Politics

[Uncle Du 22]

I've been keeping an eye on this health care thing, and as much as I want to believe that it's a really good idea, I have this sinking feeling that it will just not work in practice. Good, cheap health care is something that we can all live with, but I have a hard time believing that the government is going to be able to offer this to more people, and not see a rise in taxes. I mean, anyone that thinks that the government can increase benefits to its citizens and not see a tax hike deserves to pay more. I love the idea, but I really detest that the administration is boldly stating that it can offer all of these new, wonderful benefits to people in need, and it won't affect anyone who already has good healthcare. It's just untrue, and infeasible in our current society.

Speaking from current experience, I can say this: there is already many programs in place for people in need of healthcare. Given our current situation, my wife's current insurance is going to expire on October 1st. A little over a month ago, we applied for welfare, and while we still made too much to get food stamps and whatnot, it DID get our name in the system. And what we found was there's a lot more out there than people know about. Now, this is for the state of PA, I don't know what other states are like, but after my wife took the time to gather all the paper work needed to apply for welfare, and show that we well and truly do need it, she now has free healthcare (as will our newborn son), for at least 6 months. At that point, they will re-evaluate our standing and if we still qualify. And it's through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, so it's not some sithty health plan. Thing is, I don't qualify for it. I'm not really sure why, but I don't really care. I have chosen not to be covered for the time being, because for all intents and purposes, I'm a healthy, almost 30 year old man.

The thing that I don't like, is if this goes through, it's going to give the Federal government pretty much free reign to say how the entire healthcare system is going to run. And the thing that confuses me is, look at all the things the government already runs and tell me: how well does it always work? Hit the link...

http://www.cathmed.org/issues_resources/blog/obama_compares_health_care_reform_plan_to_post_office-fedex_relationship/

And for the record, you can tell that that article, and the other one linked in there are both geared towards a conservative stand point, and I'm not actually trying to be partisan at all. I'm just incredulous, that's all.

Edited September 10, 2009 by Du

[Tsl 7]

Speaking as someone who works in the medical field, it really is true that there are a lot of people who don't have any insurance and don't qualify for assistance. I don't necessarily agree with everything that's going on with this "reform" because I essentially see it putting a lot of people who work in my field out of a job due to facilities like mine going bankrupt because gov't funded health care plans pay us n-o-t-h-i-n-g plus raising taxes and health care costs for people who will still have private insurance. I do think it sucks that so many people die because they can't get health care. I do think our gov't needs to get out of the insurance companies pockets. I don't have a clue what a good and effective way for health care to be truly reformed would be, but I don't think anyone has come up with it yet. People who get this gov't insurance will probably face the same problems people who have Medicaid now face. Maybe the first step would be looking at how to fix those programs first?

[Ender 8]

Remember Chuck Grassley, the douche from Iowa who started the whole "death panel" nonsense? Just out of boredom, I went to OpenSecrets.org today, which is a non-partisan organization that records donors to political campaigns and such, and look who Grassley's number one donor is:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00001758&type=I

Wonder why he's so against reform.

[Bad furday 57]

Excellent sleuthing, my good man! :D

[Uncle Du 22]

Indeed! Inquiring minds need to know!

[Ender 8]

Wow, for that kind of response I should spend more Thursdays doing nothing!

[Uncle Du 22]

Hell yea! ;)

[TheUnknown 39]

You're going to find a very strong link between money from big insurance and opposition to health care reform, particularly the public option. For example, John Barrow, the "Democrat" from Georgia has taken sith loads of money from big insurance.

[Mara 29]

The thing that I don't like, is if this goes through, it's going to give the Federal government pretty much free reign to say how the entire healthcare system is going to run. And the thing that confuses me is, look at all the things the government already runs and tell me: how well does it always work?

*nods and points at GM*

[Uncle Du 22]

lol, yea, have they posted a profit since the Federal government became the majority share holder?

And on top of that, if OUR government owns the majority of that company, if it ever does turn a profit, shouldn't we, the taxpayers, get some of that? :p

[TheUnknown 39]

If GM turns a profit, I want a new Chevy Malibu.

If CitiBank turns a profit, I want my student loans forgiven.

[Ender 8]

It's a Chevy, unknown. It WILL fall apart. Be un-American and buy a Jetta if you want a sedan, or better, a Golf.

[TheUnknown 39]

The Chevy Malibu we had was a great car.

[Bad furday 57]

I just want Ford to bring over the Fiesta and next gen Focus unmolested and not dumbed down for the american market.

If they ewok up either of those cars too much, I've got other options plotted. :D

[TheUnknown 39]

Ford sucks.

[Bad furday 57]

Yet in a delightfully ironic twist, most of Ford's suckage is here on the North American continent.

I'd rather have an Alfa Romeo....but that's just me. ;)

[Ender 8]

Only over here. They've put out several amazing cars in Europe, notably the Mondeo ST220, the new Focus RS (and the old one for that matter) and the new Fiesta. The old Escort Cosworth from the 90's was excellent too, a guy a couple blocks up from me has one.

[Andy 60]

That's pretty much what Furday was saying.

Plus Ford still sucks anyway, even over here. ;)

[Ender 8]

Yet in a delightfully ironic twist, most of Ford's suckage is here on the North American continent.

I'd rather have an Alfa Romeo....but that's just me.

Yeah... me too. Oh, wait.

That's pretty much what Furday was saying.

Plus Ford still sucks anyway, even over here.

Not according to Top Gear. And about every UK car magazine.

[Andy 60]

That's pretty much what Furday was saying.

Plus Ford still sucks anyway, even over here.

Not according to Top Gear. And about every UK car magazine.

Pssh, what do they know? ;)

[Mara 29]

lol, yea, have they posted a profit since the Federal government became the majority share holder?

And on top of that, if OUR government owns the majority of that company, if it ever does turn a profit, shouldn't we, the taxpayers, get some of that?

Not as far as I know.

On the news a week ago they mentioned that last month GM, Chrysler and Toyota all reported losses, while Ford's sales had went up.

Hmm.

I dunno, the new Taurus looks freaking sweet.

[Chickenman 9]

You know what? Screw it. I've always been an independent with strong ties to the Democrats, even working on a Democratic campaign a couple of years ago. But ewok them. Honestly. You have a super majority and are still quagmired by the fact that you idiots can't even introduce a ewoking bill on healthcare? All this town hall debate sith is useless, because we don't even have a ewoking bill yet. But you idiots are so concerned with winning over those assholes on the aisle who HATE YOUR GUTS and will NEVER agree with you on anything, despite the fact that you don't NEED their approval. Holy sith. You're going to lose the healthcare debate just because you're a bunch of ball-less idiots. Draft up a bill, pass it through and let's get this over with. I never thought I'd want anyone to take a page out of the Bush years, but follow the Republicans' strategy of just not giving a ewok. Please. Please.

We, as a nation, desperately need a progressive party. We've got the Republicans on the far right and the Democrats on the center right. Come the ewok on.

[TheUnknown 39]

Chicken, I've spent the past two days arguing with other Democrats, saying that it's time for the Democratic Party to let go and/or go after the "centrist" elements within the Democratic Party that are harming the party by doing things like you said: stalling, helping the conservatives, etc.

[Chickenman 9]

I'm all for the olive branch in theory, but this is making me sick. Too bad said sickness can't be cured through some kind of public option.

It's like the Democrats have a clear path to the finish line of a marathon, with the Republicans still back at the starting line. But the Democrats have gotten a hold of the starting pistol and used it to shoot themselves in the foot. And then in the head for good measure.

These cockbags have no idea how to govern, and it's killing us. The Republicans have proved time and time again that they are simply wrong on almost every issue. Trying to cater to their every demand when we don't need their support and they aren't in a million years going to give it it to us is downright retarded.

I know we need to hear both sides of the argument to prevent tyranny. But a 60/40 supermajority elected by the people is one hell of a mandate.

We've listened to both sides of the argument and all the other side has done is cloud the debate with a bunch of misdirecting strawman arguments and siccced a legion of foaming-at-the-mouth idiot Glenn Beck worshippers spewing Fox "News"'s catchphrase of the day on town hall meetings, originally meant to be used for intelligent discourse.

ewok!

[Ayingel 24]

this "health care" bill is making my head hurt. someone on facebook said they should rename it and revise the bill itself to be solely about "insurance reform"