]And yes, the world recognizes him as the teleprompter pres. That they like the “we are wrong, you are right” message has nothing to do with that.[/i]

          Actually, let’s go back to what the world thought/thinks about Obama:

          Guardian information from Friday 17 October 2008:

          http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/17/uselections2008-barackobama1

          Pew Research Center international poll from July 23, 2009:

          http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1289/global-attitudes-survey-2009-obama-lifts-america-image

          The world likes him mainly because they think he will “do the right thing” with regard to international affairs.

          That means…working with others…not acting like a bully.

        • #2820071

          There’s a difference JD

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          People use teleprompters so as to not lose position in an important commentary, especially when constantly being nagged and interrupted. This doesn’t mean he is incapable of memorizing someone ele’s words as Bush did. It simply means he wants to articulate his thoughts correctly in front of a live audience.

          “Does not take away that he can not give a speech without the prompter.”

          Who says? YOu are referring to his thoughtful replies when people pose baited questions to him in a press conference.

          Such questions SHOULD be carefully considered. The reply must also be carefully thought out to offer a reply without stepping into some slimy reporters bait who wants to remove a few sound bites and twist them to mean what they were never posed as.

          Bush on the other hand would simply parrot the same old garage and repeat himself over and over again as he only knew one answer to all questions. Why do you think Bush’s comments were constantly attacked as hypocrisy, double speak, etc.? He just spewed rubbish to shut people up and never really thought of the question or an valid answer. Whene cornered he would just say America, America, America, Saddam bad, AQmerica good, we won’t let terrorists get away with this…..America, America, America!

          The guy was a clown without the red nose and big shoes, which I suppose just makes him an idiot.

          Now that you have a thoughful president who weighs his words carefully, articulates an answer, delivers a clear and concise speech and actually has a brain cell that can stand up and be counted, he’s a phony.

          I don’t know where you dream such rubbish up, there certainly isn’t any truth or validity behind any of it.

        • #2820070

          The world?

          by maecuff ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          The WHOLE world recognizes him as a ‘teleprompter president’? As an inhabitant of the world, I certainly have never regarded him as a ‘teleprompter president’. In fact, I’ve never once read anywhere that the WORLD recognizes him as a teleprompter president. Or that ANYONE regards him as a teleprompter president, much less the WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Until now.

          Really, that would be a stupid way to recognize anyone, wouldn’t it? WTF is wrong with reading from a teleprompter anyway?

        • #2820055

          maecuff

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          Telepronpters are for liars apparently. If you can’t deliver a well articulated speech without a teleprompter, you ar a poor president and hopeless leader.

          If you read through, there is mention of how GWB never used a teleprompter (or if he did, at least the whole world didn’t call him a teleprompter president), it was either ecause he was preprogrammed and they couldn’t rely on him reading that fast, or he simply cannto read period, which makes him far more educated, articulate and capable of steering the US into better times than Obama.

          Damn, now I spit hot tea all over my notebook just reading it back.

        • #2819869

          Proof that Bush has used a teleprompter

          by jck ·

          In reply to Yet you give Obama a free pass

          Youtube video of Bush at a Texas Gubernatorial debate:

          Watch how as a candidate for Governor of Texas…how he is reading a teleprompter to the right of the camera.

          He’s used them before. That’s a crock of crap.

        • #2820166

          jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Hm

          The cuts of any interview about which you speak were spoon-fed to you (and like minded people) so you would form the very opinion you did. To see the rest of the story, watch the film that was left on the floor.

          Cut and paste isn’t just for written words.

          But you’d never acknowledge such a thing. It wouldn’t support your desired end conclusion.

        • #2820142

          Yes Max

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          And, jdclyde has done the same.

          So, why not chastise him as well?

          Because, you hold the same biases…and your blinders twice of mine.

          Hence, why you can’t open your eyes to any opposing view because it doesn’t meet your desired end conclusion: You think you always have to be right.

        • #2820054

          Oh, come on Max!

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          The KING of taking comments out of context and portraying them as something else…well JD’s pretty good at it too, and yet you are harping on someone else for commenting on sound bites? 😀

          Get real, nobody is that stupid, we’ve been reading your posts for years now. I think JD does it more often but it’s so obvious where he’s going with these things that it’s just laughable now and he can’t be taken seriously, but YOU, Max, come on!

          You actually still have some credibility, because while you take other people’s comments out of context to debate with them, you are pretty articulate when it comes to politics and what was said by whom and when.

          But talk about the pot calling the kettle black, man that’s ripe! You simply can’t be serious, I’m sure you laughed out loud when you typed that, even YOU couldn’t believe it.

        • #2819986

          Oz – some things are obvious to me

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          As it relates to this particular tangent, it’s clear to me that jck absolutely ADORES Barack Obama. He supports and defends the guy at every opportunity. Obama can do no wrong in jck’s eyes – thus my comments. (And before you try to suggest that I was the same way with Bush, don’t forget the numerous times I openly disagreed with his domestic policies, among other things, and criticized him for it.)

          But you are SO PREDICTIBLE, Oz. Your message have become nothing more than accusations of: being biased, taking things out of context, being a hypocrite, being blind, and so on. Empty and meaningless attacks.

          In short, you bore me. I won’t reply to such nonsense, and you don’t post anything of substance worthy of a serious reply.

          But keep trying. Every once in a while a craps player actually hits the yo.

          P.S. Oz, I’d bet you $100 that you can’t find even ONE sentence in any discussion in which jck even hinted criticism or disagreement with Barack Obama. The guy is infatuated with him. It’s both funny and sad at the same time

        • #2819984

          Maxwell

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          You squander your gifts.

          So does Oz.

        • #2819959

          Santee – (re: my previous message)

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          I remember the time I actually hit the yo. I left the blackjack table being up about $1,000 – make that $1,050 – and I put the extra $50 on hitting the yo at the craps table.

          It paid 15-1. Oh my!

          P.S. Many thanks. I appreciate your comments.

        • #2819957

          Max?

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          What’s this “yo” that you hit? What’s a yo?

        • #2819956

          Delbert – What’s a yo?

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          One roll of the dice at the craps table – if it hits 11 (called a yo), it pays 15-1 on the bet.

          P.S. Fun as hell if it hits!

        • #2819824

          Wanna win $100 Oz?

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          [i]P.S. Oz, I’d bet you $100 that you can’t find even ONE sentence in any discussion in which jck even hinted criticism or disagreement with Barack Obama. The guy is infatuated with him. It’s both funny and sad at the same time[/i]

          Go look in the socialism thread that Max started.

          I believe, in contradiction to Max’s claim, that I stated that I don’t believe the government should force people to buy insurance.

          At the same time, I think anyone who chooses not to have insurance risks being turned away for treatment from for-profit medical providers.

          I believe I disagreed with Obama’s stance (Actually, Baucus’ Senate draft/bill) that requires buying medical insurance.

          Go check my posts, Oz. If you win the $100 from Max, you can buy me a beer if I come to BC.

          BTW, Max. Do you love anyone more than you love yourself? I doubt it. Get A Bullwinkle mask on and host your own segment of Mr. Know-It-All.

        • #2819758

          No need jck

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          I know you don’t support him blindly. So do you REALLY think Maxwell is going to mail off $100.00 though? Nope, just words to display self assurance, which we all do. (besides, at the rate you’re going it would need to be more than $100.00 US anyway)

          Max, I know very well you didn’t support all of Bush’s actions, and we have discussed that on several occasions. What you fail to realize is I see the same in JCK, he feel does actually weigh and consider presidential actions before he supports them too.

          As for weight of my comments, I remember things very well (especially verbal conversations, I can recall the tone of voice used, specific comments that I can re-quote exactly etc.) and perhaps that’s why I find a need to remind you of your double standards when you accuse others of the exact same things you do yourself.

          If it bores you to be reminded when you accuse others of things you do yourself, you could stop doing it or bite your fingers to stop accusing others of it too.

          As for ‘hypocrisy’, what else do you prefer I call it when you hold such double standards?

        • #2819741

          JD?!!?!??!!?

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          Oz…

          Put down the bottle. :^0

          Or share it with me, dammit! ]:)

        • #2819700

          jck

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          the requiring EVERYONE get in the pool is the central point of all the health care schemes right now, to get more and more of the healthy people paying more and more for the unhealthy people. That IS the key.

          As for jck/jd, they both start with a “j”. His observation skills are not as keen as his recall skills….. 😀

        • #2819683

          I just know one medical thing

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          I’m self medicating tonight.

          I have written 2 modules, 1 patch, reindexed tons of DB data, and helped troubleshoot a routing issue.

          I need lots of booze soon.

          I’m going home. Good night, Lucy.

        • #2819682

          If I had met either of you

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          I would never cross your names up again, just the way it works for me.

          When I’m typing a reply I might be thinking of something one of you said, while replying to the other, and will typpe out the wrong name. I’m pretty danm usy right now, so posting is just something I do while thinking of what to type into an email, what to send to a client, what to say to move a client in a certain direction etc. I don’t always have my mind fully on TR.

          On the other hand, it seems you were bright enough and still managed to figure out who I was referring to though.

          I haven’t even gone back to figure out where I screwed it up, I just assume I mixed up the reference somewhere.

          EDIT: Okay the title was wrong. Sorry, jck.

        • #2821220

          I was messing with you Oz

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck, you simply can’t look beyond your own blinders

          I’ve done it before too.

          I am busy too. I just fixed an issue where I had to research crap in 5 tables. *5*!!!!

          And, they won’t let me re-engineer the app to make it more efficient. Go figure.

    • #3010126

      Well it’s a Cindy Lauper song

      by oz_media ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      But if you really feel that one’s support for an individual program, also deemed imperative by large percentage of your population, illustrates the true character of the supporter, so be it. Either way your protective claim does not scare me away from offering my opinion.

      [b]Fears of government control[/b]
      You have to realize that what you are seeing as social reform is actually very different from what socialist programs actually offer.

      Government run insurance companies in socialist countries are usually monopolies, those monopolies often come at a higher price due to lack of competition and offer the consumer less choice.

      [b]Socialist programs result in monopolies[/b]

      Take for instance, the Insurance Corporation of BC (motor vehicle)for many years they had a monopoly. They were extremely overpriced, offered the worst claims services and literally screwed each and every driver in BC for decades. Now the ADDITIONAL insurance is opened up to other market players, meaning your base insurance is still covered by ICBC but you have a choice of more options when it comes to third party protection, theft, comprehensive etc. They aren’t much better in most cases but there are options and thus their prices are slightly lower.

      For many MANY years, Stentor was an umbrella encompassing most provincial telephone services in Canada. The price for long distance calls was insane, features were expensive and there was no competition. Stentor was a monopoly, available in some provinces where the local telephone service was not owned by the provincial government, such as in BC. However THAT monopoly was owned y US giant, GTE, but again protected and supported by Canada’s government. Opening up that market to private companies has lowered the cost of such services dramatically again.

      [b]The American answer to such programs[/b]

      In the US, this form of government provided medical insurance works in the opposite way. Your PRIVATE system is flawed, overpriced and unaffordable for many. The government is offering an affordable alternative for those who cannot afford or choose not to deal with a private insurer, the absolute reverse of what has happened in Canada and the UK.

      Private insurers are soaking consumers as there is no reasonable limit to how much they can charge and how little they can offer for it. For years the issue of competition has been raised, but they refused to act in a way that made services available to a wider portion of the US population.

      At this time, in order to protect Americans health, to retain the nations strength and power, the government realizes that people need to be healthy first and foremost. People must be ale to go to work, must be healthy enough to support the military, must be fit enough to outperform competitive nations.

      [b]Retaining or recovering America’s strength and power[/b]

      PEOPLE offer your strength, not just independence and capitalism. PEOPLE’s strength and determination made America rise to the top, not private, free enterprise.

      So for your government to offer an affordable alternative to an already overpriced rip-off of a system, despite what your fears of losing individual liberties may be, it is something people have asked for and supported in America for years, only to be completely ignored as the rich get richer and the poor get sicker and weaker. (sorry, long sentence there)

      So yes I support ANY system that affords the poor access to more affordable health care. I support ANY system that opens up new opportunities to the downtrodden. I support ANY system that will offer an equal playing field and afford more people opportunity to better themselves.

      [b]The free ride[/b]

      I know you’ve worked very hard to get to where you are and don’t like seeing others being handed a free ride, and YOU know that I am not different in that respect either.

      But this is just basic health care, not opportunity or riches, it simply opens doors for others.

      [b]Government competing with private business[/b]
      In the case of government competing with business, I don’t think the objective or even possible outcome is competition with private business.

      You will always choose your own insurer and will pay the premiums that you deem fair for such a service. That is your freedom which is afforded to you as a result of your own hard work resulting in a higher income that affords you such choice. I don’t think fears of lower quality due to their being forced to offer lower rates should be an issue. I think that IF they decide to offer a low cost alternative to low income clients, the cost for your insurance and the additional benefits/services provided will be superior still.

      [b]Socialism[/b]

      Government control of a program in order to monopolize and control a market segment is not what this is at all. In fact it is the absolute opposite. They are offering an alternative to private care, it’s not changing from government control to very limited private care.

      • #3010096

        A lot of what you said is true

        by tnt@support ·

        In reply to Well it’s a Cindy Lauper song

        It’s true that the government program is not in competition with the Insurance companies. It cannot be because it isn’t subject to the same laws and regulation it imposes on insurance companies, nor does it have to make a profit (it can always raise taxes).

        What does this mean? It means that it’s not a level playing field, for one.

        Secondly, in the beginning you’ll see insurance companies dumping their most costly clients into the government program to free up more capital within the company. This will necessarily cause the government to raise taxes to pay for their program. With everyone paying those taxes many will figure, ‘Why pay twice for coverage?” and drop their private coverage for the government “option”. This expansion of the government program is expensive, so taxes are raised again…

        Think of it like the public school system. Many more people would send their kids to private schools so their kids will get a better education, but they can’t afford it. If they weren’t already paying for public schools through their taxes they would have the money. It’s the same thing with a government health program.

        • #3010066

          Level playing field

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to A lot of what you said is true

          Yes, a level playing field with private insurers has worked oh so well for you up until now. How well does it work for those who cannot afford it?

          You are complaining about paying increased taxes when the existing system is failing your nation by not supporting those without coverage. THOSE people are paid for today from YOUR tax dollars and don’t pay premiums. In a government run system, those less fortunate will at least be paying premiums and not relying on YOU, Joe Taxpayer, to foot the entire bill for them.

          Your argument is nonvalid, you already pay for what yuo will be paying less for.

          As for insurers giving up costly patients, that’s absurdity. Insurance companies make the most momey off of their most costly patients by denyign them coverage and raising their rates, THEY are the reason your premiums are so high too, to further counter that cost.

          And stop whining about taxes. You are an American, you MUST pay taxes.
          If your taxes weren’t allocated to health care, they are not going to lower your taxes, you will always pay them and that’s part of living in a democracy. They will raise or lower your taxes as they deem fit.

          Chances are, a republican president will come in and need money for something else entirely different, he will then blame the cost of subsidized health care for a rise in taxes. That raise in taxes will be allocated elsewhere, get support for his dismissal of the program entirely and you’ll be spending more tax dollars anyway but to something else instead…and spending more money on your premiums again, while those less fortunate than you just perish.

          But hey, as long as they don’t raise your taxes to support health care for the less fortunate, who cares who suffers; as long as it isn’t your wallet?

    • #3010003

      Here – read one of the bills

      by maxwell edison ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      • #3009998

        FYI, 1500 pages. No text.

        by charliespencer ·

        In reply to Here – read one of the bills

        .

        • #3009994

          What do you mean, no text?

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to FYI, 1500 pages. No text.

          A cut and paste of the introduction and table of contents (lost its formatting):

          To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce
          the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes.
          IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
          llllllllll
          Mr. BAUCUS, from the Committee on Finance, reported the following original
          bill; which was read twice and placed on the calendar
          A BILL
          To provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans
          and reduce the growth in health care spending, and
          for other purposes.
          1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2
          tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
          3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
          4 (a) SHORT TITLE.?This Act may be cited as the
          5 ??America?s Healthy Future Act of 2009??.
          6 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.?The table of contents of
          7 this Act is as follows:
          2
          O:\FRA\FRA09275.xml [file 1 of 7] S.L.C.
          Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
          TITLE I?HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
          Subtitle A?Insurance Market Reforms
          Sec. 1001. Insurance market reforms in the individual and small group markets.
          ??TITLE XXII?HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
          ??Sec. 2200. Ensuring essential and affordable health benefits coverage for
          all Americans.
          ??PART A?INSURANCE REFORMS
          ??SUBPART 1?REQUIREMENTS IN INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL GROUP MARKETS
          ??Sec. 2201. General requirements and definitions.
          ??Sec. 2202. Prohibition on preexisting condition exclusions.
          ??Sec. 2203. Guaranteed issue and renewal for insured plans.
          ??Sec. 2204. Premium rating rules.
          ??Sec. 2205. Use of uniform outline of coverage documents.
          ??SUBPART 2?REFORMS RELATING TO ALLOCATION OF RISKS
          ??Sec. 2211. Rating areas; pooling of risks; phase in of rating rules in
          small group markets.
          ??Sec. 2212. Risk adjustment.
          ??Sec. 2213. Establishment of transitional reinsurance program for individual
          markets in each State.
          ??Sec. 2214. Establishment of risk corridors for plans in individual and
          small group markets.
          ??Sec. 2215. Temporary high risk pools for individuals with preexisting
          conditions.
          ??Sec. 2216. Reinsurance for retirees covered by employer-based plans.
          ??SUBPART 3?PRESERVATION OF RIGHT TO MAINTAIN EXISTING COVERAGE
          ??Sec. 2221. Grandfathered health benefits plans.
          ??SUBPART 4?CONTINUED ROLE OF STATES
          ??Sec. 2225. Continued State enforcement of insurance regulations.
          ??Sec. 2226. Waiver of health insurance reform requirements.
          ??Sec. 2227. Provisions relating to offering of plans in more than one
          State.
          ??Sec. 2228. State flexibility to establish basic health programs for low-income
          individuals not eligible for Medicaid.
          ??SUBPART 5?OTHER DEFINITIONS AND RULES
          ??Sec. 2230. Other definitions and rules.
          Subtitle B?Exchanges and Consumer Assistance
          Sec. 1101. Establishment of qualified health benefits plan exchanges.
          ??PART B?EXCHANGE AND CONSUMER ASSISTANCE
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          ??SUBPART 1?INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL EMPLOYERS OFFERED AFFORDABLE
          CHOICES
          ??Sec. 2231. Rights and responsibilities regarding choice of coverage
          through exchange.
          ??Sec. 2232. Qualified individuals and small employers; access limited to
          citizens and lawful residents.
          ??SUBPART 2?ESTABLISHMENT OF EXCHANGES
          ??Sec. 2235. Establishment of exchanges by States.
          ??Sec. 2236. Functions performed by Secretary, States, and exchanges.
          ??Sec. 2237. Duties of the Secretary to facilitate exchanges.
          ??Sec. 2238. Procedures for determining eligibility for exchange participation,
          premium credits and cost-sharing subsidies, and individual
          responsibility exemptions.
          ??Sec. 2239. Streamlining of procedures for enrollment through an exchange
          and State Medicaid, CHIP, and health subsidy
          programs.
          Sec. 1102. Encouraging meaningful use of electronic health records.
          Subtitle C?Making Coverage Affordable
          PART I?ESSENTIAL BENEFITS COVERAGE
          Sec. 1201. Provisions to ensure coverage of essential benefits.
          ??PART C?MAKING COVERAGE AFFORDABLE
          ??SUBPART 1?ESSENTIAL BENEFITS COVERAGE
          ??Sec. 2241. Requirements for qualified health benefits plan.
          ??Sec. 2242. Essential benefits package defined.
          ??Sec. 2243. Levels of coverage.
          ??Sec. 2244. Application of certain rules to plans in group markets.
          ??Sec. 2245. Special rules relating to coverage of abortion services.
          Sec. 1202. Application of State and Federal laws regarding abortion.
          Sec. 1203. Application of emergency services laws.
          PART II?PREMIUM CREDITS, COST-SHARING SUBSIDIES, AND SMALL
          BUSINESS CREDITS
          SUBPART A?PREMIUM CREDITS AND COST-SHARING SUBSIDIES
          Sec. 1205. Refundable credit providing premium assistance for coverage under
          a qualified health benefits plan.
          ??Sec. 36B. Refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health benefits
          plan.
          Sec. 1206. Cost-sharing subsidies and advance payments of premium credits
          and cost-sharing subsidies.
          ??SUBPART 2?PREMIUM CREDITS AND COST-SHARING SUBSIDIES
          ??Sec. 2246. Premium credits.
          ??Sec. 2247. Cost-sharing subsidies for individuals enrolling in qualified
          health benefit plans.
          ??Sec. 2248. Advance determination and payment of premium credits and
          cost-sharing subsidies.
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          Sec. 1207. Disclosures to carry out eligibility requirements for certain programs.
          Sec. 1208. Premium credit and subsidy refunds and payments disregarded for
          Federal and Federally-assisted programs.
          Sec. 1209. Fail-safe mechanism to prevent increase in Federal budget deficit.
          SUBPART B?CREDIT FOR SMALL EMPLOYERS
          Sec. 1221. Credit for employee health insurance expenses of small businesses.
          ??Sec. 45R. Employee health insurance expenses of small employers.
          Subtitle D?Shared Responsibility
          PART I?INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
          Sec. 1301. Excise tax on individuals without essential health benefits coverage.
          ??CHAPTER 48?MAINTENANCE OF ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE
          ??Sec. 5000A. Failure to maintain essential health benefits coverage.
          Sec. 1302. Reporting of health insurance coverage.
          ??SUBPART D?INFORMATION REGARDING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
          ??Sec. 6055. Reporting of health insurance coverage.
          PART II?EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITY
          Sec. 1306. Employer shared responsibility requirement.
          ??Sec. 4980H. Employer responsibility to provide health coverage.
          Sec. 1307. Reporting of employer health insurance coverage.
          ??Sec. 6056. Large employers required to report on health insurance coverage.
          Subtitle E?Federal Program for Health Care Cooperatives
          Sec. 1401. Establishment of Federal program for health care cooperatives.
          ??PART D?FEDERAL PROGRAM FOR HEALTH CARE COOPERATIVES
          ??Sec. 2251. Federal program to assist establishment and operation of nonprofit,
          member-run health insurance issuers.
          Subtitle F?Transparency and Accountability
          Sec. 1501. Provisions ensuring transparency and accountability.
          ??Sec. 2229. Requirements relating to transparency and accountability.
          Sec. 1502. Reporting on utilization of premium dollars and standard hospital
          charges.
          Sec. 1503. Development and utilization of uniform outline of coverage documents.
          Sec. 1504. Development of standard definitions, personal scenarios, and annual
          personalized statements.
          Subtitle G?Role of Public Programs
          PART I?MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR THE LOWEST INCOME POPULATIONS
          Sec. 1601. Medicaid coverage for the lowest income populations.
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          Sec. 1602. Income eligibility for nonelderly determined using modified gross income.
          Sec. 1603. Requirement to offer premium assistance for employer-sponsored insurance.
          Sec. 1604. Payments to territories.
          Sec. 1605. Medicaid Improvement Fund rescission.
          PART II?CHILDREN?S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM
          Sec. 1611. Additional federal financial participation for CHIP.
          Sec. 1612. Technical corrections.
          PART III?ENROLLMENT SIMPLIFICATION
          Sec. 1621. Enrollment Simplification and coordination with State health insurance
          exchanges.
          Sec. 1622. Permitting hospitals to make presumptive eligibility determinations
          for all Medicaid eligible populations.
          Sec. 1623. Promoting transparency in the development, implementation, and
          evaluation of Medicaid and CHIP waivers and section 1937
          State plan amendments.
          Sec. 1624. Standards and best practices to improve enrollment of vulnerable
          and underserved populations.
          PART IV?MEDICAID SERVICES
          Sec. 1631. Coverage for freestanding birth center services.
          Sec. 1632. Concurrent care for children.
          Sec. 1633. Funding to expand State Aging and Disability Resource Centers.
          Sec. 1634. Community First Choice Option.
          Sec. 1635. Protection for recipients of home and community-based services
          against spousal impoverishment.
          Sec. 1636. Incentives for States to offer home and community-based services as
          a long-term care alternative to nursing homes.
          Sec. 1636A. Removal of barriers to providing home and community-based services.
          Sec. 1637. Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration.
          Sec. 1638. Clarification of definition of medical assistance.
          Sec. 1639. State eligibility option for family planning services.
          Sec. 1640. Grants for school-based health centers.
          Sec. 1641. Therapeutic foster care.
          Sec. 1642. Sense of the Senate regarding long-term care.
          PART V?MEDICAID PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
          Sec. 1651. Prescription drug rebates.
          Sec. 1652. Elimination of exclusion of coverage of certain drugs.
          Sec. 1653. Providing adequate pharmacy reimbursement.
          Sec. 1654. Study of barriers to appropriate utilization of generic medicine in
          federal health care programs.
          PART VI?MEDICAID DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE HOSPITAL (DSH)
          PAYMENTS
          Sec. 1655. Disproportionate share hospital payments.
          PART VII?DUAL ELIGIBLES
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          Sec. 1661. 5-year period for demonstration projects.
          Sec. 1662. Providing Federal coverage and payment coordination for low-income
          Medicare beneficiaries.
          PART VIII?MEDICAID QUALITY
          Sec. 1671. Adult health quality measures.
          Sec. 1672. Payment Adjustment for Health Care-Acquired Conditions.
          Sec. 1673. Demonstration project to evaluate integrated care around a hospitalization.
          Sec. 1674. Medicaid Global Payment System Demonstration Project.
          Sec. 1675. Pediatric Accountable Care Organization Demonstration Project.
          Sec. 1676. Medicaid emergency psychiatric demonstration project.
          PART IX?IMPROVEMENTS TO THE MEDICAID AND CHIP PAYMENT AND
          ACCESS COMMISSION (MACPAC)
          Sec. 1681. MACPAC assessment of policies affecting all Medicaid beneficiaries.
          PART X?AMERICAN INDIANS AND ALASKA NATIVES
          Sec. 1691. Special rules relating to Indians.
          Sec. 1692. Elimination of sunset for reimbursement for all medicare part B
          services furnished by certain indian hospitals and clinics.
          Subtitle H?Addressing Health Disparities
          Sec. 1701. Standardized collection of data.
          Sec. 1702. Required collection of data.
          Sec. 1703. Data sharing and protection.
          Sec. 1704. Inclusion of information about the importance of having a health
          care power of attorney in transition planning for children aging
          out of foster care and independent living programs.
          Subtitle I?Maternal and Child Health Services
          Sec. 1801. Maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs.
          Sec. 1802. Support, education, and research for postpartum depression.
          Sec. 1803. Personal responsibility education for adulthood training.
          Sec. 1804. Restoration of funding for abstinence education.
          Subtitle J?Programs of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
          Sec. 1901. Programs of health promotion and disease prevention.
          Subtitle K?Elder Justice Act
          Sec. 1911. Short title of subtitle.
          Sec. 1912. Definitions.
          Sec. 1913. Elder Justice.
          Subtitle L?Provisions of General Application
          Sec. 1921. Protecting Americans and ensuring taxpayer funds in government
          health care plans do not support or fund physician-assisted suicide;
          prohibition against discrimination on assisted suicide.
          Sec. 1922. Protection of access to quality health care through the Department
          of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
          Sec. 1923. Continued application of antitrust laws.
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          TITLE II?PROMOTING DISEASE PREVENTION AND WELLNESS
          Subtitle A?Medicare
          Sec. 2001. Coverage of annual wellness visit providing a personalized prevention
          plan.
          Sec. 2002. Removal of barriers to preventive services.
          Sec. 2003. Evidence-based coverage of preventive services.
          Sec. 2004. GAO study and report on medicare beneficiary access to vaccines.
          Sec. 2005. Incentives for healthy lifestyles.
          Subtitle B?Medicaid
          Sec. 2101. Improving access to preventive services for eligible adults.
          Sec. 2102. Coverage of comprehensive tobacco cessation services for pregnant
          women.
          Sec. 2103. Incentives for healthy lifestyles.
          Sec. 2104. State option to provide health homes for enrollees with chronic conditions.
          Sec. 2105. Funding for Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project.
          Sec. 2106. Public awareness of preventive and obesity-related services.
          TITLE III?IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF
          HEALTH CARE
          Subtitle A?Transforming the Health Care Delivery System
          PART I?LINKING PAYMENT TO QUALITY OUTCOMES UNDER THE
          MEDICARE PROGRAM
          Sec. 3001. Hospital Value-Based purchasing program.
          Sec. 3002. Improvements to the physician quality reporting system.
          Sec. 3003. Improvements to the physician feedback program.
          Sec. 3004. Quality reporting for long-term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation
          hospitals, and hospice programs.
          Sec. 3005. Quality reporting for PPS-exempt cancer hospitals.
          Sec. 3006. Plans for a Value-Based purchasing program for skilled nursing facilities
          and home health agencies.
          Sec. 3007. Value-based payment modifier under the physician fee schedule.
          Sec. 3008. Payment adjustment for conditions acquired in hospitals.
          PART II?STRENGTHENING THE QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE
          Sec. 3011. National strategy.
          Sec. 3012. Interagency Working Group on Health Care Quality.
          Sec. 3013. Quality measure development.
          Sec. 3014. Quality measure endorsement.
          PART III?ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PATIENT CARE MODELS
          Sec. 3021. Establishment of Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation
          within CMS.
          Sec. 3022. Medicare shared savings program.
          Sec. 3023. National pilot program on payment bundling.
          Sec. 3024. Independence at home pilot program.
          Sec. 3025. Hospital readmissions reduction program.
          Sec. 3026. Community-Based Care Transitions Program.
          Sec. 3027. Extension of gainsharing demonstration.
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          PART IV?STRENGTHENING PRIMARY CARE AND OTHER WORKFORCE
          IMPROVEMENTS
          Sec. 3031. Expanding access to primary care services and general surgery services.
          Sec. 3031A. Medicare Federally qualified health center improvements.
          Sec. 3032. Distribution of additional residency positions.
          Sec. 3033. Counting resident time in outpatient settings and allowing flexibility
          for jointly operated residency training programs.
          Sec. 3034. Rules for counting resident time for didactic and scholarly activities
          and other activities.
          Sec. 3035. Preservation of resident cap positions from closed and acquired hospitals.
          Sec. 3036. Workforce Advisory Committee.
          Sec. 3037. Demonstration projects To address health professions workforce
          needs; extension of family-to-family health information centers.
          Sec. 3038. Increasing teaching capacity.
          Sec. 3039. Graduate nurse education demonstration program.
          PART V?HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
          Sec. 3041. Free clinics and certified EHR technology.
          Subtitle B?Improving Medicare for Patients and Providers
          PART I?ENSURING BENEFICIARY ACCESS TO PHYSICIAN CARE AND OTHER
          SERVICES
          Sec. 3101. Increase in the physician payment update.
          Sec. 3102. Extension of the work geographic index floor and revisions to the
          practice expense geographic adjustment under the Medicare
          physician fee schedule.
          Sec. 3103. Extension of exceptions process for Medicare therapy caps.
          Sec. 3104. Extension of payment for technical component of certain physician
          pathology services.
          Sec. 3105. Extension of ambulance add-ons.
          Sec. 3106. Extension of certain payment rules for long-term care hospital services
          and of moratorium on the establishment of certain hospitals
          and facilities.
          Sec. 3107. Extension of physician fee schedule mental health add-on.
          Sec. 3108. Permitting physician assistants to order post-Hospital extended care
          services and to provide for recognition of attending physician
          assistants as attending physicians to serve hospice patients.
          Sec. 3109. Recognition of certified diabetes educators as certified providers for
          purposes of Medicare diabetes outpatient self-management
          training services.
          Sec. 3110. Exemption of certain pharmacies from accreditation requirements.
          Sec. 3111. Part B special enrollment period for disabled TRICARE beneficiaries.
          Sec. 3112. Payment for bone density tests.
          Sec. 3113. Revision to the Medicare Improvement Fund.
          Sec. 3114. Treatment of certain complex diagnostic laboratory tests.
          Sec. 3115. Improved access for certified-midwife services.
          Sec. 3116. Working Group on Access to Emergency Medical Care.
          PART II?RURAL PROTECTIONS
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          Sec. 3121. Extension of outpatient hold harmless provision.
          Sec. 3122. Extension of Medicare reasonable costs payments for certain clinical
          diagnostic laboratory tests furnished to hospital patients in certain
          rural areas.
          Sec. 3123. Extension of the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program.
          Sec. 3124. Extension of the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program.
          Sec. 3125. Temporary improvements to the Medicare inpatient hospital payment
          adjustment for low-volume hospitals.
          Sec. 3126. Improvements to the demonstration project on community health integration
          models in certain rural counties.
          Sec. 3127. MedPAC study on adequacy of Medicare payments for health care
          providers serving in rural areas.
          Sec. 3128. Technical correction related to critical access hospital services.
          Sec. 3129. Extension of and revisions to Medicare rural hospital flexibility program.
          PART III?IMPROVING PAYMENT ACCURACY
          Sec. 3131. Payment adjustments for home health care.
          Sec. 3132. Hospice reform.
          Sec. 3133. Improvement to medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH)
          payments.
          Sec. 3134. Misvalued codes under the physician fee schedule.
          Sec. 3135. Modification of equipment utilization factor for advanced imaging
          services.
          Sec. 3136. Revision of payment for power-driven wheelchairs.
          Sec. 3137. Hospital wage index improvement.
          Sec. 3138. Treatment of certain cancer hospitals.
          Sec. 3139. Payment for biosimilar biological products.
          Sec. 3140. Public meeting and report on payment systems for new clinical laboratory
          diagnostic tests.
          Sec. 3141. Medicare hospice concurrent care demonstration program.
          Sec. 3142. Application of budget neutrality on a national basis in the calculation
          of the Medicare hospital wage index floor for each allurban
          and rural state.
          Sec. 3143. HHS study on urban Medicare-dependent hospitals.
          Subtitle C?Provisions Relating to Part C
          Sec. 3201. Medicare Advantage payment.
          Sec. 3202. Benefit protection and simplification.
          Sec. 3203. Application of coding intensity adjustment during MA payment
          transition.
          Sec. 3204. Simplification of annual beneficiary election periods.
          Sec. 3205. Extension for specialized MA plans for special needs individuals.
          Sec. 3206. Extension of reasonable cost contracts.
          Sec. 3207. Technical correction to MA private fee-for-service plans.
          Sec. 3208. Making senior housing facility demonstration permanent.
          Sec. 3209. Development of new standards for certain Medigap plans.
          Subtitle D?Medicare Part D Improvements for Prescription Drug Plans and
          MA?PD Plans
          Sec. 3301. Medicare prescription drug discount program for brand-Name
          drugs.
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          Sec. 3302. Improvement in determination of Medicare part D low-income
          benchmark premium.
          Sec. 3303. Voluntary de minimus policy for subsidy eligible individuals under
          prescription drug plans and MA?PD plans.
          Sec. 3304. Special rule for widows and widowers regarding eligibility for lowincome
          assistance.
          Sec. 3305. Improved information for subsidy eligible individuals reassigned to
          prescription drug plans and MA?PD plans.
          Sec. 3306. Funding outreach and assistance for low-income programs.
          Sec. 3307. Improving formulary requirements for prescription drug plans and
          MA?PD plans with respect to certain categories or classes of
          drugs.
          Sec. 3308. Reducing part D premium subsidy for high-income beneficiaries.
          Sec. 3309. Simplification of plan information.
          Sec. 3310. Limitation on removal or change of coverage of covered part D
          drugs under a formulary under a prescription drug plan or an
          MA?PD plan.
          Sec. 3311. Elimination of cost sharing for certain dual eligible individuals.
          Sec. 3312. Reducing wasteful dispensing of outpatient prescription drugs in
          long-term care facilities under prescription drug plans and
          MA?PD plans.
          Sec. 3313. Improved Medicare prescription drug plan and MA?PD plan complaint
          system.
          Sec. 3314. Uniform exceptions and appeals process for prescription drug plans
          and MA?PD plans.
          Sec. 3315. Office of the Inspector General studies and reports.
          Sec. 3316. HHS study and annual reports on coverage for dual eligibles.
          Sec. 3317. Including costs incurred by AIDS drug assistance programs and Indian
          Health Service in providing prescription drugs toward the
          annual out-of-pocket threshold under part D.
          Subtitle E?Ensuring Medicare Sustainability
          Sec. 3401. Revision of certain market basket updates and incorporation of productivity
          improvements into market basket updates that do not
          already incorporate such improvements.
          Sec. 3402. Temporary adjustment to the calculation of part B premiums.
          Sec. 3403. Medicare Commission.
          Sec. 3404. Ensuring medicare savings are kept in the medicare program.
          Subtitle F?Comparative Effectiveness Research
          Sec. 3501. Comparative effectiveness research.
          Sec. 3502. Coordination with Federal coordinating council for comparative effectiveness
          research.
          Sec. 3503. GAO report on national coverage determinations process.
          Subtitle G?Administrative Simplification
          Sec. 3601. Administrative Simplification.
          Subtitle H?Sense of the Senate Regarding Medical Malpractice
          Sec. 3701. Sense of the Senate regarding medical malpractice.
          TITLE IV?TRANSPARENCY AND PROGRAM INTEGRITY
          11
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          Subtitle A?Limitation on Medicare Exception to the Prohibition on Certain
          Physician Referrals for Hospitals
          Sec. 4001. Limitation on Medicare exception to the prohibition on certain physician
          referrals for hospitals.
          Subtitle B?Physician Ownership and Other Transparency
          Sec. 4101. Transparency reports and reporting of physician ownership or investment
          interests.
          Sec. 4102. Disclosure requirements for in-office ancillary services exception to
          the prohibition on physician self-referral for certain imaging
          services.
          Sec. 4103. Prescription drug sample transparency.
          Subtitle C?Nursing Home Transparency and Improvement
          PART I?IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY OF INFORMATION
          Sec. 4201. Required disclosure of ownership and additional disclosable parties
          information.
          Sec. 4202. Accountability requirements for skilled nursing facilities and nursing
          facilities.
          Sec. 4203. Nursing home compare Medicare website.
          Sec. 4204. Reporting of expenditures.
          Sec. 4205. Standardized complaint form.
          Sec. 4206. Ensuring staffing accountability.
          Sec. 4207. GAO study and report on Five-Star Quality Rating System.
          PART II?TARGETING ENFORCEMENT
          Sec. 4211. Civil money penalties.
          Sec. 4212. National independent monitor pilot program.
          Sec. 4213. Notification of facility closure.
          Sec. 4214. National demonstration projects on culture change and use of information
          technology in nursing homes.
          PART III?IMPROVING STAFF TRAINING
          Sec. 4221. Dementia and abuse prevention training.
          Subtitle D?Nationwide Program for National and State Background Checks
          on Direct Patient Access Employees of Long-term Care Facilities and Providers
          Sec. 4301. Nationwide program for National and State background checks on
          direct patient access employees of long-term care facilities and
          providers.
          Subtitle E?Pharmacy Benefit Managers
          Sec. 4401. Pharmacy benefit managers transparency requirements.
          TITLE V?FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE
          Subtitle A?Medicare and Medicaid
          Sec. 5001. Provider screening and other enrollment requirements under Medicare
          and Medicaid.
          12
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          Sec. 5002. Enhanced Medicare and Medicaid program integrity provisions.
          Sec. 5003. Elimination of duplication between the Healthcare Integrity and
          Protection Data Bank and the National Practitioner Data
          Bank.
          Sec. 5004. Maximum period for submission of Medicare claims reduced to not
          more than 12 months.
          Sec. 5005. Physicians who order items or services required to be Medicare enrolled
          physicians or eligible professionals.
          Sec. 5006. Requirement for physicians to provide documentation on referrals to
          programs at high risk of waste and abuse.
          Sec. 5007. Face to face encounter with patient required before physicians may
          certify eligibility for home health services or durable medical
          equipment under Medicare.
          Sec. 5008. Enhanced penalties.
          Sec. 5009. Medicare self-referral disclosure protocol.
          Sec. 5010. Adjustments to the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics,
          orthotics, and supplies competitive acquisition program.
          Sec. 5011. Expansion of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program.
          Subtitle B?Additional Medicaid Provisions
          Sec. 5101. Termination of provider participation under Medicaid if terminated
          under Medicare or other State plan.
          Sec. 5102. Medicaid exclusion from participation relating to certain ownership,
          control, and management affiliations.
          Sec. 5103. Billing agents, clearinghouses, or other alternate payees required to
          register under Medicaid.
          Sec. 5104. Requirement to report expanded set of data elements under MMIS
          to detect fraud and abuse.
          Sec. 5105. Prohibition on payments to institutions or entities located outside of
          the United States.
          Sec. 5106. Overpayments.
          Sec. 5107. Enhanced funding for program integrity activities.
          Sec. 5108. Mandatory State use of national correct coding initiative.
          Sec. 5109. General effective date.
          TITLE VI?REVENUE PROVISIONS
          Subtitle A?Revenue Offset Provisions
          Sec. 6001. Excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage.
          Sec. 6002. Inclusion of cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on W?2.
          Sec. 6003. Distributions for medicine qualified only if for prescribed drug or insulin.
          Sec. 6004. Increase in additional tax on distributions from HSAs not used for
          qualified medical expenses.
          Sec. 6005. Limitation on health flexible spending arrangements under cafeteria
          plans.
          Sec. 6006. Expansion of information reporting requirements.
          Sec. 6007. Additional requirements for charitable hospitals.
          Sec. 6008. Imposition of annual fee on branded prescription pharmaceutical
          manufacturers and importers.
          Sec. 6009. Imposition of annual fee on medical device manufacturers and importers.
          Sec. 6010. Imposition of annual fee on health insurance providers.
          Sec. 6011. Study and report of effect on veterans health care.
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          Sec. 6012. Elimination of deduction for expenses allocable to Medicare Part D
          subsidy.
          Sec. 6013. Modification of itemized deduction for medical expenses.
          Sec. 6014. Limitation on excessive remuneration paid by certain health insurance
          providers.
          Subtitle B?Other Provisions
          Sec. 6021. Exclusion of health benefits provided by Indian tribal governments.
          Sec. 6022. Establishment of simple cafeteria plans for small businesses.
          Sec. 6023. Qualifying therapeutic discovery project credit.

        • #3009992

          Uh, Max?

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to What do you mean, no text?

          I meant there was no text in the body of my post, just a title.

        • #3009986

          LOL

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Uh, Max?

          Okay, you can all join me in laughing at myself. (Maybe I’ll give myself [i]the link[/i]!)

        • #3009956

          Not the link, Max

          by nicknielsen ·

          In reply to LOL

          But a facepalm would probably be appropriate.

          http://skepticalteacher.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/facepalm1.jpg

          😉

        • #3009949

          LMAO

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Not the link, Max

          That was funny. And accurate.

          P.S. Thank you for not making me give myself [i]the link[/i].

        • #2820042

          Okay now that WAS good

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Not the link, Max

          Firstly, good one Max, you are at least man enough to laugh at making a silly mistake, DOH!

          Secondly, the facepalm, definitely works! Haven’t seen that one before. Maybe even worth making it a flash and adding the ‘YOU ARE AN IDIOT’ audio to it.

          Anyway, I have to run, apprently there’s a new Three’s Company episode on and in this one there is some kind of misunderstanding between the kids due to overhearing only part of a conversation.

        • #2820027

          Ozzie, that must be a re-run.

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Not the link, Max

          I swear I’ve seen that one…

        • #2819955

          Oz – Everyone deserves “the link” at least once.

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Not the link, Max

          The trick is, beat ’em to the punch and give it to yourself! (What do you mean more than once? I resemble that remark!)

        • #2820214

          I feel your pain.

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to LOL

          I too was once a noob 😀

        • #2820168

          Was once?

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to I feel your pain.

          Hey, you left that door wide open!

        • #2820109

          I just had to go back to the well, didn’t I?

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to I feel your pain.

          Obviously once too often…

    • #3009987

      I have to congratulate you

      by delbertpgh ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      on drawing the commenters. Most discussions don’t swell this quickly.

      • #3009969

        Thank you, Delbert, however. . . . .

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to I have to congratulate you

        ….. I think it simply illustrates how passionate people are on the issue. And actually, I’d concede that both sides of the argument have merit (even though there are more than two sides). Our medical delivery system, in so many ways, really sucks. The difference, however, is agreeing on how to fix what’s broken. Another difference is defining what’s really broken.

        But a government controlled fix, in my estimation, will not only fail to fix what’s really broken, but it will actually make matters worse – much worse. And those things that I estimate will be worse actually extend well beyond the delivery of medical care.

        Consider this (regardless of the service provided). In almost every case of commerce, if Entity-A receives a service from Entity-B, then Entity-A somehow compensates Entity-B for the service provided – or Entity-B freely gives the service to Entity-A. That’s the way a free enterprise system works. However, if Entity-A receives a service from Entity-B, but Entity-C is expected to pay for the services delivered, AND Entity-A pays Entity-C to pay Entity-B (in some form, either directly or indirectly), then problems are inevitable.

        In my opinion, we need to go back to square one and design a system that makes the most sense – AND make it one that doesn’t violate the principles upon which our country was founded and allowed us to prosper – but the bottom line being, DO NOT violate these principles.

        We need to also acknowledge a couple of facts of life. One: No one will escape this life alive; we will all die; there is no cure for death. Two: Life is not fair; some people are born into better circumstances than others; some people will make their lives better than other people can or will make life for themselves; some people have better breaks in life than others; some people have worse breaks in life than others; and any attempt to make life fair for some will only result in making life unfair for others.

        The medical delivery system is broken, to be sure. But if we rely on government to fix it, then the broken pieces will only be smashed to smithereens. At least that’s what I believe. And that’s what I want to prevent.

        P.S. Ask yourself this. When did the medical delivery system start on its path to be broken? My answer is this: when another entity was expected to pay for such services. Therefore what?

        • #3009939

          It’s trending to worse under the current system

          by delbertpgh ·

          In reply to Thank you, Delbert, however. . . . .

          If it gets more expensive under a government-mandated structure, we can at least console ourselves with the fact it was getting more unaffordable every year anyway. I am not satisfied with the insurance model, for the reasons you point out; it has allowed the health care sector to price itself out of affordability, and removed the marketplace pressures that would govern the cost in a more typical environment. It will get worse.

          However, what’s worst of all is to leave care unaffordable. It’s unfair. Granted, life doesn’t work out equally, and the lower orders have to accept what is their share, and they generally do, which is what makes it possible for prosperous guys like you and me to be so comfortable. I’m not saying we’re rich; the rich get their share, too, and we all of us generally accept that they’re entitled, as well. However, the French found in 1789 that a decade of bad harvests and declining living standards brought the country to revolution; apparently the poor decided they had an entitlement to eat that nobody had been aware of for previous centuries. Call it a social contract: the poor and the working class put up with the pretensions and comfort of the middle classes and the rich, provided they get their due, too. They accept less, but it has to be enough to give them hope for their kids and a working man’s dignity until death. Cross that line, and you risk revolution. As society gets richer, the line moves.

          I don’t believe we can end poverty; I don’t believe we can stop the working class boy from tattooing himself and quitting school to prove that he won’t fit into anybody’s box, and thereby boxing himself in for the rest of his life. The kind of society we run needs a high proportion of underachievers, anyway: guys who party hard on Saturday night, and keep their heads down and work their 40 hours the rest of the week, and women who will stand by them, pregnant and patient, and knowing that nobody in the family will get too far. We can congratulate ourselves, some of us, on not having made the choices these others have stumbled into. But we have to provide for them, both as a matter of justice and as an issue of enlightened self interest.

          (Edited to remove a gratuitous slap at the Palins. Sorry.)

    • #3009972

      I can only see it working this way

      by av . ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      The government run insurance plan covers preventative care only and some basic health issues, but nothing catastrophic. You have to buy extra insurance if you want that.

      Taxpayers can’t afford any other kind of public option. Where is the money coming from anyway?

      AV

      • #3009967

        But AV, consider this

        by maxwell edison ·

        In reply to I can only see it working this way

        If you consider ONLY the service provider and the service receiver, preventitive care and basic health issues are EXTREMELY cheap and easy to deliver. Those are the things that a person should pay for out of pocket OR have provided as a matter of charity (voluntary and private charity, not forced government charity). Why should a [i]government run insurance plan[/i] pay for those things? That’s crazy!

        Moreover, and I tire of harping on this, but the role of government in the United States IS NOT to cater to the needs and wants of the individual, but rather protect the individual’s right to determine those things for him/her self.

        • #3009955

          Charity can’t do it

          by av . ·

          In reply to But AV, consider this

          It has to be guaranteed. Basic healthcare should be provided by the government. Just preventive care. If I had to pay for that out of pocket, it would cost too much.

          Government does have a limited role. Anything more is individualy responsibility.

          AV

        • #3009952

          I disagree

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Charity can’t do it

          Basic health care should be provided by government? Really? Guaranteed health care? Is that the role of government? By what authority? At its lowest common denominator, are you suggesting that my health care should be guaranteed by forcing you (through government) to pay fot it?

          Okay, AV. I go to the doctor, but I insist that you pay the bill. What a deal.

        • #2820089

          Face it, Max

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to I disagree

          If Obamacare passes, you’re going to live forever. It’s “guaranteed” 🙂

          [i]Okay, AV. I go to the doctor, but I insist that you pay the bill. [/i]

          No, you go to the emergency room for a splinter. Demand a CT Scan AND an MRI, and an $80 aspirin, and insist that AV pay the bill 🙂

        • #2819999

          No CT scan or MRI is for free

          by av . ·

          In reply to Face it, Max

          Thats outside of the public option plan.

          AV

        • #2819977

          What?????

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to No CT scan or MRI is for free

          Inferior care?????

        • #2819746

          Demand?

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Face it, Max

          What yuo are failign to see is that such a system would correctly NOT allow patients self diagnosis and self treatment as they do now.

          I Canada, I can’t go in and DEMAND an MRI or CAT scan, I can DEMAND to see a doctor and he/she will detrmine my treatment options.

          $80 Aspirin? Private system

        • #2819731

          But it is a difference

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Demand?

          In Canada, there are two parties involved, the patient and the doctor. If the doctor says, get an MRI, then the patient will get an MRI. If things are urgent, then the patient can be bumped up the line. It happened with my son, he got one in hours when he had an espisode of turning blue. My wife went to a CT scan as soon as she was stable (about 90 minutes) after a head injury.

          You can of course get a second opinion, but if you are a doctor who is too “liberal” with tests, you may come to the attention of the college of physicians and surgeons.

          In the US, with no HMO and cash, you need a doctor’s referral. With an HMO, the doctor has to submit the treatment plan to the insurer for analysis.

          James

        • #2820001

          We’re already paying for the uninsured

          by av . ·

          In reply to I disagree

          People that pay for private insurance are already paying for those that don’t have insurance through their premiums. It would probably be cheaper to offer a bare bones public option that is subsidized by the government. People using it will still have to pay into it.

          It would be cheaper to have a public option with an HMO than to have the uninsured go to the emergency room for treatment for everything.

          AV

        • #2819962

          AV – The bottom line

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to We’re already paying for the uninsured

          You either want government to decide things concerning your private life or you don’t. I don’t – PERIOD – and I’ll let ALL chips fall where they may. How about you?

        • #2819817

          Really?

          by jck ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          [i]You either want government to decide things concerning your private life or you don’t. I don’t – PERIOD – and I’ll let ALL chips fall where they may. How about you?[/i]

          Sp you decide:

          Where schools are built?
          Roads are constructed?
          Where you go to vote?
          Where you can buy a gun?
          Whether or not your wife gets a mammogram that finds the lump that saves her life?

          You only think you want to make all the decisions in your life.

          If you had to make (and pay for) everything government provides you, you would either live meagerly or your neighbors with more guns would come steal your stuff.

          That’s right. Police, fire, medical regulation, land rights, highways, etc.

          All done by that evil government that makes your life safe and easier.

          You should get a group together, go buy an island, and make your own way. See how great life is having to do everything yourselves.

        • #2819808

          Look carefully…

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          at the preamble to the United States Constitution.

          “Promote” the general welfare does not mean “provide”. If they’d have meant “provide”, they would have specifically said “provide”, because in the previous sentence, they did (“provide for the common defence,”)!

        • #2819680

          Some things, why not?

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          First of all the government is just offering an option to people needing insurance.

          Currently your tax dollars, as well as insurance premiums, pay for this ewho are in dire need.

          If those same people were paying a portion of their own costs, how does that put the government in control of your private life in any way shape or form, that they don’t already have control of now?

          You are not giving them more rights to control your private lives, by electing them you have already given them that right. The government that is elected by the people is entrusted to spend your tax dollars.

          If you think paying taxes is the same as allowing the government to control your private life, they are already spending your tax dollars to help those who pay nothing in taxes OR premiums. YOU DO IT NOW.

          How is allowing them a way to balance the cost, by having people pay a portion of what you already pay for now, seen as giving them more control?

          This greater government control kick is absolutely illogical.

          If you DON’T allow them to charge these people for what you already pay for, you are therefore accepting the government paying for the entire cost out of your tax dollars.

        • #2819667

          Promote the general welfare

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          It means that Congress may provide legislation that acts in a general best interest of a nation.

          If AFFORDABLE health care for millions of uninsured Americans is not acting in the best interests of the nation, you have some really screwed up thoughts towards your nation.

        • #2819636

          I think we should have a public option

          by av . ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          Personally, I’d rather pay into something with a fixed cost instead of not knowing how much of the insurance premiums I pay now cover the uninsured.

          I don’t like government control but in this area it makes sense. Everyone needs healthcare and we all should support basic needs.

          We pay anyway. Maybe we can cut costs.

          AV

          Edited: Whoops! Lousy editing.

        • #2819598

          AV – don’t fall into the trap

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          A [i]public option[/i] means a government (public) option will compete with a [i]private (corporate)[/i] option.

          Consider this:

          Corporate must operate with a profit, while government can run unlimited deficits.

          Corporate is limited to operating under monetary limits, while government can print money.

          Corporate must operate under existing laws, while government makes the laws – which is exempt from following.

          I could go on.

          Do you really understand what you just suggested?

          If you were [i]private[/i] and I was [/i] public[/i], would you like to compete with me if I could make (and change) all the rules all the time, and you were forced to be profitable while I could run unlimited deficits?

          Have you really considered the true difference?

          P.S. Let’s play a game of poker. The only thing is, you must play under the private option rules, while I play under the public option rules. After all, there’s nothing like a public pair beating a private full house.

        • #2819587

          Where do you come up with this stuff?

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          Firstly, your examples are such extreme exaggerations they become laughable analogies. Secondly, a private is only a forprofit organization because they have no restrictions as to how badly they can rip off customers and deny others access to affordable options.

          In your poker game, the private would also insist that your bets cost double the value of the chips you play and if you didn’t have enough to anti up you would be left out of the deal.The public would ensure that you can still play as many chips as you wanted but would also lower the anti to make it an affordable game for others to join too.

          You are just forunate that you are still able to afford your premiums, others who may also work hard and pay taxes may not be so lucky.

        • #2819581

          Nice try, Oz. But all you accomplished is. . . . .

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          ….. sounding totally stupid.

        • #2821303

          Oz, watch your wording

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          AS IT IS NOT health care that is being debated in congress and the senate, but INSURANCE. The two are NOT the same thing.

          NOTHING is being done to increase affordable health CARE or improve quality of living for anyone.

          And the proposed plans will do nothing but increase the costs, not lower them. That is the reason sane people oppose these half baked and RUSHED plans.

        • #2821098

          Health care, JD

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          You are right, I should have said health care insurance.
          You didn’t seem to have a problem figuring it out though, well done.

        • #2821094

          You can be so pathetic sometimes, Max.

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          I often get props in PM’s for actually calling you out on your comments. You then say things like, it makes me look stupid or that it is disingenious or whatever to simply dismiss my comment, that others notice are accurate observations.

          Then, with your lack of a valid reply, you just reiterate my views and make yourself look stupid and my point more accurate. That is of course unless you feel everyone reading here agrees with your point of view and doesn’t see the invalidity of your comments, ridiculous and overly exaggerated analogies and double standards.

          You are almost as bad as when JD points out a flaw in Obama or his policies,everyone knows JD is bitter about Obama and is hell bent on proposing his personal bias instead of reality and it detracts from what he is saying, however he doesn’t seem to see it himself. (sorry for dragging you into it JD).

          Your constant double standards and extreme exaggerations that you use to support your claims, actually detract from what COULD have been a valid observation that desrves consideration. Instead, you turn it into a ridiculously exaggerated blast against total control on the Borg ship and remove any credibility from it.

        • #2821552

          Wasn’t my point, Oz

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          the point was that the whole focus for what the current administration is doing is on the wrong target in the first place.

          You are talking about people getting the care they need, but CARE is NOT part of the plans they are trying to hush through.

          THAT is where a lot of us have a big problem, of throwing a lot of feel-good money at a problem, knowing full well they are not addressing the real issues.

        • #2821537

          Yes, I know what you were moaning about

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          I know you are on about the level of care,m which most Americans seem to feel is the est care in the world.

          YOu seem to e missing teh point though, if care is increased, cost is increased, private premiums are increased, fewer people can afford such care than today.

          Step 1: Make CARE of any sort, affordable.

          Step 2: Increase the level of care available for those people.

          Who cares how excellent care is if you can’t access it?

        • #2821532

          In a dream world though, Oz

          by jck ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          According to some folks:

          If care increased, then parts of the cost for it should go down.

          At least, some people think that as demand goes up and more needs to be produced that manufacturers and suppliers will always lower their prices to match.

          I’d like to be smoking the pipe they’re on. As the banks got money cheaper and cheaper from the Fed during the housing boom here, you didn’t see the banks dropping their rates to match.

          Capitalism impedes fair practice of business.

        • #2821438

          “Capitalism impedes fair practice of business. “

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          rubbish. Politicians on the take impede all fair practice.

        • #2821430

          Rubbish

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          Capitalism impedes fair business.

          There, about as useful and correct as your irrelevant slagging.

        • #2821418

          We are in deep …………

          by av . ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          I don’t feel sorry for private insurance companies. Yes, they operate under laws, but the laws have always been in their favor, especially the anti-trust laws. They’ve been fixing their own prices for years. Its about time they had a comeuppance.

          http://www.examiner.com/x-4380-Healthcare-Reform-Examiner~y2009m10d22-House-committee-votes-to-end-antitrust-exemption-for-insurance-companies

          A public option and an end to the anti-trust exemption that protects them, would force insurance companies to compete. Too bad if they have to compete against the government. It might be the only way to force them to become more competitively priced. Otherwise, its business as usual. Prices go up 10 to 15% every year and I pay more and more for less. Denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions. I could go on forever. Its obscene. A couple of years ago I had a $5000 MRI. I can’t imagine what it costs now.

          I wouldn’t like government involvement in other industries, but its a different story with healthcare. If 47 million people don’t pay for it right now and still use the services, then who do you think is footing the bill? Not them. Its the rest of us with insurance.

          Everyone should pay. We all use it and we all need it.

          AV

        • #2822467

          talk about rubbish, jd

          by jck ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          Who made the businessmen and businesswomen running banks loan money out to people they *knew* couldn’t pay?

          Who made the businessmen and businesswomen running banks give their loan officers directives to increase loans out?

          Who made the businessmen and businesswomen running banks push their people to increase quotas of loans given?

          NOTHING in the law said they had to put out a number of loans. It said they had to help…not give out stupid loans.

          It was the collective greed in the capitalistic minds of bank management who caused them to see the bonus clauses in their contracts that made them do stupid things WE had to bail out…not government law, rule, regulation or oversight.

          THEY were greedy. They screwed our country.

          No matter how you slice it, capitalism-fed greed caused it. Pure and simple.

          Just like the greed of the autoworkers unions broke the auto industry when times got tough.

          Capitalism is capitalism, whether it’s a person, union, management, or whomever, trying to siphon off all the money they can rather than reinvest it into their industry.

          Deny that if you can.

          The only thing the government didn’t do right is throw all the bastards in jail.

        • #2822464

          Give up, AV

          by jck ·

          In reply to AV – The bottom line

          You can’t convince people like jd and Max that, in their use of company paid country club memberships and company paid vacations and company paid lunches, that corporate management work together to control rates and force increases in profits by reducing coverage and increasing policy premiums.

          You are right though in what you said. But convincing those who trust business to do right are placing all their eggs in the egg basket that the wolves in business have been raiding for decades.

      • #3009959

        Simple AV, force “the rich” to pay for it all

        by jdclyde ·

        In reply to I can only see it working this way

        That is what you do when a majority voting block are lead to believe they have a “right” to “free” health insurance. Vote away other peoples rights.

        We are moving backwards as a country.

        • #2820087

          The rich don’t pay

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Simple AV, force “the rich” to pay for it all

          they only pass along their costs.

        • #2820053

          Well that shouldn’t bother you then

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Simple AV, force “the rich” to pay for it all

          From what I understand, you, much like myself are far from being rich.

        • #2819979

          Guess what Oz

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Well that shouldn’t bother you then

          When rich people get taxed more, they pass it along as a business cost in what they sell, and you buy.

        • #2819760

          Doesn’t matter to you though

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Guess what Oz

          Americans don’t buy anything they manufacture themselves, the cost is too high from all of your overtaxed ‘richies’ (stole that term from Pretty in Pink).

          Americans only buy cheap, Chinese knock-offs as that way they can afford the industrial sized bags of Potato chips at Piggly Wiggly.

        • #2819702

          Hey!

          by jck ·

          In reply to Doesn’t matter to you though

          By God! I’ll have you know!

          – My car was made in KOREA!
          – My speakers were made in UTAH!
          – I buy chips at 7-11!

          I am a good American. I diversify. :^0

        • #2819674

          Your speakers were made in China

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Hey!

          RBH is based in Layton Utah. They were actually ‘assembled’ in China. RBH products come in boxes that say made in China, I am not sure how the EMP boxes are marked though.
          Final assembly is cheaper there.

          RBH designs the product, manufactures the crossovers, driver cones etc. They are then shipped to China, where they have a private plant for the purpose of assembly, using MDF cabinets that most likely comes from their high demand for Canadian lumber.

          Hey, have you even hooked the bloody things up yet?

          The assembled parts are then shipped back to Utah for distribution.

          Signature series models are designed, and handmade in Utah, they just don’t have the facilities to accomodate assembly of other products locally.

          As for 7-11 (Southlands Corp.), your pure blood, Texas originated company; Toshifumi Suzuki is the Chairman of Southlands and Masaaki Asakura is the EVP/COO. Couple of good ole down home Teaxas boys I suppose. 😀

          I forget which Korean car you have though, isn’t it was a Toymotor Prius?

          In contrast I drive an American designed SUV, built in Canada, with a German engine. 😀

          My speakers (The Scandyna’s) were made by a merger between a Scandinavian (Scanspeak) and Danish (Dynaco) company, a second set was designed by good old UTAH based RBH Sound (woop woop RBH!!)and assembled in China and another set was hand made in Utah.

          Many of my clothes are European imports (nothing beats European suits for cut, tailoring and design).

          Damn free trade and world affairs, you don’t know where ANYTHING comes form these days. It is really nice to have such a HUGE marketplace though, as long as you avoid teh cheapo knock-off’s, you can get superior quality products by buy each nations specialty exports.

        • #2821217

          EMPs

          by jck ·

          In reply to Hey!

          I think the parts are made in China. I think the speakers are made in Utah.

          I have 3 hooked up. The two I can’t put on the back wall yet because they didn’t come with built-in hangers on the back of them so I either have to get some or get and make space for floor stands.

          The sound is much better, but that’s comparing them to the cheapo Sony’s.

          For $200 though, you were right. They were a steal.

          Thanks again for the tip.

        • #2821086

          RBH doesn’t assemble EMP’s

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Hey!

          I promise you that the only product assembled at the RBH factory in Utah is Signature series, I’ve been there, I know the builders. They don’t have the space nor manpower to handle the production numbers of the other models.

          The benefit of RBH though is that they don’t buy assembly line products. For example: q lot of other manufacturer’s such as Polk, Klipsch, JBL etc. will se the same factory as other companies. Theu don’t do the R&D themselves, very costly and they just ‘create’ a product based on what is available in that factory’s bins, crossover components etc. They will often design one or two crossovers, from the same parts and use them for all models too.

          In contrast, RBH was a desinger and builder before manufacturing. They actually spin their pwn aluminum cones in the Utah factory. They design their own crossovers and have th R&D department to do so for each model independently and even upgrade it over time to the point of near perfection.

          They then send those plans and designs to their custom shop in China where they are assemled to meet extremely tight standards that RBH sets out, they don’t make other products, juts EMP, RBH, Destination Audio and Status Acoustics (all RBH products). They are then shipped back to the US for distribution.

          This allows for much greater R&D more time spent developing the correct components and assembly under much stricter quality control and factory standards than are found in north American factories.

          And voila, damn nice speakers come out of it.

          Glad you are happy, now get some real critical listening down, shut down tone controls (flat settings) and EQ’, turn off any effects, as I assume you already do. If you have the option, play with the large and smal front speaker settings, you’ll probably find that a large speaker setting sounds best.

        • #2822462

          I just went by what the box said

          by jck ·

          In reply to Hey!

          There was no mention of anything but Utah on the box.

          I’ll look at the speakers.

        • #3013434

          They had a problem with the RBH brand that way

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Hey!

          All RBH boxes except Signature Series were changed to say Made in China. Sales plumetted instantly. I work with a few retailers from various parts of the Orient, they can’t sell a Chinese made product to Oriental customers, they just won’t buy anything Chinese.

          With EMP designed for the online market segment, they have to appeal to an even wider audience, so it’s possible they wiggle around a way of tagging them as being from Utah. I have a pair of their 35″ on-wall models in the sounds room, they offered us a good deal on a HUGE shipment when they cleared them out. We never took them up on it due to the large number we needed to commit to. They are okay sounding, not their best product by any means, but the tag on them clearly states made in China.

          Due to needing to buy a lot of them in order to get a good price and havign RBH in the soundroom, we cannot sell them so we just have the one pair here. A distributor agreement states you cannot sell other RBH made products with them, nor can I sell them and add an RBH sub in the package (they do need a sub).

          These are not the same speakers you got at all, not even close.

          Yours are all but RBH, same crossovers and even use the TK series drivers, that’s why they were such an exceptional deal. EMP’s, as a brand, are usually rather low end.

        • #2819704

          Unfortunately

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Well that shouldn’t bother you then

          I was born with standards and work ethic, where I believe people need to pull their own weight in life.

          I am not looking to take anything from anyone else, that I have not earned.

          Actually, been spending more time lately helping people less fortunate than myself.

        • #2819669

          So you don’t believe all people should pull their own weight in life.

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Unfortunately

          “…been spending more time lately helping people less fortunate than myself”

          Why can’t THEY pull their own weight in life? Do they have no standards or work ethics or are there exceptions to your blanket assertion ?

        • #2821306

          Actually, mr oz media

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to So you don’t believe all people should pull their own weight in life.

          they are people that I know have been laid off, are actively looking for work and are doing what they can to take care of their families. It is the people that are looking for a handout for nothing that I have no use for, but if you are working to make a go at it, I will do what I can to help.

          I believe people should work to pull their own weight in life, but sometimes there are setbacks, and that is what friends are for. Something, it sounds like, you are not familiar with.

          If they are making the effort and just not making ends meet, I am more than willing to help out in any way I can. Looking right now at what I can give to the food pantry, since thanksgiving is coming up soon. over a decade ago, they had provided me an my family with a good meal, how can I not do the same now that I am able?

          Not everyone has to be legislated to help. How about you, just going to be a dick to everyone, or will you be doing anything to help those around you?

        • #2821210

          Ah…the seething and loathing coming from MI is intense

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          Cause, that’s “just how you are”. :^0

          BTW, jd. No matter how generous or giving you are, if someone is not paying for their way in life they are “not pulling their own weight”.

          Yeah, there are setbacks. But, not doing is not doing no matter how hard you try.

          Oz was right. Your support of those in need is admirable, but your assertion that people who don’t pull their weight don’t deserve things was very generic and poorly expressed, and did not make your opinion and standing you said here meet with how you practice in life.

          Just thought I’d interject that.

        • #2821196

          Ever hear “it is the thought that counts”?

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          I base people by their efforts, not their results. Not everyone is going to be successful, and many of the hardest workers I have ever known make less than 24K a year.

          I am living in a state unreal unemployment thanks to Granhom “blowing us away”.

          Wonder if we can sell/give Detroit to Ohio?

        • #2821193

          The thought that counts

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          is nice.

          But it won’t buy you a box of Cheerios.

          Food stamps do.

          BTW, the unemployment where I live is almost as bad as Michigan. 13.8%.

          Yours isn’t the only state.

        • #2821153

          Blah blah blah

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          you are not even honest enough to see there is a difference between someone that is working to improve their situation and having a hard time, vs someone that doesn’t try?

          you are sad…..

        • #2821141

          No blah blah blah

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          I am saying if you’re poor, you’re poor. If you have nothing, whether you work or not to improve, poverty and all the good efforts in the world still gets you nothing.

          Achievement (making that money) buys you food, not effort…not good will…not going to church.

          That is, of course, within the parameters of “doing for yourself”, and not “taking a handout”.

          Besides, what’s wrong with food stamps and welfare? Hm? Please explain how having take that is wrong?

        • #2821140

          posted in wrong spot…removed post

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          .

        • #2821108

          When did I comment on welfare and foodstamps?

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          I am not talking about if people should or shouldn’t get government assistance, I am talking about what I PERSONALLY do, and who I am willing to do it for.

          YOU are bringing up welfare/foodstamps.
          YOU are bringing up success/failure.

          If you have a point, make it.

          Are YOU saying regardless of effort, phuck’em all?

        • #2821078

          You couldn’t be more wrong

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          How can you flip flop that way? It boggles the mind really.

          As me not understanding how some people fall on hard times, I have used that exact same argument here many times (especially regarding the reasons I see a need for welfare support) and people just don’t get it.

          So if the government offers cost effective insurance plans, you see that as simply giving free medical to people out of your pocket, and you thus assume all people collecting such a plan would also be people who simply decide not to work and collect your dime instead. What a moron!

          There are MANY people “making the effort and just not making ends meet” that simply cannot afford insurance premiums, perhaps they are in entry level jobs or have had cuts at work and don’t get a partial subsidy from the employer, that is another part of the plan is to make offering such support more affordable for smaller businesses.

          In your world there is only YOU and everyone else should be just like YOU. People who are trying to BE you are worthy of support.

          But what if a person is working full time, has a mortgage, has children a car and everything else that any hard working person could have, however they can’t afford such high premiums because they don’t get partial support from an employer? NOW they have options that were not available before.

          What about the poorer neighourhoods where employers pay very little for people to do menial jobs and THEY can’t afford nor get benefits from the employer? they work just as hard if not harder than you, they pay taxes, they raise families and they get screwed with premiums? I suppose THEY qualify in your mind.

          So where’s the line of division?

          Anyone SHOULD be able to afford insurance if they are actively working or looking for work and all others should not? Kind of like welfare? But you don’t like welfare either as there are people that scam the system, just as they will medical.

          So in essence, a flawless and perfect system would be okay but one that can be challenged or circumvented should not be put into action. Unfortunately ANY system is beaten and exploited, and usually the only people that added restraint stops are the people who are actually the ones who need and deserve such support.

          Sorry JD, there ARE no perfect systems, but that doesn’t mean they have to ditch them all because some punk will get stitches and fractions of a cent come out of your tax dollars.

          As for me being a dick to everyone and not helping those around me, f**k your fat hole you ignorant c**t.

          I’m very confident that I do more to help people in a week than you do in a year.

          Last week I got together with a friend and we went to three different local coffee bars that sell cakes, sandwiches and muffins. We found out they are throwing away food everyday, they can’t give it to the food bank because it’s perishable. So we took it upon ourselves to take the unsold products, twice a week to Main & Hastings (core of the drug addicted and homeless in Vancouver) and hand them out. they don’t earn, they don’t work, they are addicted to drugs or alcohol, once had families and have children, once were upstanding citizens and just fell on hard times that got worse to the point where the world gives up on them. THEY STILL DESERVE TO EAT, even though they don’t fit your criteria of who needs help.

          Will you also be spending thanksgiving with your family or will you be at the homeless shelters serving them their Thanksgiving dinner? In other words, throw some money their way and let them take care of their own needs. You do realize that volounteer help is needed more than money with most such organizations.

          When was the last time you and your family decided to participate in giving someone else Christmas? Buy and decorate a tree for them, take them dinner and presents, spend Christmas day with them? There’s more to it than donating money.

          When was the last time you collected all of your old jackets and blankets and went to the streets to hand them out to people who look cold? Have you walked down an alley littered with drunks and junkies to help the few that are in need of warmth, a cup of coffee or a hot meal?

          Don’t even TRY implying I don’t reach out others around me all the time, it’s not an annual event it’s a commitment to helping people. I don’t qualify people to see if they deserve my help, everyone is a human that had a mother and father, everyone deserves help where help can e provided.

          I don’t believe you actually had the audacity to even suggest that, you ignorant f**k.

        • #2821073

          it’s not about particularly welfare or food stamps, but hand-outs

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          You’re so against them, jd.

          Unless of course, you deem them okay.

          When I had a mother in the hospital sick and lived on $20 for a month, did I get anyone giving me money? gas card? free trip to the salon? gift certificate for a bottle of scotch?

          Nope.

          The most I got was crashing at a buddy’s house or a cup of coffee if they were having one, or one of mom’s co workers would bring me a cake (just what my ass needed).

          If a cop doesn’t pull you over for 5mph but will for 25mph over…is going 5mph over not breaking the speed limit law?

          Taking a handout, whether from a food pantry, a neighbor, the US Dept of Agriculture cheese bank, etc., is a handout…no matter what its source.

          My mother and father called taking things from others without absolute need or doing something for it “mooching”.

          Saddest thing is though, I have a family in my neighborhood.

          The one son comes over to bum money and stuff. I finally quit answering the door. I figure if he can get off his butt to come beg, he can take and put a nail on a broomstick and get a trash sack and go around and pick up aluminum cans and cash them in.

          I tried to talk to him, and tell him he could do odd jobs. Guess it didn’t sink in.

          You probably thought I would say it’s his right to get handouts, huh?

          Welp, you’re wrong. Never ever said welfare (in its current form) was right. Never said begging was right. I said they have their times they’re needed, but never said they were right.

          You just assume because I voted for Obama that I’m some bleeding heart extremist.

          Well, I bleed for some people. But, I’m not extreme.

          I just don’t let a bunch of weenies in a “think tank” or “party” tell me what my value set should be.

          I’m my own person…at least, til I get married. Then, the wife will tell me how to behave. :^0

        • #2821534

          I know

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          But they are too hard to divide to consider ditching programs that many are worthy of receiving.

          There will always be welfare scammers, there will always be a majorty of welfare recipients who actually warrant collecting it.

          There will always be people who scam permanent disabilities and soak insurance companies, then there are the majority that are truly permanently disabled and warrant such support.

          People even scam food banks when they don’t need to, that doesn’t mean we should do without food banks.

          Just because peopel can and will scam ANY system designed, it doesn’t mean such systems are bad or have failed us. There HAs to be some leniency offered in such systems of else people with valid reasons may be excluded from benefits. Those tiny openings and allowances are easily exploited.

          If we tighten them down, as they trie dwith wlefare here in the late 80’s, we end up cutting off people who are really in need and warrant such support, meanwhile the ausers just continue to abuse the system.

          All that happened here was people who are valid recipients were cut off and the scammers kept getting checks.

          So yes, lets take care of those in need, lets help the people who really deserve ou support, but unfortunately, handouts like that DO and always will e handed out to people who don’t warrant such support. It’s a small and insigificant sacrifice in my eyes, in order to see those worthy of such support get support.

          I would love to see all the leeches get cut off and sent to work, I would like nothing mroe than to see only those who deserve a helping hand get a helping hand. BBut then there is reality, and the two just don’t mix.

        • #2821530

          people scamming/taking what they don’t need

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          [i]But they are too hard to divide to consider ditching programs that many are worthy of receiving.

          There will always be welfare scammers, there will always be a majorty of welfare recipients who actually warrant collecting it.[/i]

          Yeah. Thing is, I saw a system that Unisys made and San Diego county CA was using back in 1995…it used a card with a 2D barcode, which stored info on the card holder, including a fingerprint ID.

          They put the card reader and fingerprint reader in grocery stores. Your chance to be able to scam the tech? 1 in 1.5B.

          That’s what we need to implement with the US welfare program. Eliminate foodstamps, and put it on a card that requires the fingerprint of the person whose card it is.

          [i]There will always be people who scam permanent disabilities and soak insurance companies, then there are the majority that are truly permanently disabled and warrant such support.[/i]

          Yeah. I knew guys riding the system of “severely disabled” in college, then when they got the free grad degree done, they went and had a surgery and had it fixed and live normally now.

          Then I knew people who were really disabled in school, who needed special equipment but were waiting on it because of budget shortfalls…cause…people who didn’t really need the help were milking the system.

          Again, go figure.

          [i]People even scam food banks when they don’t need to, that doesn’t mean we should do without food banks.

          Just because peopel can and will scam ANY system designed, it doesn’t mean such systems are bad or have failed us. There HAs to be some leniency offered in such systems of else people with valid reasons may be excluded from benefits. Those tiny openings and allowances are easily exploited.

          If we tighten them down, as they trie dwith wlefare here in the late 80’s, we end up cutting off people who are really in need and warrant such support, meanwhile the ausers just continue to abuse the system.

          All that happened here was people who are valid recipients were cut off and the scammers kept getting checks.

          So yes, lets take care of those in need, lets help the people who really deserve ou support, but unfortunately, handouts like that DO and always will e handed out to people who don’t warrant such support. It’s a small and insigificant sacrifice in my eyes, in order to see those worthy of such support get support.

          I would love to see all the leeches get cut off and sent to work, I would like nothing mroe than to see only those who deserve a helping hand get a helping hand. BBut then there is reality, and the two just don’t mix.[/i]

          Yeah…you can never get rid of the idiots in the world. Genetics allows for deficiencies to arise just as superior traits.

          Too bad I can’t figure out how to eliminate losers. Then, I could finally be considered a bottom feeder when all the perfect people were around me. :^0

        • #2821503

          And now on to stem cell research :D

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          Gotta love how this happens with us lot.

          [b]FOODSTAMPS[/b]
          First of all, Foodstamps, not used here. Here they issue a check for your rent, food, bus fare, etc. Between $550.00 and just under $600.00 a month (think of the cost of living in Vancouver and suburbs). And we’re supposed to have the highest welfare rates in the country.

          While a nice, yet very expensive, idea, ID cards and fingerprint readers will not stop such scams though.
          Even with food stamps, the scam isn’t necessarilty from people selling stamps to others, it’s the people APPLYING for the support that are scamming it, it’s VERY easy. So even with a card and fngerprint system, if they are the authorized recipient there’s no way of stopping them. The problem lies in the office where they are applying and beigng accepted for support to egin with. Once again though, if you tighten those restrictions too much, the poeple who really DO need welfare won’t be able to get it and scammers will just better their scams and still get away with it. The card and fingerprint are irrelevant if you are scamming to get that card to begin with.
          I’ve seen guys work two jobs, under the table and collect unemployment AND welfare at the same time, in addition to two paying jobs. THAT’S a scam.

          [b]ID CARDS AND BIOMETRICS, THE HOPELESSNESS[/b]
          The card ID does help reduce the number of such stamps that are actually sold, but even then they can presell the purchases, go and buy the stuff for the recipient and sell the merchandise to them at a cut price, instead of the stamps.

          I have known guys that do that with electronics, instead of stealing CD players and DVD’s then looking for a fence that may not want them, they just took orders from the end users and then stole presold electronics for them instead. Think of cutting out the middle man, steaking direct for the end user.

          While a nice idea, and an expensive one at that (I used to sell such ID and access control technology too) the card ID does nothing to stop the scams it just changes the scams.

          [b]DISABILITIES[/b]

          Ow, my back hurts so bad I can’t walk. While there are CAT scans and MRI’s to confirm spinal misalignment, they usually cannot determine the degree of pain or disability someone will suffer. So any stiff back, or a night of sleeping in an odd position, will show up on an MRI or CAT scan as a spinal injury, which is generally very painful and doctors rely on the patient to tell them if thy can continue to work or not. Mental deficiencies, such as depression adn being bipolar are also VERy easily fakes and thus the disaility continues, problems such as acute sciatica is a common scam too. These people scam pain or mental dosease that cannot be proven either way. (just look how many perfectly sane people get off of murder and robbery charge sdue to mental disorders. This all adds up to people in REAL need not getting the level of support they need.

          The bottom line here is that neither of these programs, disability and welfare, have any effect on subsidizing health insurance costs. It is just pople who are bitter about such scams that feel that if they offer insrance support that there will be another avenue for scamming. Insurance scams are there already, it just makes it available to more valid recipients too.

          [b]STEM CELL RESEARCH[/b]:
          If we could create a perfect world full of perfect poeple, we wouldn’t have such issues, we wouldn’t need medical at all either. If we could follow Hitler’s lead, we’d all be happy. 🙂

          I think this is the fear that some people have towards stem cell reearch, that cloning is around the corner. However, so is appendage regeneration for inured workers. If someone loses a few fingers or toes and loses their union job and is forced to collect permanent disability checks, then stem cell research could see their appendages replaced and them back at work, paying taxes and off of the taxpayers back.

          Fewer sick or deformed children means a healthier future workforce, fewer people in need.

          People with spinal injuries may find relief also, getting THEM back to work and paying into the giant tax hole too.

          [b]CONCLUSIONS[/b]
          See the difference between my thought process and the thought process of those who fear giving something for nothing, is that you cannot possibly avoid poeple scamming ANY system and getting something for nothing.
          However if you look at the OTHER side of the equation, the positives generally far ourweigh the negatives. Okay, so every system gets scammed, so lets see what benefits each system brings instead and focus on the reality that it holds for the future, not how it may effect my pocketbook in the short term, to the effect of fractions of a cent at that.

        • #3013480

          By being legislated

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          to help all, including those who won’t even try, it lessens our ability to help those who we KNOW deserve our help.

        • #3013433

          Yep, Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          Well, there are people I would choose not to help that others would.

          You might think one person deserves help, and I might not.

          How do we decide who gets the help? Vote on every person?

          My solution to all this was simple: revamp welfare. Make it WorkFare. You turn down flipping burgers or mopping floors to earn your check? You get dropped. You starve. You get no insurance coverage. Good luck, goodbye and God bless.

          My parents never took a hand-out, and they both grew up poor as hell. Mom lived in a house with a dirt floor and washed other peoples’ clothes. Not many people even on welfare know that feeling nowadays.

          Of course nowadays, working your way up through hard work isn’t a given. You also have to contend with the boss’ friend’s relatives and his kids’ significant others too.

          That’s why I keep my options open. My loyalty is first and foremost to me anymore, and no one else because no one else does anything in my best interest anymore.

        • #3013432

          THere is no discerning who is worthy and who isn’t.

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          That’s the entire problem. We have no way of really determining hwo is worthy and who isn’t, not in a timely and accurate fashion anyway. With thousans of recipients per office, a general weeding is about all they can do without refusing support to many of those in real need in the process. In fact it’s the scammers that will get away with it and the real needy will be punted out of the system for not creating a good enough con game.

          they did it here, they tried to tighten their grip and the result was people started turning up in the newspaper dead. People in real need were left behind but the welfare scammers had no problems getting checks.

          There had to be some allowance in teh system so that people who actually need help get help. Due ot that, others will abuse the system. ANY systsem EVER designed for ANY purpose is just as easily beaten.

          Even contests are scammed out in the same way, they write ruls but they can’ te so tight as to make it impossible to qualify, thus people scam contests and win unfairly.

          It’s a fact of life, it’s like arguing about breathing.

          No system will be completely secure and if it is it will not see to all those who actually need the system in place.

        • #3013394

          Oh?

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          [i]Well, there are people I would choose not to help[/i]

          Why would that be?

          [i]You might think one person deserves help, and I might not.[/i]

          I’m not telling you how to spend YOUR money. Help whoever you want. I’ll do the same.

        • #3013388

          And…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          how do we decide what to spend money on as a nation? Do we vote on everything? Does majority win? 2/3? 3/4 vote?

          Seriously, this whole individual empowerment thing is unrealistic. You’d be caught up in more rhetoric and red-tape b/s deciding what highways to upgrade, and what runways need upgrade grants.

          What you may find a “key issue” or “need”, I might think is “poppycock” or “waste”.

          That’s why we have representatives.

          Anyways, you see community efforts and programs as collectivism and socialism.

          I see your “freedoms and liberties” as separatist.

          One of the things that made America great was that it was a melting pot, not a bunch of seperate pots on different burners.

        • #3013376

          That’s only true of a government run system.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          [i] THere is no discerning who is worthy and who isn’t. [/i]

          I am perfectly capable of discerning such of people who ask me.

        • #3014806

          Tony- RE:Help whoever you want. I’ll do the same

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          And you think that will see that all the needy people are seen to?

          Not bloody likely, Tony.

          Again, those with friends and family to help out will get help.

          Everyone else gets left in teh dark, no support whatsoever increasing and perpetuating the poverty level.

        • #3014728

          But Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to Actually, mr oz media

          This is the United States of America.

          Not the United States of Tony.

          Whenever you become a country of 1 person, you can then decide what programs are and are not beneficial to your citizenry.

          Until then, America is a country where people work together for a common good. Not just for that of one person, one religion, one sector, one race, or one income level.

        • #3013483

          There’s a difference, Oz,

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to So you don’t believe all people should pull their own weight in life.

          between “can’t” and “won’t”. There’s also a difference between misfortune, laziness, and stupidity.

          I know that you know this, so your comments aren’t based on ignorance. That leaves disingenuousness.

        • #3013414

          Can’t won’t

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to There’s a difference, Oz,

          Do you HONESTLY think that I advocate losers and scammer collecting welfare?

          DO you HONESTLY think I advocate anyone getting something they don’t deserve?

          Do you HONESTLY think I am someone who hasn’t grown up learning that you get NOTHING you haven’t rightly earned?

          Fact of the matter is there is no effective way, beyond measures already taken, to ensure that people who need help are separated from those who simply want handouts.

          In order for any system to see to the really needy, the really not needy get through too; it’s life, deal with it or watch even more people go without and suffer than you do today.

          Your theory is based on an ideal, and ideal which does not exist.

          Max once said that if people took care of their own, there would be no problems. However it’s people who DON’T have people of their own to help out that make up the majority of such benefit recipients.

          Genuine, real, hard poverty, exists in your country too. In fact there are more valid recipients than invalid. It’s just that KNOWING some people scam checks makes it so hard for people to accept that most are warranted and actually NEED such help.

          How many people living on the bottom do you know? I mean homeless or all but homeless, living in small rental rooms in skid row? How many people do you know that were once upstanding high paid employees of national companies that are now living on skid row and addicted to intravenous drugs? It happens FAST, it happens easy, it happens constantly.

          Once you realize what lack of programs there are to help such people get back on the straight and narrow, get their lives back together and become part of a functioning society again, you might just have a tiny hint of an idea of the real problem.

          We piss away so much tax money on failed rehabilitation programs that don’t see it through properly, landlords that help people scam welfare so that the so called residents can buy crack it’s ridiculous.

          Landlords will offer rent receipts to junkies saying they pay $400.00 month for a room on skid row. The landlord gets a check sent directly from the government to cover the guys rent each month, meanwhile he is living in the alley (not the landlords scuzzhole of a building) the landlord gives him 50% of his check as cash and the guy ends up using it to buy drugs.

          We have a large building, ex-department store, in Vancouver (right in skid row now) where the people of Vancouver had campaigned for it to be converted into affordable housing, it stayed dormant for over 10 years until a private development company finally bought it and said they will be offering what they consider affordable housing. By “affordable” housing they meant BUYING a suite for less than $100,000.00, yeah I’ll start collecting my pop bottles right away.

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodward’s_building

          We get REAL poverty here in Vancouver, REAL hardship, people with NOTHING at all, no reason to live except the determination to at least exist for a few more years if possible.

          There are no real pictures that show the bad parts of skid row, this picture shows a tent city. Of course in the core fo skid row, tents are not allowed so it is shopping cart road instead. The stench of feces and urine carries into gastown (one of Vancouver’s most famous tourist stops) just one block to the North.

          http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/282585428_7f15e3d467.jpg

          This oe is right beside the old Woodwards uilding, of course the photos shown on their website are photoshopped very well.
          http://www.wendellphillips.com/images/vancouver/drugs.jpg

          Until you’ve seen it, you just can’t possibly fathom how many people with real needs go unseen to. And how do you determine those people from con artists who live in teh same area, don’t work and sell drugs for a living?

          The problem is far worse than these much older photos show, the shopping carts run thick from store to streetside now, all the way down East Hastings, about 5 blocks, both sides of the street.

          http://nimg.sulekha.com/Sports/original700/canada-vancouver-homeless-2009-9-21-21-10-3.jpg

          The Vancouver Olympic scomittee has decided to spend a few million on banners to place on light posts so that it destracts tourists form looking at the streets, they are also hiring actors, to look like normal folks walking down the street in skid row to detract from the reality of it.

          No, welfare is a rip off, nobody needs welfare, all these poeple could have been getting help from those nearer to them.

          Give your head a shake and get a grasp on reality for once.

        • #3014855

          Since

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to There’s a difference, Oz,

          [i]Do you HONESTLY think that I advocate losers and scammer collecting welfare?
          [/i]

          you don’t seem to be in favor of expending the effort to stop it, it wouldn’t be a wild assumption.

        • #3014799

          Once again a concept you just can’t grasp

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to There’s a difference, Oz,

          If you refuse everyone, your poverty, crime and drug levels soar.

          There is no system that is foolproof, the system in place has flaws but it works as good or better as any system devised to date.

          You like your safety and protection, however you don’t support the foundations of it.

        • #2819703

          funny

          by jck ·

          In reply to Simple AV, force “the rich” to pay for it all

          I thought that it was going to require Americans to “purchase” health insurance, and provide assistance to low-income people.

          BTW jd…in case you didn’t know:

          Welfare people already get free-healthcare…it’s called Medicaid.

          So, that’s not gonna increase any. In fact, the want to revamp that to cut out the fraud and save money.

          Doom and gloom. Doom and gloom. Obama is satan. Pelosi is a demon witch. And, Baucus is the Anti-Christ cometh.

          Doom and gloom….

        • #2819650

          The part I find amusing

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to funny

          Is that it’s from the same people who thought Bush was a worthy president and did a good job, for the most part.

          How can you defend Bush’s actions and downplay Obama’s when Bush’s was for his personal betterment (though he CLAIMED it was to save America…and the same people bought it), or at least he hoped it would be that way, and Obama is more focused on making it a better place for the people of America.

          To top it off, people are whining because Obama wants use other people’s tax dollars to balance costs and make the lower class start paying medical premiums, instead of getting freebies. Yet they supported Bush when spent many trillions of other people’s tax dollars on a futile war in Iraq!

          I often wonder if some people even deserve a voice with such warped mentalities, that’s democracy though. Maybe the voting prerequisite should be an IQ test or something.

        • #2821305

          That is the great lie about it all

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to funny

          the poor poor already DO get free healthcare, and no pipedream passed now will improve on free.

          But people like you are just not honest enough to admit the scam.

          The poor poor will NOT be helped one bit by any of the proposed legislation.

          just like obama is not honest enough to admit it is not evil republicans stopping him, (because EVERY republican added together could not stop anything from passing) but rather it is Democrats that recognize bad legislation that are refusing to follow party line lockstep that are his sole problem. Neither he, nor you, have the honesty to admit that.

        • #2821215

          You finally got something right, jd

          by jck ·

          In reply to That is the great lie about it all

          [i]the poor poor already DO get free healthcare, and no pipedream passed now will improve on free.[/i]

          Did I not just say that?!?!?!?!

          [i]But people like you are just not honest enough to admit the scam.[/i]

          Actually, it’s no scam.

          What’s the intent?

          To provide affordable healthcare coverage to ALL Americans.

          That doesn’t mean just the poor…or the poor poor…or the doom and gloom like you who are semi-poor and semi-unemployed. But, also the working self-employed business owner who makes good money but is being drained by insurance costs.

          [i]The poor poor will NOT be helped one bit by any of the proposed legislation.[/i]

          You’re absolute right about something FINALLY.

          Too bad you said it after I’d already said it, or you might have gotten something on your own.

          [i]just like obama is not honest enough to admit it is not evil republicans stopping him, (because EVERY republican added together could not stop anything from passing) but rather it is Democrats that recognize bad legislation that are refusing to follow party line lockstep that are his sole problem. Neither he, nor you, have the honesty to admit that.[/i]

          Shows what you know. If the majority is not 60% or more in the senate, Republicans may filibuster and practically stop and kill the legislation.

          Go back and take Civics over and learn something.

        • #2821198

          Go back and check

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to You finally got something right, jd

          and you will see that Obama does not have the complete support of every Democrat in the house/senate, and THAT is what is stopping him.

        • #2821190

          True

          by jck ·

          In reply to Go back and check

          Just like not all Republicans are against the plan.

          Such as Olympia Snowe.

          I guess that you’ll have something negative to say about her though, since she’s a weak candidate for not being “strongly” with her party.

          Doom and gloom…fire and brimstone…the earth will come to an end if we have anything other than companies running things for a profit…oh doom and gloom…

        • #2821152

          yes, we already know

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Go back and check

          how you hate for a company to make a profit. Never go into business for yourself.

        • #2821137

          too late, jd…

          by jck ·

          In reply to Go back and check

          I already do independent consultancy part-time on the side, as well as holding a full-time job.

          See, I am working HARD for what I have and to have a good future.

          In fact, I might be making the move “up the ladder” soon.

          I’ll let ya know if I do. Maybe I’ll have a job for a network tech. 😉

        • #2821107

          Better be careful

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Go back and check

          we have an administration, along with a bunch of supporters of his, that are he11 bent on punishing success.

        • #2821524

          The poor

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to That is the great lie about it all

          Of course they will get free medical, so will the con artists and other bottom feeding scammers, always have, always will regardless of program.

          Now lets ocnsider the lower middle class, the working peple who just arely make enough to pay rent, get some food, take a bus to work etc. They often work jos where sch subsidy is not available to them.

          If THEY could afford insurance, THEY would be paying into the pool too and would also be helping to cover costs of the scammers that you already cover yourself.

          Right now, they are the ones who simply don’t go to a doctor, suffer unnecesary pain and still go to work because they have no choice, no insurance plan, no way out.

          Again there will ALWAYS be scammers, there always has been since the dawn of time, there always will be until the end of time.
          You don’t seem to pick your battles too wisely, you focus your energy on something that simply cannot be stopped in a humane society.

          It’s like anythign else, don’t focus on the trash and get on with it.

          At work, there are people who ride others coattails, they don’t EARN promotion ut they often get i anyway. Are they worth focusing yoru energy on, bitching in the staff room about, whining around the water cooler? OF course not, they will sink sooner or later, just keep your head down, work with the workers and the job gets done. All you end up doing is making yoruself look bad for focusing on them instead of just doing your job and letting the company weed them out in due course. They will never last too long, they always get seen for who they are and let go. Does that mean teh company will never hire another slacker? Of course not but that’s for them to sory out, not you.

          In the case of government scams it all catches up to them in the end and they will have one hell of a time getting out of it and getting ahead with their lives. Let’s say the DO make it in life, get married, start a family. Welfare then catches yo to them, unemployment inurance finds otu they scammed extra checks and puts a hefty fine on them so they have to wait for months before qualifying for UI again.

          Now, with a wife and children and a decent job, that person can’t get ahead ecause of all the past behind them. They can’t get a nortgage because they are repaying Welfare costs from 10 years gao, they lose their job and can’t collect UI because they have HUGE fines that UI is going to recover efore issuing a check.

          Some peopel call it karma, it’s just the way such systems work, they may take a while but they do catch up and ususally at the most unopportune time.

        • #2821439

          Single payer doesn’t address why healthcare is so expensive

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to The poor

          I will not support one more bandaide on the open festering wounds cause by our politicians, and then made worse by our politicians.

          Remove the restrictions that keep insurance companies from competing across state lines. I have yet to hear a reasonable reason why that is in place.

          Tort reform, never happen with lawyers in charge of these “reforms”.

          and of course the thing that will never happen, is Obama and his group offering to go on the same plan they are trying to rush down our throats.

          Good intentions and talking points will not improve health care or access to it, in the USA.

        • #2821428

          State lines

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Single payer doesn’t address why healthcare is so expensive

          States have different laws, states have differen governors, think of the USA as you see the European Union, a collective with a similar mindset but very different participants.

          Go to your desert island and get over the rest of teh world choosing to be governed already.

          Your worse than Tony, yuo want government only of what you personally deem worthy of governing. What a mental midget.

          Lower cost alternatives will indeed improve access ot health care for millions of americans. D

          oesn’t directly benefit you? Tough sh*t, think yourself lucky and move on to the next thing Obama says he’ll do.

          Just take anything he says, it doesn’t matter what, and create an argument for it, you do it anyway.

          Give up on flogging this dead horse and try killing a new one.

        • #2822461

          I pointed this out before

          by jck ·

          In reply to Single payer doesn’t address why healthcare is so expensive

          [i]Remove the restrictions that keep insurance companies from competing across state lines. I have yet to hear a reasonable reason why that is in place.[/i]

          I live in Florida.

          I was sold a policy from BCBS-Michigan.

          There is no restriction placed in all states.

          Blame your own damn MI politicians. If you can’t get out of state insurance, it’s not anyone else’s fault…including the federal government.

          That block you claim exists in our country at a national level is a falsehood.

          Nuff said.

        • #2822459

          The law doesn’t exist, Oz

          by jck ·

          In reply to Single payer doesn’t address why healthcare is so expensive

          I’m proof. I had a Blue Cross Blue Shield-Michigan policy for 2.5 years living in Florida.

          jdclyde is just spouting the lies of the idiots he listens to.

          If anyone wants proof, I’ll find my check stubs and provide the 88.00-some per week I was paying to BCBS-MI from July 2002 to December 2004.

          He’s full of it, but is just too ignorant of the facts to realize it.

        • #2819628

          Everyone has to pay

          by av . ·

          In reply to Simple AV, force “the rich” to pay for it all

          Not just the rich. We need affordable healthcare for everyone in this country and it’s going to cost us.

          AV

        • #2821304

          Ah, but that is reality and how things will end up

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Everyone has to pay

          that is NOT the pipe dream that the mindless cultists of obama believe will happen. They still believe it will be free for them and “the rich” will foot it all.

        • #2821208

          Oh really????

          by jck ·

          In reply to Ah, but that is reality and how things will end up

          Are you really that ignorant?

          jd, Barack Obama and his wife reported in 2007 $4.2M in income. They paid some $1.4M in tax, and donated over $240k to charity.

          The Obamas fall in that “rich” category who will be taxed heavier.

          Talk about mindless turds. Get a grip on reality. Most Senators and Representatives make enough per year between salary, investments, honoraria, etc., to be hit by the legislation they’re passing.

          Those mindless cultists are going to pay for YOU to have affordable coverage.

          Amazing, huh?

        • #3013571

          Nothing is free

          by av . ·

          In reply to Ah, but that is reality and how things will end up

          Anyone that thinks there is a free ride with healthcare is kidding themselves. Everyone will pay, not just the rich. Thats for sure.

          Maybe the cultists of Obama will willingly step up to the plate and pay like the rest of us have for many years supporting the uninsured. I’m not holding my breath, but it could be mandated that they pay in the future.

          AV

        • #3013564

          All costs are handed down

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Nothing is free

          but the supporters are not honest enough to admit what you just said.

          Of course, if I had said it, jck and a few others would be all sniveling about it…. 🙂

          There is very little honest discussion going on in this “discussion”. Just people attacking others because they don’t agree with them.

          And no, people do NOT have a “right” to free healthcare or free health insurance.

        • #3013555

          JD

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          Discussed the demographics of “The Enterprise” just this afternoon offline with a TR person.

          Upshot of that is, so far, as holder of an EIN, there is in my circumstance outside The Enterprise another repercussion: nobody gets hired. Forget it.

          So far, they are talking about 50 or more employees. That lets me out. Screw them if it eventually doesn’t. Nobody gets hired.

          I won’t, but others will, think of drawing more from the illegal pool.

          Other visions swim in my head. How about abolishing all minimum-wage statutes? Can we afford that, given what passes now, and surely worse to come?

          This thing spreads to everything.

        • #3013472

          This thing spreads to everything.

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          Indeed it does… Did you see what credit card companies are doing… Adding fees for people who use credit responsibly… to make up for the government intrusion into rules for people who don’t.

          Few see the pattern… The government is systematically making people less responsible for their weakness or stupidity… the result will be an increase in both.

        • #3013464

          Santee

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          Minimum wage? Would you believe there are people that still think it helps instead of hurts? People that FEEL something is or isn’t FAIR.

          Minimum wage is the greatest assault on Middle class America. They do not see the increase in wages, but they DO see the increase in COSTS of everything they purchase. THEIR income is worth less, closing the gap between low income and middle income.

          With the last feel-good raise of the minimum wage, did that make it so I can walk into a burger joint and make a living? Friggen hardly.

          Thanks Democrats for undermining the middle class, again.

        • #3013441

          hm

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          You’ve never had the right to free healthcare, jd??

        • #3013435

          LMAO Tony

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]Few see the pattern… The government is systematically making people less responsible for their weakness or stupidity… the result will be an increase in both.[/i]

          And, it’s been happening long before Obama even went to college.

          If I remember correctly, FICO became prevalent during Reagan.

          Personally, I’ve started moving my money out of American banks and into overseas investments.

          I can’t trust American companies to do what’s right, or the US government to pass laws to keep them honest.

        • #3013428

          No jck

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          I never had a right to it.

          I GOT it, but that isn’t the same thing as having a RIGHT to it.

          Just like people don’t have a RIGHT to food stamps, but still get it when in need. That is what compassionate people do, they help those in need, despite knowing there will be those that will abuse any system they can for their own gain.

          People today don’t realize just how few things in life they actually have a RIGHT to, vs the ability to get if they work for it or are helped by others in a position to help.

          I know, you are just looking to argue, so why am I trying to be logical with you?

        • #3013423

          Sure you did, jd

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          You had the personal right to accept what was offered.

          You had the legal right to get it because you qualified under the program’s guidelines.

          You had the individual right to apply for and collect it.

          In every way, you had every right.

          You even had the right to refuse it.

          My question is this:

          If you needed it and got it and used it, then who is to say your use was any more right than anyone else to use it?

          Sure, I’ve known people who didn’t do squat. Their wives lay on their backs and push out kids. They go sit on the post office steps the first day of every month waiting for that check. Then, they go spend it on booze or cigarettes.

          But, who’s to say they can’t live homeless and be drunk if that’s their preferred lifestyle?

          As I’ve said over and over. If we just made welfare into workfare, it would solve about 1/3 of America’s issues including labor shortages, unemployment, and tax deficits.

        • #3013391

          Confused are you

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          Don’t confuse [b]Ability[/b] with [b]rights.[/b]

          If it is not in the Bill of Rights, it isn’t a RIGHT.

          A drivers license is NOT a Right, but you can still get one from the State.

          And going on about welfare queens is not a topic I give a ratsass about discussing with you, as we both already agree about workfare. There is always trash along the road that needs to be picked up, or parks that need to be worked on.

        • #3013380

          Oh am I?

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]Don’t confuse Ability with rights.[/i]

          Don’t confuse rights with choosing to do the right thing.

          [i]If it is not in the Bill of Rights, it isn’t a RIGHT.[/i]

          Then show me in the Bill of Rights were it specifically states:

          a) you have a right to conceive children
          b) you have a right to breathe air
          c) you have a right to eat

          Please show me specific references.

          [i]A drivers license is NOT a Right, but you can still get one from the State.[/i]

          You can get arrested too by the state.

          [i]And going on about welfare queens is not a topic I give a ratsass about discussing with you, as we both already agree about workfare. There is always trash along the road that needs to be picked up, or parks that need to be worked on.[/i]

          Welfare queens? Actually, most of the people I knew on welfare were men. I was speaking of the ones who had wives that they let stay home and make babies while they went to the bar and drank or went to get their check every month or to the USDA office to get their food stuffs.

          As for workfare…

          Rest stop bathrooms to be cleaned.
          Houses in Detroit to be renovated and sold for a profit.
          Taring the roof on a building.
          Sorting recyclables.
          etc etc etc

          Starvation is a big motivator to get people to work. I guarantee it gets them off their butt faster than anything.

        • #3013363

          Truth be told…

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]And, it’s been happening long before Obama even went to college.
          [/i]

          even before he was born! Say, about the time the Federal Reserve and the income tax were created…

        • #3014961

          Honest discussion is really whats needed

          by av . ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          Its a very contentious issue, but party lines aside, no one can deny that we are in deep ship when it comes to healthcare and something has to be done.

          Obama promised to reform healthcare, but its easier said then done. Yes, the rich will pay, but the enormity of the cost will mostly be covered by all of us. How else could Obama say the plan is deficit neutral?

          I hope its mandated that everyone pays for themselves. There should be subsidies for the poor, but I’m sure those will be exploited. Every system is always gamed by criminals.

          There are no free rides when it comes to healthcare anymore. It costs too much and that money has to come from everyone. The free days of healthcare are coming to an end soon. They’re unsustainable.

          AV

        • #3014912

          Workfare jck

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          I like the concept and in simple terms it is a great solution. However, what happens when people are forced to work to earn food stamps or a welfare check? Are they now being abused as employees? How about others who do similar tasks and are paid minimum wage? The only result will either being workfare rates would soar and everyone earning minimum wage would bitch because they had to earn their job or, much to Tony’s delight, they would have to do away with minimum wage and people would be working for sweat shop wages and still restricted to the number of hours they could work. It would also effect unemployment insurance as fewer people would be able to secure full time positions, resulting in fewer qualified weeks and a shorter term, lower UI rate. It would most likely increase the level of low wage or workers below the poverty level even moreso than now. Sure, fewer would be out of work, but more would be living below the poverty line.

          To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. To think that a system of economics, which has been tweaked and developed over hundreds of years, would take a turn in a different direction, far more positive all around is just hard to see.

          We’d ptobably end up with even more illegal Americans up here and entering European countries looking for work

        • #3014902

          There is a problem, you say

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          With water and food pellets?

          With respect to a warm place to stay, they and their children are on their own. ‘Cepting, the kids get full medical, and, get taken away if they can’t handle it.

        • #3014857

          Especially

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]I hope its mandated that everyone pays for themselves. There should be subsidies for the poor, but I’m sure those will be exploited. Every system is always gamed by criminals.
          p/i]

          The ones that are too large to properly manage. Plus, there’s no incentive for government to investigate fraud… it’s not their money.

        • #3014819

          But AV, that is the problem

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          There are always “the rich” who should be paying for everyone else.

          When that runs short, hell, let the damn smokers pay for it.

          Lets be real scumbags and put a health tax on soda. What a grand idea?!?!

          Oh, I know, lets sue hostess for making us eat that box of twinkies!

          oh oh! Fast food! For making their fries too good, and the sodas so big!

          There are plenty of villains around when you are a politician trying to buy influence.

          Of course, at some time, they will run out of other peoples money to be generous with.

          And then the people that just like to argue come along, and mix in with the Obama fan club and have a gleeful time of making sure their isn’t an honest discussion.

          Remember two years ago, Obama saying the reason the Clinton healthcare reform failed was because it was done in private, and HE thought it should have ALL been on cspan? Where is it now? Hiding in backroom deals, like usual.

        • #3014796

          They Do investigate fraud.

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          However it costs far mroe to push a person through court than they will ever get in foodstamps. They just cut them off, let them go rob you and your neighours and sell drugs for their money instead. the really incapable BUY drugs from those same people and rob you or others to pay for them. Your end up paying in the long run anyway, insurance costs soar, more police are needed, more people are in hospial on yoru dime getting their stomache pumped etc.

          Poverty just doesn’t go away when you stop supporting it, it grows to immense proportions and takes over your life in other ways that are far less desireable than the government taking a few cents from your taxes to pay for their support.

          Your entire mindset on this suject is so skewed that it’s nearly impossible to explain just how senseless and blind such a concept really is.

        • #3014736

          Workfare Oz

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]I like the concept and in simple terms it is a great solution.[/i]

          Thanks.

          [i] However, what happens when people are forced to work to earn food stamps or a welfare check?[/i]

          Regular people are forced to earn a check. They would be doing the same thing that others who work for a living do.

          They would, in essence, become contributing members of the citizenry.

          [i] Are they now being abused as employees? [/i]

          No more than anyone else who goes to a job to work.

          [i]How about others who do similar tasks and are paid minimum wage? [/i]

          If minimum wage falls below the poverty standard for which a person needs to gain public assistance (welfare), then so be it. People making minimum wage could get that assistance to supplement their income from work.

          [i]The only result will either being workfare rates would soar and everyone earning minimum wage would bitch because they had to earn their job or, much to Tony’s delight, they would have to do away with minimum wage and people would be working for sweat shop wages and still restricted to the number of hours they could work. [/i]

          Actually if minimum wage was the wage at which poverty is not imminent, Welfare would no longer be just a free-ride system.

          Workfare would be a system where you work, you earn monies, and the government provides a supplement to that income…if needed.

          [i]It would also effect unemployment insurance as fewer people would be able to secure full time positions, resulting in fewer qualified weeks and a shorter term, lower UI rate. [/i]

          Why would people be able to secure full time work? Are businesses going to exploit this if there’s no benefit to them to do so?

          If you took welfare, and integrated its constituency’s unemployment to the something like America’s Job Bank and filled the job with welfare people, you would have less unemployment, less welfare expense going out, and more employers would have the staffing they need.

          [i]It would most likely increase the level of low wage or workers below the poverty level even moreso than now. Sure, fewer would be out of work, but more would be living below the poverty line.[/i]

          Not if the minimum wage were elevated to a livable standard, much as it is like in Ireland. You don’t see tip jars in pubs even in Dublin where the cost of living is 2-3 times what it is in Clonmel or Donegal.

          And when you have decreased payouts in Welfare (which is in the $10Bs), you can lower those taxes that Tony and Max and jdclyde bitch about all the time.

          That would serve to offset the amount in minimum wage increases that employers would incur.

          [i]To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. To think that a system of economics, which has been tweaked and developed over hundreds of years, would take a turn in a different direction, far more positive all around is just hard to see.[/i]

          If you drive the truck the right direction, you’ll get where you need to go. 🙂

          [i]We’d ptobably end up with even more illegal Americans up here and entering European countries looking for work[/i]

          Maybe you’d get the Mexicans we’ve been getting for 50 years. :p

        • #3014729

          Gloom despair and agony on…the rich?

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]There are always “the rich” who should be paying for everyone else.[/i]

          Funny. I pay taxes. I’m not rich.

          [i]When that runs short, hell, let the damn smokers pay for it.[/i]

          Your smokes costing you too much?

          [i]Lets be real scumbags and put a health tax on soda. What a grand idea?!?![/i]

          That’s been proposed already. Sorry. Not original.

          I know. How about a tax on scotch and golf! :p

          [i]Oh, I know, lets sue hostess for making us eat that box of twinkies![/i]

          That’s been tried…oddly enough.

          [i]oh oh! Fast food! For making their fries too good, and the sodas so big![/i]

          Irish cities have already banned fast food from their populous after showing the detrimental health effects of high sodium, high fat meals.

          [i]There are plenty of villains around when you are a politician trying to buy influence.[/i]

          Actually, the special interests buy the influence. Politicians “peddle” it.

          Get your misbehaviours right :p

          [i]Of course, at some time, they will run out of other peoples money to be generous with.[/i]

          Hm. Let’s see.

          Politicians are making the rich pay.

          Most well-known politicians in Washington make over $1M a year.

          They’re taxing themselves then.

          I’d say it’s damn fair when you write legislation that’s going to hit your own pocketbook…wouldn’t you?

          I see no favoritism there to themselves, their constituency, or their elite bretheren. They will be paying more taxes just like other wealthy people.

          [i]And then the people that just like to argue come along, and mix in with the Obama fan club and have a gleeful time of making sure their isn’t an honest discussion.[/i]

          Kind of like people such as yourself who like to argue come along and stir the pot with aggressive rhetoric, inciteful tone, and acidic commentary?

          [i]Remember two years ago, Obama saying the reason the Clinton healthcare reform failed was because it was done in private, and HE thought it should have ALL been on cspan? Where is it now? Hiding in backroom deals, like usual.[/i]

          You mean when he said this:

          [b][i]”But regardless of what combination of policies and proposals get us to this goal, we must reach it. We must act. And we must act boldly. As one health care advocate recently said, ‘The most expensive course is to do nothing.’ But it wasn’t a liberal Democrat or union leader who said this.

          It was the president of the very health industry association that funded the ‘Harry and Louise’ ads (Bill Gradison) designed to kill the Clinton health care plan in the early nineties.”[/i][/b]

          He was spot on about that. Republicans and Libertarians, in conjunction with the HIAA, set out to kill it point blank.

        • #3015329

          You do have a point jck

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          Again I think in concept it is a great idea but I don’t see it panning out quite as nicely as you do.

          [i]”Regular people are forced to earn a check. They would be doing the same thing that others who work for a living do.”[/i]

          Okay so even for a rather menial, minimum wage job where high school education gets you in the door, it would now need to allow people without such qualifications.

          Simply turn up at America’s Job Bank and get a job that someone else had to work toward and earn based on their own merits.

          Why would anyone at the entry level of the employment world, see to actually look for work? Just get fired, walk down the to the job bank and they get you another job. In essence it would make the government an unemployment “union”, screw up and they get you another job. Late for work too many times, get fired, the job bank slaps you on the wrist ut has an obligation to find employment for you again.

          [i]They would, in essence, become contributing members of the citizenry.[/i]

          I must say that you have high hopes and forgive me for beign pessimistic ut I know people that have scammed welfare and UI I know peoplethat live below the poverty line that could very easily be working, they don’t, they don’t want to and they wouldn’t ecome anything more than a burden passed on for a business to suffer with. It’ sbad enough with senior union memers, “they can’t touch me, I don’t give a rats arse what I do, they can’t fire me without giving me another job.”

          Raising minimum wage would e a greater deficit to the company, making them seek even more cheap, illegal labour and offshore workers.

          Here for example, students are turning once reputale companies into sweatshops. There is little to no low income, full time work these days (Burger Thing, McCrapples etc.). They only offer part time shifts, pay less money and don’t have to offer benefits etc. as they just hire P/T students that andare only oligated to offer limited benefits for part time workers. Adults workign in such places need to work three or four jobs in order to fill a full time card. adding more low end workers to teh mix would increase that need for even more part time jobs but not full time work. Poeple once workign full time would find hours cut back or they’d be fired to be replaced with lower cost, P/T employees, and would need to find another job to pay the bills.

          [i]If minimum wage falls below the poverty standard for which a person needs to gain public assistance (welfare), then so be it. People making minimum wage could get that assistance to supplement their income from work.[/i]

          But now you have created MORE people living on Part Time, minimum wages and more subsidy would be needed from the government. Not to mention tah added administrative costs, sick time, holiday pay, annual raises etc. for the government workers at the American Job Banks.

          [i]Actually if minimum wage was the wage at which poverty is not imminent, Welfare would no longer be just a free-ride system.[/i]

          Minimum wage goes up, companies outsource, we’ve all seen that first hand. If you can’t hire someone for minimum wage, offer no benefits due to their working part time, they’ll find workers somewhere else, wther illegals or imported workers.
          [i]
          “Workfare would be a system where you work, you earn monies, and the government provides a supplement to that income…if needed.”[/i]

          Why would anyone aspire to seek their own entry level job at minimum wage then? Just line up at the Job Bank and wait for an easy job, handed to you, and supplemented by the government.

          [i]Why would people be able to secure full time work? Are businesses going to exploit this if there’s no benefit to them to do so? [/i]

          Employment standards for full time workers ensures greater benefits than for part time workers, such as holiday pay, termination notice, unemployment qualification and more. Companies prefer to hire part time workers ecause they have fewer obligations to them, can arrange spotty shift schedules to meet traffic demands. In Vancouver a couple of years back, unless you were qualified and experienced, a student or entry level worker could not find full time work. Today it’s not much better, young workers work several jobs not just to make ends meet but because they need to work full time somehow. Employers WANT more part time workers in such menial roles, not full time workers.

          if the minimum wage is raised, those qualified for job placement would whine that the subsidy needs to be raised as they are expected to work for less than minimum wage, which is not within employment standards regulations, thus costing the company AND government more money.

          [iTony and Max and jdclyde bitch about all the time.[/i]

          You now governments well enough to know that IF they saved money they woul dallocate it elsewhere, nobody sees a dime back. The government is in a deficit, always will be, and will always have an excuse to reallocate your tax dollars. That’s why I don’t care about social programs being paid for out of tax dollars, my taxes don’t go up nor down, they get their money one way or another, we get nothing back if we save the government money.
          And Tony, Max and JD would still bitch all the time anyway. (cheap pot shot, sorry guys 😉 )

          [i]”If you drive the truck the right direction, you’ll get where you need to go.”[/i]

          But it will always wind up in the same place and never get farther ahead. (AHA!)

          Mexicans are NEEDED in teh USA. Corn is your largets resource of all, more than oil, or any other product america produces. It is controlled y ONE company that has a patented seed taht all growers must use and is used in EVERYTHING and I mean “EVERYTHING”. Probaly 80% of teh products you use, day in and day out have some form of corn product in them.

          Companies hire Mexican corn farmers to keep costs down and appease Monsanto and fill their contracts on time. The government then goes around every few years and fines and returns them to Mexico, making room for new illegal immigrants to enter. Almost any product you touch in a day, was made from a product touched by an illegal worker, who works for low pay, ridiculous hours and in horrific conditions that any normal worker would not allow. Americans are cost driven consumers but want good pay for working. ut that’s a different topic altogether.

          Again jck, I see your vision and it’s great, a Utopia even but we all know there is no Utopia and reality is very different from what we see in our dreams, no matter how much sense they make.

        • #3015326

          JD

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          The reason such food items are not taxed is because they want to keep them cheaper than real food.

          Consumers eat hybrid corn in everything they eat, that’s why corn production fuels America (well a handful of corporations anyway) and fast food is cheaper than real food. They have you by the nuts and if everyone started eating healthier, cattle farms would suffer, corn production would suffer (feeds the cattle, since when did cows naturally eat corn?), and the major corporations that control most of America would suffer losses (heaven forid!).

          When your labelling system was challenged and they wanted a list of health indgrediants added, as they do in Canada, listing saturated fats, calories etc on ALL food labels (and rightly they should), two massive corporations in teh US saw it paid to rest.

          They don’t WANT helthy Americans, they want yuo to pay less for crap than for real food and they WANT you to support eating garbage instead of healthy foods. It also in turn perpetuates the health industry, which ALSO relies on corn by-products for most drugs.

          Face it, your government is out to make money, lots of it. If you actually think taht completely abolishign ANY services would return money to your pocket, think again.

          You are far better off having the government spend your tax money back on society than sticking it in their pockets and paying off the handful of corporations that actually run and rule America.

          This whole ‘I pay too much in tax’ business is complete crap. If they need more they will take more, if they need less you won’t pay less. Don’t you understand how governments, even America’s, operate yet?

          People have to stand up and demand SOMETHING for their money, such as health care, otherwise nobody gets squat.

        • #3015325

          JD

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          The reason such food items are not taxed is because they want to keep them cheaper than real food.

          Consumers eat hybrid corn in everything they eat, that’s why corn production fuels America (well a handful of corporations anyway) and fast food is cheaper than real food. They have you by the nuts and if everyone started eating healthier, cattle farms would suffer, corn production would suffer (feeds the cattle, since when did cows naturally eat corn?), and the major corporations that control most of America would suffer losses (heaven forid!).

          When your labelling system was challenged and they wanted a list of health indgrediants added, as they do in Canada, listing saturated fats, calories etc on ALL food labels (and rightly they should), two massive corporations in teh US saw it paid to rest.

          They don’t WANT helthy Americans, they want yuo to pay less for crap than for real food and they WANT you to support eating garbage instead of healthy foods. It also in turn perpetuates the health industry, which ALSO relies on corn by-products for most drugs.

          Face it, your government is out to make money, lots of it. If you actually think taht completely abolishign ANY services would return money to your pocket, think again.

          You are far better off having the government spend your tax money back on society than sticking it in their pockets and paying off the handful of corporations that actually run and rule America.

          This whole ‘I pay too much in tax’ business is complete crap. If they need more they will take more, if they need less you won’t pay less. Don’t you understand how governments, even America’s, operate yet?

          People have to stand up and demand SOMETHING for their money, such as health care, otherwise nobody gets squat and you don’t save a dime anyway.

        • #3015373

          There are times

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          When you make sterling sense.

          This is one of those times. Your brief treatment about the nature and quality of food, its relation to agribusiness and government, and the sickness of the system coincides with the sense I have made of it.

        • #2819475

          Making things work, Oz

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]Again I think in concept it is a great idea but I don’t see it panning out quite as nicely as you do.[/i]

          And again, thanks

          [i]Okay so even for a rather menial, minimum wage job where high school education gets you in the door, it would now need to allow people without such qualifications.[/i]

          Most jobs in this country require a high school education or GED. Even convenience store clerks in some cases are required to have a high school education, or be working on it.

          [i]Simply turn up at America’s Job Bank and get a job that someone else had to work toward and earn based on their own merits.[/i]

          No, jobs would still be given out by the employer…not the job bank. The job bank just sends qualified candidates.

          [i]Why would anyone at the entry level of the employment world, see to actually look for work? Just get fired, walk down the to the job bank and they get you another job. In essence it would make the government an unemployment “union”, screw up and they get you another job. Late for work too many times, get fired, the job bank slaps you on the wrist ut has an obligation to find employment for you again.[/i]

          No, that’s not how you make it work right.

          Anyone who abuses the system that way should be treated like someone who scams it. You do it, you get punished. Lose your benefit. Then, you have to go look for work on your own. The government doesn’t help you.

          You make your own bed, so lie in it…basically.

          [i]I must say that you have high hopes and forgive me for beign pessimistic ut I know people that have scammed welfare and UI I know peoplethat live below the poverty line that could very easily be working, they don’t, they don’t want to and they wouldn’t ecome anything more than a burden passed on for a business to suffer with. It’ sbad enough with senior union memers, “they can’t touch me, I don’t give a rats arse what I do, they can’t fire me without giving me another job.”[/i]

          Well:

          What companies negotiate with unions is a whole other story.

          As I said above, someone who does the constant getting fired would (if shown to have done so repeatedly) lose their benefit.

          [i]Raising minimum wage would e a greater deficit to the company, making them seek even more cheap, illegal labour and offshore workers.[/i]

          Well, that’s where the USA needs to:

          a) enforce immigration law, rather than hmm-haw at it.

          b) make it non-beneficial for companies to offshore the work and reduce the tax base.

          [i]Here for example, students are turning once reputale companies into sweatshops. There is little to no low income, full time work these days (Burger Thing, McCrapples etc.). They only offer part time shifts, pay less money and don’t have to offer benefits etc. as they just hire P/T students that andare only oligated to offer limited benefits for part time workers. Adults workign in such places need to work three or four jobs in order to fill a full time card. adding more low end workers to teh mix would increase that need for even more part time jobs but not full time work. Poeple once workign full time would find hours cut back or they’d be fired to be replaced with lower cost, P/T employees, and would need to find another job to pay the bills.[/i]

          Well, that’s where government could draw the line. Only working to help employers place full-time individuals.

          Otherwise, make companies pay a recruiter or go through day-labor referrals to get their pool.

          When it hits their pocket more to use a recruiter/headhunter, they will look to staff people more. Companies understand bottom-line more than anything.

          [i]But now you have created MORE people living on Part Time, minimum wages and more subsidy would be needed from the government. Not to mention tah added administrative costs, sick time, holiday pay, annual raises etc. for the government workers at the American Job Banks.[/i]

          No, you don’t necessarily need that.

          And if someone is working at a job where they make more than the poverty line, then they are earning that money. Your government output of subsidy drops immediately.

          Plus as I said, it’s in the best interest of business to employee full-time people. If not, then their taxes go up and they still have to pay folks.

          [i]Minimum wage goes up, companies outsource, we’ve all seen that first hand. If you can’t hire someone for minimum wage, offer no benefits due to their working part time, they’ll find workers somewhere else, wther illegals or imported workers.[/i]

          Actually, most of the outsourcing here was done at technical facilities where the average worker was making $23k-36k a year (which is above poverty line for most, since most were younger people) and were in non-urban areas, e.g.- call centers.

          Corps outsourced them to places like India because their cost per employee was 10-20% of that in the United States.

          It had nothing to do with minimum wage. It had to do with corporate profits and what US law didn’t forbid them from doing.

          [i]Why would anyone aspire to seek their own entry level job at minimum wage then? Just line up at the Job Bank and wait for an easy job, handed to you, and supplemented by the government.[/i]

          Cause you’d have to compete for that job. It’s not just a “here you go” deal. You would have other people there to get jobs too.

          [i]Why would people be able to secure full time work? Are businesses going to exploit this if there’s no benefit to them to do so?[/i]

          Exactly. Hence, what I said above about getting employers to offer full-time work to people via assistance placing people free.

          You place a welfare person in a job and don’t have to pay them welfare, it saves government money which means less taxes.

          You save a corporation from having to go to a recruiter for talent, it saves them money and they like that.

          [i]Employment standards for full time workers ensures greater benefits than for part time workers, such as holiday pay, termination notice, unemployment qualification and more. Companies prefer to hire part time workers ecause they have fewer obligations to them, can arrange spotty shift schedules to meet traffic demands.[/i]

          Hell, you don’t even have the right to termination notice in Florida. Florida is a “right to work” state which means an employer has a right to let anyone else do your work at anytime. Your employment here for a regular job is always stated as “at will”.

          That’s why I don’t sweat about moving jobs. It’s part of my legal right here, and the company’s too.

          [i] In Vancouver a couple of years back, unless you were qualified and experienced, a student or entry level worker could not find full time work. Today it’s not much better, young workers work several jobs not just to make ends meet but because they need to work full time somehow. Employers WANT more part time workers in such menial roles, not full time workers.[/i]

          So, make it less appetizing for employers. Don’t help them place part-time or day labor. When it hits their pocketbook, they’ll start to change their tune.

          [i]if the minimum wage is raised, those qualified for job placement would whine that the subsidy needs to be raised as they are expected to work for less than minimum wage, which is not within employment standards regulations, thus costing the company AND government more money.[/i]

          If minimum wage is raised in the United States, that would in theory keep the person above poverty line and no subsidy would be needed.

          [i]You now governments well enough to know that IF they saved money they woul dallocate it elsewhere, nobody sees a dime back. The government is in a deficit, always will be, and will always have an excuse to reallocate your tax dollars. That’s why I don’t care about social programs being paid for out of tax dollars, my taxes don’t go up nor down, they get their money one way or another, we get nothing back if we save the government money.[/i]

          Well if enough people said “pay it back or get voted out”, a lot of politicians would make sure taxes did get lowered.

          They like their nice $130k+ a year paychecks.

          [i]And Tony, Max and JD would still bitch all the time anyway. (cheap pot shot, sorry guys wink )[/i]

          JD: yeah
          Max and Tony: maybe depending on if it gets them an extra nickel

          [i]But it will always wind up in the same place and never get farther ahead. (AHA!)[/i]

          If you get a driver that isn’t on the sauce, it will get somewhere.

          Don’t drink and drive: you might spill your drink! :^0

          [i]Mexicans are NEEDED in teh USA. [/i]

          No they’re not. That’s a fallacy.

          With 8-15% unemployment, do we really need foreign illegal labor here?

          Nope.

          [i]Corn is your largets resource of all, more than oil, or any other product america produces. It is controlled y ONE company that has a patented seed taht all growers must use and is used in EVERYTHING and I mean “EVERYTHING”. Probaly 80% of teh products you use, day in and day out have some form of corn product in them.[/i]

          I thought wheat was the biggest domestic product here.

          [i]Companies hire Mexican corn farmers to keep costs down and appease Monsanto and fill their contracts on time. The government then goes around every few years and fines and returns them to Mexico, making room for new illegal immigrants to enter. Almost any product you touch in a day, was made from a product touched by an illegal worker, who works for low pay, ridiculous hours and in horrific conditions that any normal worker would not allow. Americans are cost driven consumers but want good pay for working. ut that’s a different topic altogether.[/i]

          Actually, most of the stuff I get is local when it comes to foods…unless I get delivery. Then, it’s prepared by a local.

          I also don’t shop at Wal-Mart if avoidable. I don’t believe in supporting a corporation that a) has treated women poorly in the past, b) blatantly has hired or contracted out jobs knowingly to illegals, c) pushes (with other major corps) to get the H1B level raised to bring in more, cheaper labor in the tech sector when there is 10% unemployment here.

          Trust me, I sat in Wal-Mart ISD HQ in Bentonville, AR. I would say about 30% of the people entering the building were probably H1B “cost-effective” foreign labor.

          [i]Again jck, I see your vision and it’s great, a Utopia even but we all know there is no Utopia and reality is very different from what we see in our dreams, no matter how much sense they make.[/i]

          I don’t think it’s Utopia, and I don’t think it would be easy. But, I think it’s possible.

          All the USA would have to do is make a few changes, set a few rules, then enforce the laws we already have in place that no one gets off their ass to enforce.

          Then maybe, our tax base would grow, unemployment would be minimized, the welfare system would be shrank, taxes on business could be reduced, more money would be available to grow their industries, they could employ more people, etc etc etc.

          Anyways…thanks for thinking it’s a good idea.

        • #2819428

          Conclusions

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          First off I agree with lowering the employment prerequisite for more menial jobs. YOU don’t need a high school education to work in a gas station, Subway, etc. A good command of spoken English is sufficient. They don’t even do math, count change or anything else anymore. That in itself would see more people gain employment.

          The job bank just provides qualified candidates: Thus the job bank is a recruiter for entry level positions, a recruiter paid for by the government.

          [u]Substandard workers[/u]

          [i]Anyone who abuses the system that way should be treated like someone who scams it. You do it, you get punished. Lose your benefit. [/i]
          So right back to square one, street people. One of many reasons welfare is needed is to keep people from living a life of crime, disturbing working citizens, stealing from them, selling drugs etc. The number of people who would fail at such a job offering and would wind up on the street is immense, I would not doubt that the number reached the millions, however I have not sought out current stats and it can’t only be a guess at this point.

          [u]Illegal workers:[/u]

          [i]
          a) enforce immigration law, rather than hmm-haw at it.

          b) make it non-beneficial for companies to offshore the work and reduce the tax base.
          [/i]

          I think the laws exist today, however the NEED and DEMAND for lower cost products and manufacturer’s being forced to resort to cheaper labour perpetuates the use and acceptance of illegal workers. You can’t enforce a law against something while creating a demand for it. Americans are used to paying less than anyone else for what they have, they are used to a surplus of cash and spending so little on their actual needs. It seems that most simply don’t have the mentality that you get what you pay for and those that do seem to accept getting second rate product for a lower cost, the bottom line HAS TO be the lowest cost. A competitive market drives manufacturers to push suppliers for lower costs than they are able to provide, again pushing a need for illegal workers.

          If the government started shutting down such producers and prices soared, republicans would freak out over government control of Americas largest corporations and democrats would be freaking out over enforcing greater regulation and forcing prices back down.

          [u]Headhunters and recruiters:[/u]

          Don’t cost companies money at all, it is paid for by the hired employee. Such services operate on a percentage of the employees first year’s wages, up here it averages 12% but can be as high as 30% if the rep can sell it. So a job normally offering $50K will now only pay $44K to the worker and the other $6K to the recruiter. So it’s essentially free and that’s why everyone does it these days.

          [u]Outsourcing[/u]

          While the current trend shows offshore workers mainly in IT and telephone support roles, increasing the cost of US employees would only make companies seek more imports at lower costs.

          [u]Corn:[/u]

          I suppose I should have said largest export, but even then it is VERY close to wheat production now and is used on a much wider scale than wheat products and costs less to farm now.In the past, wheat was cost less per bushel to produce, as costs have since soared, corn growth has nearly doubled. Corn is used in almost EVERYTHING you consume.

          http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/corn/trade.htm

          Mexicans are NEEDED in the USA.

          No they’re not. That’s a fallacy.

          Coming from corn farming backgrounds in Mexico, they are the ones that are willing to pick corn at reduced rates, which is when corn production and the US export economy rose. I watched several US corn farmers on TV the other day saying how they couldn’t possibly run their operations with US workers because the companies they are contracted to only want to pay $X per bushel. They are pushed by their buyers or they lose the contracts, just like WalMart pushes their manufacturer’s into offshore business in order to remain competitive. The buyers are forcing the need for cheaper labour that can’t be found in the USA with above board workers. One farm goes out of business and there are two more waiting to buy the patented, hybrid corn seed and farm it with Mexican labourers. What happens often is the farm pays steep fines for hiring the labour, that they had no choice but to hire due to the demand for low cost products. They go out of business, another farm steps in and is pushed to do the exact same thing, yet the company forcing them to stoop to illegal practices doesn’t pay a dime in retribution to anyone.

          [i]”Actually, most of the stuff I get is local when it comes to foods”[/i]
          Unless you buy everything from a local farmers market, you are buying mass produced food.

          Ever buy soda pop? Potato chips? Hamburgers (especially hamburgers), fuel, medicine, any product that uses dextrose, corn syrup, even paper and other textiles use corn byproducts.

          As for not funding WalMart, you are one in 330 million, if the rest of America felt the way you do, WalMart would not be the biggest store on Earth. However, supporting foreign workers is unavoidable as most product you use in a day incorporate corn byproducts in some way.

          [u]CONCLUSION[/u]

          [i]”I don’t think it would be easy. But, I think it’s possible.[/i]
          And that’s where we choose to differ I suppose. Actually I don’t CHOOSE to differ, I just don’t see it as a reasonable reality to consider, though still a nice concept.

          FACT: In general, Americans are cheap people, they are raised that way, have never had to think any other way and don’t care for quality over quantity. until Americans understand that they need to pay premium prices, to get high quality, American made products, this mess will never go away. What’s worse is that the machine is driven by corporate, capitalist greed. That greed showed Americans how cheap things COULD be and thus they are now forced to offer cheap, low quality products. That in theory is not so bad but when those same corporations decide to retain strong margins at the same time, you sacrifice quality and health too.

          Compared to other products made worldwide, “American made” now sits in with Chinese or Taiwan made, cheap, low-end, dollar store junk. Even American bands that go on tour can’t sell USA made T-Shirts at their merch booths as they are such poor quality, shrink instantly, fade out etc. I was talking to Zakk Wylde’s merchandisers in Seattle and they said they make very little on T-Shirts sold in the US, because they buy Canadian shirts (in Europe they buy European shirts) and have them printed locally. They don’t sell many shirts in Canada otherwise.

          Their prices are very low for concert merch, so in the US, people wont’ pay for quality and they make very little margin. In Canada, people jump all over the lower pricing but it is still slightly higher than US pricing and nets them more than in the US.
          They keep money in a Canadian or European bank respectively and convert it when the dollar is in their favour.

        • #2819376

          Replies

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          [i]First off I agree with lowering the employment prerequisite for more menial jobs. YOU don’t need a high school education to work in a gas station, Subway, etc. A good command of spoken English is sufficient. They don’t even do math, count change or anything else anymore. That in itself would see more people gain employment.[/i]

          Actually, they need to know math. If the power goes out, they still need to be able to do math for cash customers.

          [i]The job bank just provides qualified candidates: Thus the job bank is a recruiter for entry level positions, a recruiter paid for by the government.[/i]

          America’s Job Bank is already there and funded, just like welfare. Why not use both programs to run each other out of business and eliminate all the cost you can.

          I think in business it was called “leveraging synergies” in the 90s.

          [i]Substandard workers

          So right back to square one, street people. [/i]

          If you have ever been to New Orleans, you’d know all people on the street are not destitute.

          And as I’ve said before, if they have no food or money…they’ll starve or work.

          [i]One of many reasons welfare is needed is to keep people from living a life of crime, disturbing working citizens, stealing from them, selling drugs etc. The number of people who would fail at such a job offering and would wind up on the street is immense, I would not doubt that the number reached the millions, however I have not sought out current stats and it can’t only be a guess at this point.[/i]

          Actually, there’s two things to stop that in America:

          1) Let law enforcement do their job…some druggie is mugging someone, let them shoot them.

          2) The right to bear arms – if an American’s house is being broken into by some miscreant, let them shoot them.

          You let those two things happen, America would be a lot safer and a lot more prosperous.

          [i]Illegal workers:

          I think the laws exist today, however the NEED and DEMAND for lower cost products and manufacturer’s being forced to resort to cheaper labour perpetuates the use and acceptance of illegal workers. [/i]

          Yep. Sad, but true. But, it’s not need. You don’t need to save $.05 on a can of mixed vegetables so you can afford a cup of starbucks per week on Fridays.

          It’s an expectation really, but not a NEED.

          [i]You can’t enforce a law against something while creating a demand for it. Americans are used to paying less than anyone else for what they have, they are used to a surplus of cash and spending so little on their actual needs. It seems that most simply don’t have the mentality that you get what you pay for and those that do seem to accept getting second rate product for a lower cost, the bottom line HAS TO be the lowest cost. [/i]

          Can’t argue with you there. Most Americans are cheap.

          [i]A competitive market drives manufacturers to push suppliers for lower costs than they are able to provide, again pushing a need for illegal workers.[/i]

          Actually, the truly competitive market drives innovation. The buyer’s market with an unlevel supply-to-demand aspect is what drives prices down…where vendors want to push more out for larger discounts from their supplier.

          Of course, that model is pretty much gone now since Wal-Mart tells makers what they will pay…then if the seller doesn’t agree, Wal-Mart goes to a Chinese or Afghani or Kazak maker to see how much they can make the cheap version for.

          [i]If the government started shutting down such producers and prices soared, republicans would freak out over government control of Americas largest corporations and democrats would be freaking out over enforcing greater regulation and forcing prices back down.[/i]

          Funny thing: The Republicans had no issue with lowering the prime with the Federal Reserve to give privately held banks super cheap rates while they were still pushing out home loans at 7 and 8 percent.

          Yay Dubya?

          [i]Headhunters and recruiters:

          Don’t cost companies money at all, it is paid for by the hired employee. Such services operate on a percentage of the employees first year’s wages, up here it averages 12% but can be as high as 30% if the rep can sell it. So a job normally offering $50K will now only pay $44K to the worker and the other $6K to the recruiter. So it’s essentially free and that’s why everyone does it these days.[/i]

          Um. I used to work at a firm, and it was at no-cost to the employee. The company looking for people paid a $2000-7500 fee (based on the job) for successful recruitment of a candidate.

          It happens both ways, I guess.

          [i]Outsourcing

          While the current trend shows offshore workers mainly in IT and telephone support roles, increasing the cost of US employees would only make companies seek more imports at lower costs.[/i]

          Thing is:

          Those jobs are not going to get hiked.

          A $24k telephone support tech is making $11.20 an hour or so. Not $7.50.

          [i]Corn:

          I suppose I should have said largest export, but even then it is VERY close to wheat production now and is used on a much wider scale than wheat products and costs less to farm now.In the past, wheat was cost less per bushel to produce, as costs have since soared, corn growth has nearly doubled. Corn is used in almost EVERYTHING you consume.[/i]

          Even my tap water? :^0

          [i]Coming from corn farming backgrounds in Mexico, they are the ones that are willing to pick corn at reduced rates, which is when corn production and the US export economy rose. I watched several US corn farmers on TV the other day saying how they couldn’t possibly run their operations with US workers because the companies they are contracted to only want to pay $X per bushel. They are pushed by their buyers or they lose the contracts, just like WalMart pushes their manufacturer’s into offshore business in order to remain competitive. The buyers are forcing the need for cheaper labour that can’t be found in the USA with above board workers. One farm goes out of business and there are two more waiting to buy the patented, hybrid corn seed and farm it with Mexican labourers. What happens often is the farm pays steep fines for hiring the labour, that they had no choice but to hire due to the demand for low cost products. They go out of business, another farm steps in and is pushed to do the exact same thing, yet the company forcing them to stoop to illegal practices doesn’t pay a dime in retribution to anyone.[/i]

          Most corn (and wheat) is harvested mechanically.

          Only smaller operations use manual labor.

          [i]Unless you buy everything from a local farmers market, you are buying mass produced food.[/i]

          My fruits, vegetables, and what not. Yeah, I do get it from a farmers’ market.

          Most grocery store stuff tastes like crap.

          [i]Ever buy soda pop? [/i]

          Ever? Yeah. Now? Not a lot. Usually get water.

          [i]Potato chips? Hamburgers (especially hamburgers),[/i]

          Rarely anymore.

          [i]fuel[/i]

          My fuel comes in from the Gulf of Mexico refineries.

          [i]medicine[/i]

          Lilly, Pfizer, etc., offshored those jobs to Mexico with NAFTA.

          [i] any product that uses dextrose, corn syrup, even paper and other textiles use corn byproducts.[/i]

          Not sure. Probably. I imagine the sheet rock in my house has corn in it too. :^0

          [i]As for not funding WalMart, you are one in 330 million, if the rest of America felt the way you do, WalMart would not be the biggest store on Earth. However, supporting foreign workers is unavoidable as most product you use in a day incorporate corn byproducts in some way.[/i]

          My computer? My car? My plastic coffee mug? My cotton boxers? :^0

          [i]CONCLUSION

          And that’s where we choose to differ I suppose. Actually I don’t CHOOSE to differ, I just don’t see it as a reasonable reality to consider, though still a nice concept.[/i]

          I think it’s a reasonable reality.

          I just think most Americans are too lazy to pursue it.

          [i]FACT: In general, Americans are cheap people, they are raised that way, have never had to think any other way and don’t care for quality over quantity. [/i]

          Absolutely. That’s why I am not afraid to buy hand-made stuff that I know is better than some machine popped-out dollar store job.

          [i]until Americans understand that they need to pay premium prices, to get high quality, American made products, this mess will never go away. [/i]

          Actually, you don’t necessarily have to pay premiums. If labor costs don’t skyrocket in the advent of job creation (which most local governments don’t try to regulate in an effort to take as much taxes as they can), you can have a long sustained business with quality products at a reasonable (not cheap, not expensive) price.

          [i]What’s worse is that the machine is driven by corporate, capitalist greed. That greed showed Americans how cheap things COULD be and thus they are now forced to offer cheap, low quality products. That in theory is not so bad but when those same corporations decide to retain strong margins at the same time, you sacrifice quality and health too.[/i]

          That is so well-said. Thank you.

          [i]Compared to other products made worldwide, “American made” now sits in with Chinese or Taiwan made, cheap, low-end, dollar store junk. Even American bands that go on tour can’t sell USA made T-Shirts at their merch booths as they are such poor quality, shrink instantly, fade out etc. I was talking to Zakk Wylde’s merchandisers in Seattle and they said they make very little on T-Shirts sold in the US, because they buy Canadian shirts (in Europe they buy European shirts) and have them printed locally. They don’t sell many shirts in Canada otherwise.[/i]

          Yeah, I heard that from a tour manager once for an American artist. He was telling me that the premium they had to pay even for foreign made improved materials was getting out of control. And, finding product that would sell and be financially beneficial when organizing things for a tour was getting more and more difficult.

          [i]Their prices are very low for concert merch, so in the US, people wont’ pay for quality and they make very little margin. In Canada, people jump all over the lower pricing but it is still slightly higher than US pricing and nets them more than in the US.
          They keep money in a Canadian or European bank respectively and convert it when the dollar is in their favour.[/i]

          Yep.

        • #2819338

          Some grey area, perhaps misunderstanding.

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          With respect to the power going out at Subway, or some other fast food joint.

          When that happens here, they just can’t serve you, period. No receipts, no inventory management and asset tracking in play means no sales either. It’s the old, many kids can’t read an analogue watch anymore, routine.

          [i]”America’s Job Bank is already there and funded, just like welfare[/i]

          So they work just as our unemployment offices do? They offer a job board, help writing a resume etc.?

          [i]If you have ever been to New Orleans, you’d know all people on the street are not destitute.And as I’ve said before, if they have no food or money…they’ll starve or work.[/i]….or steal.

          I have (loved it too) and I agree that there are many on the street by choice that could do something better for themselves, it happens here and most other places too I think. However many of those people live in the street by choice, they don’t want to work and they get their food etc. by stealing, robbing, selling drugs too. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

          Law enforcement should be there to serve and protect as best they can, given the limited number of police compared to criminals.

          A shoot now and ask questions later policy is fine, a little extreme and wild west but people in America seem to accept it. However, how much time are they then held up in courts, not on the streets and costing the city money in overtime wages? Police forces are usually not that well funded.

          Same with houses, it gets out of hand. The Castle doctrine has been a proven failure in many state already and thus several have already abolished it.

          But hey, shoot to kill is okay for many, have at it. It does just make criminals buy bigger guns, more body armour and they don’t care or respect human life anyway, in most cases.

          What I meant by competitive markets is one where others have been knocked out of the game by much bigger companies that rule and dominate an industry. I had mentioned (without reverting to past posts, something like Monte’s?)they have a hybrid, la designed corn seed that all contractors working for one of the 4 major corn producers MUST use due to it’s fast growth.
          They are so tightly controlling that they have several thousand security enforcers that respond to accusations and check the farmers as they are not allowed to KEEP a single seed. One farmer was using his own seed and has been fined tens of thousands of dollars and may face court time. His farm was between two others who use the proprietary seeds and the dust and debris blows across the farms and can breed a unique strain of seed, any trace of the manufactured seed’s chemicals and he gets nailed. In other words, they are just bullying him into compliance. That’s not healthy trade or competition in any way, it’s market domination. Same goes for chickens, a naturally farmed chicken takes months to grow, a chemically farmed chicken takes weeks, and again illegals are used to farm them (gather and collect them from barns at night). Those chickens often can’t walk either as their bones do not develop at the same rate the meat does. Even worse is that because chicken breasts are so popular, they even breed chickens to have extra large breasts (not implants), again in weeks instead of months. It’s manufactured food sources, not natural foods. Nice to think I only buy free range, eggs and chickens.

          [i]Yay Dubya[/i] Well…yeah, nothing to say about that, that I haven’t already said. 😉

          Outsourcing, telecoms jobs were my exception which you seem to have taken as an example. My point is, if products can be bought cheaper elsewhere, they will be. Then someone else’s workers can work for low pay, if THAT doesn’t work, the American company opens up and in said country and shuts down all local competition by removing the export demand. Been done here with a few resources already, fish and lumber to name just two.

          Corn, in some form, yes is used in almost 90% of consumer products. if you go to a grocery store, over 78% of the products in the shelf, including imported foods, have some by product of corn in them.

          Don’t eat hamburgers? Again you are definitely the exception there, MacDonald’s doesn’t survive on selling salads (though I am very happy they have them on the menu these days, and they aren’t that bad either!)

          Tap water, I don’t know but I honestly wouldn’t be surprised in the least. All tap water is treated with some chemicals to remove impurities, many such nontoxic chemicals and pesticides use corn by products also.

          I see you choose to eat healthy, don’t like processed foods and care about where you buy and what you buy. I’m also sure that there are MANY Americans who do the same to some degree anyway. However with 330 million people I think it’s it’s safe to say the vast majority do not. The demand for corn in the US is intense, farmers that once grew small farms have now needed to farm thousands of acres and in quick time too. Mexicans are still used in such farming operations, perhaps not for the actual collection and processing of corn but in many other areas of the farming process. There was a Canadian agricultural documentary on a while back that detailed it all, illustrating that Canadians may soon follow suit, however I can’t remember too many specifics. Corn is Americas largest export though, whether for just agricultural exports I don’t know.

          Yup, y’all is in a bit of a pickle. It’s too bad that the forward growth momentum and the mighty and big mentality got as far as it did before people began to realize what they had initially supported. I also think there are many who still do support it and feel it is just and fair in some way. Which is sadder I’m not so sure though.

          Cheers, GREAT chat!I thoroughly enjoyed tossing around you idea.

        • #2819287

          No, it’s cool Oz

          by jck ·

          In reply to All costs are handed down

          I totally understand your points, and they’re well-taken.

          Sure, the shoot to kill thing is a bit old west. However, too many people here who commit the crime have the mindset that they won’t be punished for their acts. It is a mindset that has gone throughout here now.

          I think if more people knew that law would have summary act allowed for seeing a definite crime committed, they would be less likely to go and rob, mug, kill or rape.

          I think that would stop some of that.

          [i]Yup, y’all is in a bit of a pickle. It’s too bad that the forward growth momentum and the mighty and big mentality got as far as it did before people began to realize what they had initially supported. I also think there are many who still do support it and feel it is just and fair in some way. Which is sadder I’m not so sure though.[/i]

          I just hope we can change the mentality here. However, I’ve not seen it in the past decade, which troubles me.

          And now, you know why I have spoken often of looking to relocate. If something seems to offer me fairness in life to earn what i keep yet others above *AND* below me can move on with me…why should I choose to live where my contribution is no more cherished by those around me than a rock in a rock pile.

          It has been a nice discussion. Thank you too.

        • #2821091

          Seems contradictory :)

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Everyone has to pay

          [i]We need affordable healthcare for everyone in this country and it’s going to cost us.[/i]

        • #3014964

          I mean it this way

          by av . ·

          In reply to Seems contradictory :)

          One day, they will take it right out of your pay via higher taxes. Mandatory. Thats how its going to cost us.

          Now for the devil that we know. Private insurance. Every year your health insurance premiums go up 10-15% on average. People with insurance pay in their premiums to provide some kind of coverage for the 47 million people with no insurance. We pay for the illegals too. Insurance companies have benefited for years through the anti-trust exemption that allows them to fix prices.

          I can’t decide which way I will pay more, but I know I’m going to be paying.

          AV

        • #3014858

          The difference is

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to I mean it this way

          Currently, I can choose not to be insured, or not to be insured as much as some else thinks I should be. Why is it anybody else’s business.

          I’ll say it here and now. If I cannot afford my medical expenses, I am WILLING to accept the consequences of not having them.

        • #3015360

          Hmmm

          by av . ·

          In reply to The difference is

          Thats not what happens. If you have no insurance, I pay through my private insurance premiums for your being uninsured. You’re paying too, but I’m picking up the rest. Who really knows? I don’t.

          I understand how you feel and you’re entitled to that but I don’t want to bear the cost.

          AV

        • #3013953

          How so?

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to The difference is

          [i]If you have no insurance, I pay through my private insurance premiums for your being uninsured.[/i]

          Do you mean that since there are fewer in the pool who don’t use as much in medical services as they are paying in premiums, each member of the pool pays more?

          So what? If bread is $2 a loaf or 2 loaves for $3, do you have the right to demand someone to go in with you so you can have the one loaf of bread you need for $1.50?

    • #3009950

      Priciple over politics

      by maxwell edison ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      It’s amazing to see how few people rest on the concept.

    • #3009947

      Consider this

      by maxwell edison ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      Take ANY one person in government (or any group of people), either party, either gender, any sexual orientation, any religious preference, etc., and give that person full and total control over your life.

      Are you really that unsure of yourself?

      Who can decide better, you or them?

      I apparently have more faith in others than they have in themselves.

      There ya’ go.

      • #2820252

        Response

        by charliespencer ·

        In reply to Consider this

        “…full and total control over your life.”

        I thought we were talking about one aspect, health insurance. I don’t feel qualified to negotiate with doctors, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, hospitals, or anyone else for that matter. I don’t know the ins and outs of policies, legal requirements, etc. This is an area where I feel better leaving these issues to someone whose job it is to understand them.

        I don’t mind paying them for that service any more than I mind paying the air conditioner repair guy to fix my system. It’s not worth my time and money to learn how to do it for myself when someone already has the skills, someone who does it regularly so his or her skills stay fresh. So yes, there are some aspects of my life where I gladly turn control over to others.

        I don’t have much control over my health insurance now. Blue Cross / Blue Shield either pays off or they don’t. When they don’t, I visit the HR department and they go to the mat for me. Usually they’re successful, sometimes they aren’t. I would have no clue where to begin if I had to negotiate with an insurance company on my own.

        I’m not saying I’d have any more success negotiating with a gov’t health care plan. Perhaps such an option requires an ombudsman or consumer advocate office. I doubt there is one proposed in any of the legislation, but there isn’t such an office in most private health insurance companies either.

      • #2820034

        THat’s steep

        by oz_media ·

        In reply to Consider this

        Thankfully that’s not the case at hand, phew!

        I know when I moved to Canada, they said we all had health care and that I could pick up my daily routine and expactations list at the control office in the morning.

        But hey, I get to pee in half an hour and then I’ve earned enough rewards points to do something of my own choice for 15 minutes.

        Yup elect a democratic government and they run yuor entire life for you, at other people’s expense of course. What gets me though is that you actually BELIEVE such tripe! How? Seriously, Max, is it somethign your parents teach you at an early age and it just grows inot a giant beast as you get older or something? I’m not joking about I’m dead serious, it seems that poeple get a seed planted and it grows to immense proportions, so immense they are then unable to see flaws in their preferred government.

        You know me, I don’t think ANY government is wholly correct nor wholly incorrect either, but to see such one sided bias only points to a life long ingrained mindset.

        Now just to prove that I do pay attention to what you say, a few years back you told me how people grow from being democrats to being repulicans and then often revert back to being democrats as they age and develop different needs and expectations rom government, I have pondered that many times and even see it in my own feelings sometimes. A point you made long ago that actually did stick with me and warranted further consideration, to the extent of me agreeing with it in theory.

        So how do people become SO anti-‘x party’ that they simply must deny anything they do, discount any action and not see the same has been done in their own party etc.

        Where does the blindness come from, and no it’s not eyes wide open at all. Perhaps eyes boldly focused on one agenda, but not wide open.

    • #2819797

      Picking out words

      by jck ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      “…secure the blessings of liberty…” I guess means the right to screw someone else over as long as a law hasn’t been written against it?

      Of course back then, “…establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility…” included public hangings.

      Maybe we should go back to horse and buggy too?

      Fact is, part of your “common defense” is that which things like HHS and CDC and NIH provide in the form of basic care and treatment to the public, medical research, statistical gathering, and monitoring of possible widespread medical issues.

      You should join Max’s “I do everything for myself” club and go buy your own island and build/do everything for yourselves, including providing your own military for defending your property, and medical research labs and universities and hospitals for curing disease.

      Besides that, Tony. If this whole thing cuts $829B out of the total federal spending for medical over a 10 year period, isn’t that really gonna make you happy?

      After all, they’ll be spending less of your money like you want.

      • #2819785

        And the problem with public hangings was?

        by charliespencer ·

        In reply to Picking out words

        Maybe if a few more people saw what an execution actually looked like, they’d think twice about committing crimes that might lead to being the guest of honor.

        Also, was this post intended as a response to someone else?

        • #2819769

          Yeah

          by jck ·

          In reply to And the problem with public hangings was?

          I put it in the wrong spot…sorry…it was meant to go to Tony back up wherever.

          That’s what I get for trying to write English and VBA and Java all at once.

          Go figure. Working means screwing up.

          BTW, I have been a proponent of Pay-per-view public hangings, or mandating them as well as gas chamber and lethal injection as part of government broadcasting that is done on cable.

          I think showing your kids “This man killed a little old lady for the $64 dollars and a watch she had. This is what he gets for being a mean, cruel, sick person.” would make more kids think twice about going out and beating homeless people to death and torturing animals.

          If you know you’re gonna die for it, you are less likely to do the crap.

          Just like if you know you’re gonna starve and not get a hand-out and get shot if you try to steal, you will work to get something to eat.

        • #2819706

          That is a big part of the problem

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to Yeah

          when you have a government that is willing to do the stealing for you and deposit the money directly into the bank for you, it even removes the risk from that.

        • #2819692

          The “theft” isn’t all one direction.

          by jck ·

          In reply to That is a big part of the problem

          Go look at the total net taxes paid to the U.S. Government by Wal-Mart and Microsoft Corporations after re-filings, net losses on divisions, etc.

          You’ll find they are not paying the net taxes near to what you would be led to believe they are.

          Your tax dollars and that of small business are being funnelled to sponsor things like “corporate development programs” and “energy investment credits” which are legacy programs left over from the Bush years that fund what is essentially corporate welfare.

          Like me. I paid in some $14,000 in taxes last year. I about 15% of that back in a refund, because of paying extra in plus writing off homeowners interest on the mortgage.

          Some companies that have $1Ms in income, after refunds, rebates, and tax credits pay in 0 in income tax because they get to take credits, write off operating losses in whole, etc.

          So, beware of the numbers Wall Street spits out at you as to what Corporate America pays of the tax bill.

          I guarantee you. Wal-Mart making $300B in a year sure as heck isn’t paying in the same tax bracket I am or they’d be writing a $60B check to the US Treasury.

        • #2819661

          Before you start your snivily excuses

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to The “theft” isn’t all one direction.

          ALL governmental theft is wrong. You can pretend I had said something I didn’t, but that doesn’t change what I wrote, then or now.

          If someone works hard for something, it is NOT the place of government to forcibly take that and give it to anyone else.

          And before the rabidly dishonest of you start up, this is NOT saying all taxes are wrong and blahblahblah infrastructure. A government does need money to run, the problem is people that have abused the power of government to do things it was never intended to do.

        • #2821205

          bwahahaha

          by jck ·

          In reply to Before you start your snivily excuses

          So you have approved of EVERYTHING that YOUR government has “forcibly” taken from you?

          It is that YOU don’t want anything spent a way YOU don’t like.

          Well, tough cookies Mr. Helper. This is America. It’s a melting pot, and a national community that works together for the betterment of all…not of just jdclyde.

          If you want things all your way, go with Max and buy an island and make all your own things the way YOU want them.

          At least when I didn’t like the way my country was being run, I tried moving…not just sitting and whining about having to participate in something I saw as wrong.

        • #2819597

          Do you really equate. . . . . .

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to The “theft” isn’t all one direction.

          ….. corporations that look for ways to make the tax laws more favorable to themselves as [i]theft[/i]?

          Really?

          Moreover, you said, [i]”Go look at the total net taxes paid to the U.S. Government by Wal-Mart and Microsoft Corporations after re-filings, net losses on divisions, etc…..You’ll find they are not paying the net taxes near to what you would be led to believe they are.[/i]

          Prove what you say. Please provide the amount of corporate taxes (any year) paid by the companies you mentioned. How much did they pay? Be specific. What were the total (gross and/or net) earnings, and what was the amount of taxes paid. Provide the numbers.

          If you can’t answer that question, you better start back peddling.

          By the way, which nation’s corporations pay MORE in corporate taxes? The United States’ corporations or Ireland’s corporations? Therefore what? And how does that reconcile with your accusations?

          P.S. Corporations NEVER pay taxes anyway. They ALWAYS pass those expenses onto the consumer in the form of higher prices.

        • #2821197

          Ok, Max. Here you go

          by jck ·

          In reply to Do you really equate. . . . . .

          Any year?

          2009
          Wal-Mart’s gross revenue: $405,607,000,000.00
          Wal-Mart’s gross profit: $95,086,000,000.00
          Wal-Mart’s income tax: $7,185,000,000.00

          As for what their net is? That isn’t how tax is calculated. You don’t get to write-off what you pay your children in allowance, give your wife for buying shoes, etc., buying magazines to figure out what car to buy. That’s considered part of the cost of life.

          Source: SEC filings, 12 mo. period from 1/31/08-1/31/09

          Anyways, there’s your numbers.

          And as far as I can tell, 7B out of 95B is about 7.4 percent.

          Wouldn’t you like to pay that out of your gross profit after you paid all your bills?

        • #2821128

          Gross profit versus net income (and taxable income)

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to Do you really equate. . . . . .

          Gross profit is the difference between revenue and the cost of making a product or providing a service – before deducting overhead, payroll, taxation, and interest payments.

          Gross profit minus overhead, payroll, and interest payments equals taxable income.

          You forgot to list the deductions for overhead, payroll, and interest payments. What are those numbers, by the way? It would be interesting to see.

          Wal Mart’s 2008 net income: 13.30B

          http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ks?s=WMT

          I’ll take you at your word that Wal Mart paid 7.18 billion in taxes – but it’s much more than the 7.4 percent you mistakenly calculated.

          Only in Japan do corporations pay taxes at a higher rate than in the United States – 39.54 percent versus 39.27 percent respectively. Your adopted home-nation of Ireland, by the way, only taxes corporations at 12.5 percent.

          Corporate tax rates worldwide:

          http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/22917.html

          Besides, corporations don’t really pay any taxes at all. The cost is merely passed onto the consumer in the form of higher prices.

        • #2821117

          Well, if I figured my taxes the same way

          by jck ·

          In reply to Do you really equate. . . . . .

          I overpaid for the past 15 years.

          You figure if I get to take my revenues from all sources, subtract maintaining my holdings, paying for facility maintenance, laborers, utilities, etc.

          I must be paying around…90% of my net profit.

          Don’t see the issue with that yet?

          You pay tax on gross income minus a small subset of exemptions.

          They pay tax on a fraction of their income due to writing off “operating expenses”.

          I’d take the corporate tax scheme any day. I have to pay people to maintain my place, fix my sewer, etc.

          Why don’t I get to consider that an “operating expense”?

          The day I see a corporation take 20-25% of their “gross adjusted income” like I do for the IRS and pay that, I’ll be fine with what their paying.

          Until then, yeah…it is screwing the American working people.

        • #2819583

          jck is guilty of theft because. . . . . .

          by maxwell edison ·

          In reply to The “theft” isn’t all one direction.

          ….. he doesn’t pay enough money in taxes. I have no idea what he pays, but whatever it is, it’s not enough – and it’s theft.

          Kinda’ like what jck just said about Wal Mart. He has no idea what they pay, but whatever it is, it’s not enough and it’ theft.

          Talk about a nonsensical comment!

        • #2821185

          I’d appreciate you taking that back, Max

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck is guilty of theft because. . . . . .

          I have provided you proof now in an above post.

          I can even get you the SEC filing by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., if you so desire. It’s public record.

          I didn’t talk bullshit. I didn’t talk non-sense.

          I did my research before I speeled out.

          So, thank you kindly. But, you are wrong. I am right. I provided the numbers.

          BTW, I make under 6 figures and post-refund I still have paid about 22% in federal tax.

          Considering Wal-Mart’s federal taxes in that SEC filing from gross profits was 7.4 percent, I don’t think they pay enough.

          As for theft, Wal-Mart not only gets a huge break on taxes on their profit…but, they also get big tax breaks from counties and cities and pay little or no property taxes as well as buy land/space with their realty arm and rent it to their store arm and write it off.

          Hence, yeah…I bet Wal-Mart when you figure all the incentives, breaks, rebates, etc., they get back…pays closer to zero than you think, Max.

          Why don’t you go now and research all that for me and bring me back that figure and prove me wrong.

          Got the time? Got the inspiration? Can you do it?

        • #2821120
        • #2821113

          I’m what?

          by jck ·

          In reply to jck is guilty of theft because. . . . . .

          I said:

          [i]Considering Wal-Mart’s federal taxes in that SEC filing from gross profits was 7.4 percent, I don’t think they pay enough.[/i]

          I was speaking in terms of what they get in gross profit, which is before operating expenses are taken out.

          That’s the big flaw in corporate taxation. That’s how Americans end up dishing out 20-35% of their income, and corporations end up paying far less.

          Compare apples to apples, not two different tax codes.

          Otherwise, corporate America will have you snowed into thinking their paying their power bill is more of a critical expense than you paying yours.

          God knows, they’ve already paid the politicians to write the tax law that way.

      • #3013366

        No

        by tonythetiger ·

        In reply to Picking out words

        (sorry, missed it)

        [i]”…secure the blessings of liberty…” I guess means the right to screw someone else over as long as a law hasn’t been written against it?[/i]

        Securing means protecting. If I am doing something to unjustly harm you, the government has the obligation to stop it. If I am doing something which interferes in your practicing your rights, they have the obligation to determine which person’s right take precedence (for example, you have the right of free speech, but you do not have the right to trespass onto my property to exercise it).

        [i]Of course back then, “…establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility…” included public hangings.[/i]

        Sure cut down on serial crimes 🙂

        [i]Besides that, Tony. If this whole thing cuts $829B out of the total federal spending for medical over a 10 year period, isn’t that really gonna make you happy?[/i]

        Trouble is, you believe that…

        • #3014978

          Trouble is

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to No

          You don’t.

          Either way, who is correct? nobody of course.

          So how can you be so firm in your assertions? belief.

          How can others be so firm in their own assertions? Belief.

          Kinda like religion, shall we debate that farcical mess of science stepping on folklore now?

        • #3014859

          The other trouble is

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to Trouble is

          you cannot prove, by any common principle of ethics, what obligates me to be beholden to anyone else except perhaps for the offspring I sire.

          Suppose we’re on the open seas in a wooden boat and it breaks apart. There is only one life jacket, only one of us can survive. What ethical principle decides which?

        • #3014800

          get real

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to The other trouble is

          Nobody is in a wooden boat with one liferaft, such an extreme example is not worthy of debate as it doesn’t reflect the situation at all, except in some distant principle.

          The whole mentality is that people, fellow Americans, many who have fought wars for you, many who help still others even though they have nothing themselves, are in need and your CHOICE is to say that you have no obligation to help them. Nice one, Tony.

          You treat your own citizens as people in third world countries, even worse most Americans have undying support and pride in how American taxes support the poorer nations and third world countries, yet refuse to have their tax dollars used to support their own.

          Face it, due to some ridiculous ingrained rights that are the same in any free nation, Americans feel they shouldn’t have to support others. People in other nations see the benefit and need to support their own, whether by birth or citizenship.

          Why is it that soldiers feel they have a need to support and protect ALL Americans and yet citizens feel a need to only support their own and complain that their elected government spend tax dollars supporting others?

          It is a very selfish and self centered mindset, no matter how you slice it.

          Just because Americans are raised spewing their right and lkiberties, as if the same doesn’t apply elsewhere, they feel unique in that they were promised that they don’t have to help others unless they choose to, which they don’t.

          In other nations, people have the exact same freedoms and liberties as you do. However they CHOOSE to allow the government to spend their tax dollars helpign the nation’s citizens as a whole, not as individuals.

          The American mindset of MY money, MY choice has crippled your nation, justlook around you and see how high and mighty you really are these days. Even people in third world countries have more respect for their fellowman and help their neighbours more than Americans do.

          What bragging rights do you have these days? None, nil, diddly squat. In fact you have become a paradigm of what a country should avoid becoming. No wonder more and more Americans are leaving due to disgust in The American Way.

        • #3014789

          Yep

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to get real

          Fly in the ointment of Americanism, aren’t you?

        • #3014747

          LOL

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Yep

          Sure, I hate that word by the way…not America, OINTMENT, eeeewwww!

        • #2819468

          hm

          by jck ·

          In reply to The other trouble is

          I can swim and float.

          Sorry if you need life jacket. Decide on you or your kid.

          I’m swimming back to shore. lol

    • #2819777

      Thank you

      by fregeus ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      Thanks Max. I must admit that I find this debate most entertaining.

      Keep up the good work!

      TCB.

      PS. I am not being sarcastic.

      • #2819759

        Suuuuuuuure you’re not…

        by jck ·

        In reply to Thank you

        *nudge nudge wink wink* :^0

        • #2819739

          In all honesty

          by fregeus ·

          In reply to Suuuuuuuure you’re not…

          I am not being sarcastic, swear! I’m a fan of psychology and I find the discussion fascinating. I don’t agree with Max point of view, but I find the discussion, enlightening.

          Very geeky of me, I know.

          TCB

        • #2819671

          That’s only because there’s no H on your keyboard.

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to In all honesty

          LOLO, just a French Canadian thing, ha-ha-funny and all that (or should that be “a-a-funny and all dat?”) 😉

          And before you ask, no there is no B key on my keyboard, just a little tin pad I have to pound to get a B. That’s why my typos now include missing B’s.

        • #2821231

          Don’t get me started on that subject

          by fregeus ·

          In reply to That’s only because there’s no H on your keyboard.

          I hate French Canadians that can’t pronounce their ‘H’s. That or speak “franglais”. English with a thick French accent you can cut with a machete.

          Can’t stand it.

          TCB

        • #2821225

          Ouest Quebec joual

          by jamesrl ·

          In reply to Don’t get me started on that subject

          Having gone to school in Ottawa, we learned to distinguish the accent from across the river by the way they pronounce Hull and Aylmer, two local towns. If they say “ull and Haylmer”, then they speak the west Quebec accent.

          James

        • #2821498

          Ah Tabernac

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to Don’t get me started on that subject

          To each his own, if you are in my face and want me to help you with something, you’d better speak English, or you are SOL.

          If I am in Quebec City and need directions, I better find an English speaking person or else I fumble through with a combination of Parisienne French I learned in Europe, Canadian French I learned here etc. If I end up at the gay bathhouse, that’s my issue.

          To each his own is how I see it, you don’t have to speak to me or in my language, but neither do I. Either way it is my or their personal loss in such situations, that’s all.

          In Vancouver between East Indian, Punjabi, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Persian etc. There just no hope for a universal language anymore. We just all live together and speak what little we can when we are not fluent.

          In that same sense though, due to such cultural exposure, food is more interesting and authentic instead of Canadianized. My son can understand SOME (a little, Hindi) as do I. I understand SOME Mandarin and can actually hold a VERY basic conversation in Chinglish. I have spoken to Vietnamese men and women (mainly at the race track) who, through very broken English, have told me their stories of how they ended up here. Some having parents slain in front of them as children as they fled for their lives.

          It really exposes you and helps you to understand the world and the cultures around you. I think it has made me a more accepting person, a more understanding person and a much more AWARE person as a result.

          But ow is it you say dat dere,…. Tabernac! LOL 😉

      • #2819745

        Oh, noooo, nooooo, noooo, nooo…..yes.

        by oz_media ·

        In reply to Thank you

        Well?

        Well, you’re a man of the world, squire.

        Well, yes.

        You’ve uh, been around a bit…you’ve uh, ….slept…..with a lady.

        Well, yes.

        Tell, me. wot’s it like?

        • #2819733

          It’s kind of like it is with sheep,

          by charliespencer ·

          In reply to Oh, noooo, nooooo, noooo, nooo…..yes.

          except the sheep will shut the @#$ up afterward instead of wanting to talk about where your relationship is going.

        • #2819711

          It’s also why I think

          by tonythetiger ·

          In reply to It’s kind of like it is with sheep,

          prostitution should be legal… You’re not really paying them for sex… you’re paying them to LEAVE after 🙂

        • #2819709

          If ever hooker looked like Ashley Dupre

          by jck ·

          In reply to It’s also why I think

          i’d think it should be legal too. :^0

    • #2821216

      Health care “market?”

      by walstib77 ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      The myth of a health care “market” is a big part of the problem.

      The US continues to forge forward inseting private profit into the insurance formula, and the industry defends the need to have “market driven” health care.

      Where is this market? When people get sick or hurt and go to the emergency room, where is the list of prices and competitive analysis?

      When doctors prescribe medicines, where is the discussion about comparative pricing?

      Fact is, it’s not market driven. Supply and demand, Price and Quantity are not the drivers of the market, and that is the problem.

      Consumers typically are not impacted by typical economic factors when making medical decisions, because insurance clouds the issue. Same for the suppliers–insurance eliminates many of the economic relational factors that make markets work.

      The main thing insurance is supposed to do is spread risk as broadly as possible. As the rest of the civilized world has learned, the only cost effective way to do this for health care is through one federalized system.

      If having “socialized health care” makes a country communists, we need to gear up the miliatry and get ready to invade Canada, The UK, Germany, Australia, France, Austria, Belgium, Japan, Norway, Spain…

      The dominos have fallen!

    • #3013379

      ARGH!!! HE GOT US!!!

      by jck ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      The lil bastage! :p

    • #3014742

      Another interesting article

      by notsochiguy ·

      In reply to “a government-run insurance plan”

      http://money.cnn.com/2009/10/27/news/economy/healthcare_medicare_doctors/index.htm?postversion=2009102707

      21% cut in payments? Assuming not every doctor bids adieu to Medicare patients, and assuming that most doctors don’t care to operate with a loss, that revenue has to be made up from someplace else, right?

      Seems like Congress is piling onto the problem they propose to rectify. I saw that in a cartoon once…someone tried to put out a fire with a bottle of vodka; having mistook it for water.

      • #2819560

        It will be made up the same place it is now

        by jdclyde ·

        In reply to Another interesting article

        the people that are not a part of that plan get charged extra to make up for the part the government is shorting them.

        Just one more expense added to the evil private insurance.

        Tell me more about “competition”?

      • #2819466

        The funny part

        by jck ·

        In reply to Another interesting article

        Doctors’ fees are already being screwed by insurance company patient contracts.

        The ambulance that transported me got 90-some percent of their submitted fee…to have a guy drive me 115 miles and one to sit in the back and do nothing but fill out paperwork. I got no pain med. Nothing.

        The neurosurgeon who did my procedure got less than one-third of his billed amount.

        Why is it that someone who goes through a decade of education and training and gets certified in an expertise…gets less than a company who employs only paramedics?

        In the immortal words of Bill Murray from the movie Meatballs:

        “There’s something very wroooooooooooong here.”

        • #2819438

          because they are evil and rich, that is why

          by jdclyde ·

          In reply to The funny part

          haven’t you been following the debate in Washington?

          The docs and hospitals are over charging us, which is why no one can get health care, or so we are led to believe.

          Does anyone think that if someone knows their bill is going to be only partially paid, that they will not increase the bill a like amount so that after the discount, they are getting the same amount?

          Raise the price and then have a sale, not a new idea.

        • #2819430

          take it from me, jd

          by jck ·

          In reply to because they are evil and rich, that is why

          [i]The docs and hospitals are over charging us, which is why no one can get health care, or so we are led to believe.[/i]

          Someone who worked behind the scenes in the medical industry, and whose family has/had 3 members in medical jobs.

          Do you know why doctors bill cash patients $35 for a level 2 office visits and $96 to an insurance patient?

          It’s because of the contract with the insurance company.

          Between insurance trying to scam down a doctor or hospital so that they can rake all the profits in themselves, and the medical manufacturing community charging exorbitant premiums for their products…it’s a wonder we have medical care at all.

          BTW, I will still point out to you:

          Of all the Top 10 industrial nations of wealth, we are the only one without public healthcare.

          And besides that, all those “communist” countries you put down with your rhetoric, such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Canada, etc., are all getting higher ratings as having more “freedoms” than we have too.

          I see a trend here, and it is: you’re wrong about how things are.

          If you were right, their societies would have collapsed in anarchy, plagues would have infested them, and the USA would still be the land of milk and honey.

          Because the government doesn’t do what you want, it doesn’t mean the sky is going to fall Chicken Little. Get over your doom and gloom and come to the realization: all the Americanista propaganda you’ve chewed up and swallowed for years isn’t the absolute truth.

          It’s okay to step outside the box for a look sometime, jd. Trust me. I was once convinced the USA was faultless and #1 too. Then, I read more than my local newspaper and watched more than the ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings.

        • #2819319

          It’s always the same jck

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to take it from me, jd

          I worked for a company that sold a specific product to retail clients for $846.00 when the government ordered teh same product, or was replaced by an insurance claim, the cost was $1475.60.

          That’s the way it goes when you don’t have to be competitive for business, it’s just thrown at you regardless of cost, and thus you that’s where you make your margins and you can afford to lose margin and offer better pricing to the price shoppers.

        • #2819288

          I really do understand, Oz

          by jck ·

          In reply to It’s always the same jck

          So many Americans think that “competition in private industry” only means that business should compete with business.

          The thing is, with the status quo in the American society, that people who run these companies engender and endear themselves to one another through personal channels, e.g.- company lunches, conferences, golfing outings, etc.

          Thing is because they don’t get pecuniary benefit *directly* from it, it’s not “insider trading” and Americans are taught to think “Oh, that’s just business.”

          Thing is though at the same time, if several gas station owners go for a beer and set gas prices in a city/region it is then “collusion” simply based on the fact that it’s not done at an exclusive location.

          I think that a health insurance plan, equivalent and/or similar to the property insurance that Florida offers in comparison/competition to private insurers, would benefit the American people.

          It would sort of “set the bar” for private industry to have to meet without solely talking amongst themselves to set levels and decide only what is best for their industries.

          Business that is set to regulate business will always, eventually in a capitalistic society, solely look out for their best interests.

          That’s what the greed of business breeds: greed.

        • #2819284

          Demoralized business owner

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to I really do understand, Oz

          Such that, I should just go away and shoot myself.

        • #2819238

          Oops

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to I really do understand, Oz

          I added a zero to my government quote, good thing that wasn’t a real quote! 😀

          bascially, if the government orders something the price is raised above list/retail levels, others get much better pricing.

          An oops that completely reversed the intent of my post. lol!

        • #2819237

          Noticed

          by santeewelding ·

          In reply to I really do understand, Oz

          Figured that.

          You get more passes than you may think you know.

        • #3013908

          That’s all part of it

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to I really do understand, Oz

          As long as it keeps you on your toes.

        • #2819323

          Not a new idea

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to because they are evil and rich, that is why

          Bit a blatantly illegal practice.

          Raising the price before the sale is VERY illegal, and comes with severe penalties that are enough to shut the doors on most businesses. Law, something medical practitioners are seemingly exempt from, especially in Canada where they don’t even get sued.

      • #2819427

        Fire and Vodka

        by oz_media ·

        In reply to Another interesting article

        Now THOSE were cartoons.

        • #2819423

          I can’t remember exactly…

          by notsochiguy ·

          In reply to Fire and Vodka

          …but I think it was one of the old Merry Melodies ones.

          Of course, they’ll never air it again. They won’t even show the Tom & Jerry episode where Jerry and his kid/friend/brother/lover(??) get sloshed on wine, and start singing:

          I’ll take the high road
          and you’ll take the low road
          And I’ll be in Scotland before thee
          (hiccup)

          Political correctness sucks!

        • #2819336

          true

          by oz_media ·

          In reply to I can’t remember exactly…

          But I download them all the same.

          A while back someone posted a group of all teh Tom & Jerry deadly chases. All teh cartoons with the most violent chase scenes in them, awesome collection.

          “If you is or if you ain’t my baby”

          Ton in his zoot suit made from teh curtains is one of my favorites, as well as the one where Jerry’s cousin (a baby French mouse) visits and they have it out on the Thanksgiving table.

          “Touche’ monsieur pooosy cata” 😀 Priceless!!!

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