Uh-oh....

[Paradigm]

I disagree 100% on ideological grounds with government subsidized anything. I know it happens and is part of the landscape however it only muddies the water, increases the cost of doing business and is the reason we have burgeoning deficits and historical inflation.

 

[cmsplert]

When I go to my doctor with Anthem he is paid something close to $50.00 and that is the approved charge.

My wife;s Kemo was something close to $1300 a day visit and that was at the day hospital instead of the doctors office which that greedy Blue of CA approved.

She was able to recieve her Kemo in a private room (8-12 hour treatment) at the day hospital instead of the doctors office with 10 other patients, 1/2 never made it, who were all slumped in a plastic lazy boy chairs. It was not a pleasant experience the day hospital was a luxury that is not appreciated by most.

Did the greedy Blue Cross of California balk. Nope they paid it for 8 months.

When her exit CT Scan show a new growth she was right back in the hospital with days (we were on a much deserved vacation when we were called by her oncolgist) for ANOTHER open lung byopsy.

Negative...thank God.

Now it is every 6 months for the past 1/2 decade of CT, galium, Pet scan with tumor marker test.

The Feds paying for this level of treatment scares the living hell of out me. I don't want what the Feds did to the public school system to happen to medicare care. When we are all forced into a substandard system that has more to do with the political process and deal making than educating our kids or providing top level, readily accessible medicare care on demand for the majority of all Americans.

Illegals without medicare insurance can and should wait in line for non emergency care.

 

[Delta76]

People don't want to spend $12,000 a year for health insurance. If the government can get them the same coverage for $5000 in additional taxes, that is where they are going to go.

Do you really believe that math? Second, do you know what a large part of the problem is pushing private premiums higher? (hint: the government!). Seriously, the Medicare program is completely underfunded and guess what, they are already skimmping. They use the TAWFUPM method (Thin Air-Works For Us Pricing Method) of pricing reimbursments to hospitals and clinics.

As a result, they need to pass the costs on to the underage market. Government interference and mandates are already big drivers of cost. The projected savings don't work when they take into account medicare reimbursement rates. All the clinics and hospitals would be out of business!

 

[Winter_123]

Do you really believe that math? Second, do you know what a large part of the problem is pushing private premiums higher? (hint: the government!). Seriously, the Medicare program is completely underfunded and guess what, they are already skimmping. They use the TAWFUPM method (Thin Air-Works For Us Pricing Method) of pricing reimbursments to hospitals and clinics.

As a result, they need to pass the costs on to the underage market. Government interference and mandates are already big drivers of cost. The projected savings don't work when they take into account medicare reimbursement rates. All the clinics and hospitals would be out of business!

True. It is the same in the medicaid arena in regard to long term care. In my state, it is legal for nursing homes to charge more for private pay than for medicaid long term care residents. Just like clockwork, someone introduces legislation every other year to eliminate that alleged discrimination against private pay patients. It all sound righteous in the beginning but always gets killed in committee when the legislators realize, once again, that medicaid does not pay its full share and state funded patients are actually being subsidized by private pay. Nursing home operators need the medicaid patients to get their volume and economy of scale up to a breakeven point but rely on the private pay to move them into a profit margin.

I am not 100% in agreement though that the medicare program is underfunded. It is if we are never going to remove the high percentage of fraud and abuse which is allowed to be a constant operating expense.

 

[Paradigm]

who pays 1000.00 a month unless their deductible is 500.00

 

[Corporate Death]

Because with you neo-cons everything is "policy" and politics. Being ideologically pure is more important than forming a better society. It is why you neo-cons are the "people of no."

This is where you are mistaken. I believe it is the opposite. Us.... "neo-cons" are the ones who want politics and symbolism OUT of decision making. The entire "symbolism over substance" nonsense demonstrated by the left is what I believe is this country's biggest problem.

I found it interesting that you felt necessary to mention your race. What was even more interesting is that you are a neo-con AND of that race. I sure don't meet many of them (I actually DO know one who lives near me.)

Yea, I felt it necessary to mention my race because you felt it necessary to label every conservative as a RACIST. Now, when presented with the FACT that all conservatives are not white (which liberals like yourself obviously mistakenly assume), you STILL make that stupid assumption and racist remark about "finding it interesting that I am a black conservative". Your showing your azz again. This is the type of racist crap that comes from the left regularly. See, if I'm black, I'm SUPPOSED to be liberal.

Please kill yourself.

We are angry because for every piece of social legislation that we've worked to pass, we (moderate-liberals) have had to beat the political crap out of guys like you to get it done. Indeed, we've learned from you... from the crackers (you're too young to know what that term means)

First, there is nothing moderate about you. NOTHING. Second, you have no idea how old I am, but let me tell you this: I know what the word "cracker" means. And I think it's just as racist as the other word.

in the South, from the Billy Sunday's, the Thurmonds, the Byrds, the Wallaces, the Nixons, the Dukes, etc. that to convince 'good people' to get get up off their butts and do the right thing, we have to vilify our enemies. If anything, we've learned this from you folks. It is unfortunate, but it works. (Of course it didn't hurt seeing you folks and your dogs on TV bite the marchers in Selma or spit on little girls walking to school. You made it easier for us.)

Again, assuming that the folks who were using dogs on people in the south were all conservatives. Did you personally go interview every cop, every police chief, every mayor that ordered that action? Fact is, in the 50's, even DEMOCRATS were more conservative. Check your facts, bub. And the rediculously socialist legislation liberals have been trying to pass has been killed because it was BAD LEGISLATION. Nobody wants the damn government telling them what to do, especially us conservative-Libertarians. Liberals seem to me to want social experimentation. You want to believe that everyone should voluntarily give up their wealth for "the common good". When that happens, people stop producing, innovations ceases. If I cant make an extra buck, there is no reason for me to work harder. Why cant you understand that?

You are a conservative, yet I bet you don't know the first thing about your own history. You vilify the government as the root of all evil, yet it was the government, prodded by people in the streets (like me, not your pals here), that sent the troops to Mississippi, that created educational, public accommodation, and voting rights for our minority citizens... because BOTH the "good-people" wouldn't do it on their own and the white power-structure was flat-out opposed to it.

You would lose that bet. I never told you the government is the root of all evil. I said the government is a giant clusterf*** that couldnt organize crap and cannot fix jack. And again, you ASSUME that it was all far-leftists (like you) who were marching in the streets in Montgomery. You would be wrong. As a matter of fact, I could introduce you to scores of conservatives (both Republican AND Democrat, white AND black) who demonstrated during those times. See, again you are making the assumption that conservatives are all racist and want race seperation and all that old crap.

Where do you think the rights and freedoms that YOU have today came from? Do you honestly believe that your neo-con friends (on this list and elsewhere) approve of them?

Those rights and freedoms came from the Constitution, not a bunch of drugged up hippy leftists running around screaming in tie-dyed t-shirts. And I DEFINITELY KNOW THAT MY "NEO-CON" FRIENDS ON THIS BOARD APPROVE OF THEM. I'd bet MY wife, YOUR wife, and MY LIFE on that FACT.

You don't think that your friends believe in their heart of hearts that it is perfectly fine for a bus company to decide that blacks sit in the back... or that they can't use the same restrooms as whites? And do you really believe that the conservatives on this board are happy that you have been GIVEN the rights that they say you should have WORKED for?

I'm seeing a pattern here. You are afraid of anything or anyone who is a conservative. You have this rediculous belief that conservatives are "evil incarnate" or some crap. Yes, I do believe, and would gladly confirm, that every conservative on this board would NOT approve of a bus company who racially seperated their bus. You have absolutely NO proof or reason to believe any of that nonsense. NONE.

 

[Corporate Death]

Having been on this board for over two years and having read their political screeds, I have no doubt that the majority of the folks you are standing shoulder to shoulder with would happily roll back the clock to Alabama of 1958 (and you have no idea what that was like, but Rick and I do... for sure.)

Again, dont make assumptions.

By the way. Please check into AL GORE's FATHER and his voting record on the Civil Rights Act. Took REPUBLICANS to get it passed. Oh, and also..... What party is BYRD in? Just curious. Oh, and which party is the party of SLAVERY? Oh yeah...

THE DONKEYS!!!!

I don't see you (or anyone) wanting to repeal Medicare or Part D or Social Security or Food Stamps, or Medicaid or any of the other safety nets we (liberals) have established over the vigorous objections and obstructions of you and your brethren.

I do. Cant speak for the rest of em, but I'm a true Libertarian. I dont see it in the Constitution, then I believe we need to slowly start dismantling it. Just my .02. Your "safety nets" have resulted in massive fraud, abuse, and waste.

We moderates and liberals look at things and don't ask "why" we ask "why not." You folks have the answer: "Because it is socialism and God (ie. the Christian god) is against it."

Bull. First, quit trying to convince everyone here that you are a moderate. It's a damn lie. Second, thats not quite how it goes. You leftists say: "why not, we can spend everyone's money to make the world perfect". Newflash: It's NEVER going to be perfect, and people with wealth (that does not include me) do NOT have bottomless pockets for you to steal from in order to fund your little social experiments. If you really believed in it, you'd take a vow of poverty and give 90%+ of your income to make it happen. And I'm not a Christian either, so nice try at yet ANOTHER assumption.

Why do you hate the concept of socialism? Because basically you don't like the people. It's the money and power you really love.

Wrong. I have no money or power. I like the idea of working my azz off and earning a LOT of money without having it all jacked by the damn government who seems to think that all the money I make was made unfairly and somehow I should "give back"..... even though I "gave" when I busted my azz to earn the money. You are reading right out of a socialist handbook it seems. Socialism has not worked in the past and will not work in the future. People figure out how to milk the system and economic collapse is inevitable.

Why does a conservative sell Medicare supplements or MA if he is opposed to socialized medicine? Why does a conservative send his child to public school if he is true capitalist? Why does a neo-con accept an agricultural subsidy? It's the money.

A conservative sells Med Supps because med supps are a way to earn a living...... on a socialized medicine program. We'll always find a way to make money. We send kids to public schools because socialists like yourselves believe that we should not be able to spend our tuition dollars where we want to, so we not only have to pay to support your public-indoctrination schools, but would also end up paying another tuition on top of that. Oh wait..... you apparently didnt realize that not all conservatives are rich.

I think conservatives have a story to tell, but have you noticed that fewer and fewer people are listening? Why? Because under all of your nice platitudes of "opportunity" and "boot-strap pulling" and "individual responsibility" you don't really practice or believe it.

You are living in a dream world. Most people (human nature of course) will take a handout in hard times. We are in hard times. Once things get better, people will continue to listen to common sense (conservatism) and will hopefully abandon both the Republican Party and Victocrat Party in favor of the Libertarian Party. The swing has been going back and forth since the beginning of this country. It will continue to happen.

Moderates and liberals are angry because we don't want to see hungry, sick children. But you do. We moderates and liberals don't want to see people go homeless. But you do. We moderates and liberals don't want to see older people lose their homes if they get sick. But you do.

I.... I cant even begin to address this truckload of hot steaming exrement... so I'll just bold it for everyone to get a good look at the dream world you live in.....

And we moderates and liberals believe that healthcare, like education, is a right... but you and your friends (here) see it as a privilege... only to be granted to those who are ideologically pure.

Wrong again. We conservatives believe healthcare is a RESPONSIBILITY. Every INDIVIDUAL is responsible for providing healthcare to themselves and their families.

BTW, you are not moderate. I know lots of liberals and none are as hateful or delusional as you are.

I was hoping that by this time in my life, and all the struggles I've seen by people like me (not you) to make this a better society that it would get easier... but it hasn't. Your desire for power and your drive for monetary self-aggrandizement have not been ameliorated by the social improvements that have occurred in the past forty five years.

Again with the idiotic assumptions. Trust me fella, I've seen more than my share of struggles. And your rediculous assumption that I'm after money and power are rediculous. Yeah, I want to make a lot of money. Most people do. But I want to (and will) do it by helping people, as I've done in the past. I have no interest in power or publicity. Leftists, on the other hand, like Obamasamalamadamadingdong and the rest of the liberal Elite, are OBVIOUSLY after power.

I guess we are angry because we see, work for and look forward to a better future. You look only to the past and extol the virtues of a time and a system that was only better for you and those who were white and wealthy.

Wrong. We look to the future of the country becoming self-sufficient and productive. We believe that humans can create when given the freedom to do so. We believe that nobody has to settle for handouts for a living and that given motivation and training, ANYone can be successful in whatever field of endeavor they choose. The government is NOT a tool to make this happen. It comes from within. Regardless of race, color, age, or gender, ANYone can be successful and happy.

We've had neo-cons in power the past 16 years (either the Congress or White House or both have been Rep.) I think that people are tired of looking over their shoulders at the rural past and hearing you folks say "If we only go back to 'Alabama of 1958' we will have a better society."

See, it's this type of FLAT OUT LIE that you and your ilk continue to try to push. If you repeat it over and over for 30 years, some people tend to believe it. Unfreakinbelievable.

I believe that the election of a liberal president and a liberal majority in the Congress is a sign that your white, rich, reactionary thinking is now (hopefully forever) out of vogue and that people like me can (again) have some input into the political process and we will see programs and legislation, like we saw in the 60s, that will help make this country better FOR ALL.

Gonna bold this one too. (BTW, that legislation was made possible by conservative dems and conservative republicans)

You are welcome to join... but you won't because you will have to give up some of your money, some of your power, and maybe some of your choice.

What money? I had power? Really? When? and if you think I'll EVER give up my choice, you are sadly mistaken.

You folks really didn't like sharing ballot boxes, urinals, or classrooms with minorities and the "bad, mean, commie" liberals made you do it. We know that. And we know we will again have to MAKE you see that a society that gives everyone the opportunity to have healthcare will be as beneficial to society as integrating the schools, the lunch counters, and the voting booths.

Wow. Just wow.

BTW, everyone DOES have the opportunity to have healthcare. Some folks just dont take advantage of that opportunity because they would rather buy a big house or an SUV than guard agains financial disasters brought on by medical catastrophe.


Please. Get a CAT Scan.

 

[Winter_123]

I found it interesting that you felt necessary to mention your race. What was even more interesting is that you are a neo-con AND of that race. I sure don't meet many of them (I actually DO know one who lives near me.)

Al
Preserve your memories

You need to get out more often Al. I know you are probably resting up from all those years of freeing the South from slavery and conservatism.

In the meantime you might note this post from, yesterday or thereabouts, by the conservative Thomas Sowell. Hint: He knows a little more about both being black and being educated than you do for obvious reasons.

Universal Health Care

 

[Guest]

Now it is every 6 months for the past 1/2 decade of CT, galium, Pet scan with tumor marker test.

The Feds paying for this level of treatment scares the living hell of out me. I don't want what the Feds did to the public school system to happen to medicare care. When we are all forced into a substandard system that has more to do with the political process and deal making than educating our kids or providing top level, readily accessible medicare care on demand for the majority of all Americans.

Illegals without medicare insurance can and should wait in line for non emergency care.

Oh I see. Your wife is more valuable to the planet because you are a wealthier person than the wife of some guy who mows lawns for a living.

So we should just let the poor, the working classes, and most especially those who are not here legally, but who work their asses off nonetheless, to die in the streets so that your sainted wife can get the treatment she needs.

So THAT is the message of conservatism. So that is the dictum of "Ayn's enlightened self-interest." So that is the political foundation that you think healthcare should be based on.

And you wonder why people like myself who have a social conscience, who want to see everyone be healthy, believe that people like you are not just the enemy, but evil as well.

You don't think the wife of the Mexican guy who mows lawns hurts as bad as your wife when she has cancer? You don't think his wife deserves to live as much as your wife? You don't think his child who has a heart problem is in the same pain as your child with the same ailment? You don't think these people bleed when cut or cry when hurt? Of course you don't, because with you it's not about people, it's not about human kindness, it's not about anything resembling (Christian) charity and it's not about any kind of empathy. It's just about the amount of taxes you might have to pay so that his wife or his child can get the same medical treatment that your wife (or child) got.

After reading your post above, I can say with complete honestly and truthfulness that you are indeed a man without one iota of compassion for anyone other than yourself.

You (and all those here who side with you) disgust me. Please. I don't want you to like me. I want you to hate my guts. I want you to think of people like me as the absolute worst people on the planet. Your greed, your selfishness, and your xenophobia mark you as a man that I would never want to identify with, whom I would never want to know, and whom I would never want as MY agent.

My inclination is to say that you don't belong in this industry. But... considering the number of people on this board who would agree with you... obviously you do. I'm the one who should get out of it.

Al

 

[CT Insure Guy]

Has anyone just figured out that Al3 hates himself? It's really not that hard to understand....