KaskadskyjKozak

It's not just that, there are two other issues: insurance co's stalling when you really do get sick/hurt (and are covered) and the "absolute limit" that you can hit (2 million for lifetime). Most people who are insured never really get sick or hurt. Sure there is an emergency visit here and there, a few doctor's appointments every year, etc. Only a few people really get sick and hurt, and the story I am hearing over and over again from the "our health care system is broken crowd" is that insurance companies try to avoid paying these expenses when they actually are incurred. I don't know how much of this is truth and how much hyperbole, but if it's the former, it's BS, and I could see how this is not on everyone's radar screen since it affects few - of course you are happy w/ your coverage if you've never really gotten sick/hurt and never had to make huge claims that are stalled/denied. Anyways, in general my preference is to identify the worst 2-3 problems, and improve them first. You can't fix everything all at once. And I prefer reasonable legislation/regulation to a parallel public system, or massive overhaul. The latter is what is making people really fucking nervous. So, if rising costs is the #1 problem, well, fine address that in isolation or with one or two other problems, but don't try to do it all - all at once.

Poon Tang

so is your mom. Speaking of your mom... when the hell did you get married? Jebus, last time I checked you just got yourself a new woahman. no shit. he was bragging a few months ago about how he was a 30+ something who could still get hot chicks - one after another.

Do you make more than $200,000+ a year? You wouldn't pay higher taxes under some of the proposals. Unfortunately, this provision is likely to be struck under any compromise with Republicans (who're fighting for the common man, of course). I heard all businesses would be hit with a payroll deduction under some of these proposals - whether or not your employer already pays for (some or all) of you health insurance. That is a new tax and if true, is bullshit. If I *want* to go with the public option, then I should be apply to apply my employer-paid portion to the public option, but I should not have to fund it if I am already getting coverage that I am happy with. valid concern, and point. These are the details that ought to be being discussed, not Obama's similarities to Hitler and whether Obama wants to send old people to the glue factory. I'm fucking outraged that the discussion is none at all and we risk a total defeat of opportunity to reform to everyone's benefit because of histrionic and irrational rumor and fear mongering, and political BULLSHIT. So, I hear your concerns too. Could reform *start* with just the following 1) ensuring catastrophic coverage is affordable - meaning monthly charge and a reasonable annual deductible 2) ensuring insurance companies may not stall, delay, avoid paying out - how about pay first, then ask questions, 3) figuring out a way to eliminate the "preexisting conditions" requirements balancing that with folks being "forced" to buy coverage (instead of just paying nothing until they are hurt or sick and then suddenly applying for coverage). I could also see progressive premiums (or tax credits to ensure this) for 1), but would never support zero copays/deductibles for large numbers of people.

Do you make more than $200,000+ a year? You wouldn't pay higher taxes under some of the proposals. Unfortunately, this provision is likely to be struck under any compromise with Republicans (who're fighting for the common man, of course). I heard all businesses would be hit with a payroll deduction under some of these proposals - whether or not your employer already pays for (some or all) of you health insurance. That is a new tax and if true, is bullshit. If I *want* to go with the public option, then I should be apply to apply my employer-paid portion to the public option, but I should not have to fund it if I am already getting coverage that I am happy with.

he doesn't post those. duh! ;-)

By comparison the US population is 10X that of Canada, and even with 85% coverage, our system serves at least 8.5X that of Canada, so dropping from 30th to 37th should be acceptable - explanable by the larger number of people served by our Health Care system. Problem solved!

so were the spartans - they kicked licked ass too fixed it for ya

cool translation - whose? it retains the essential alliteracy that resonates throughthe old english seamus heaney's version of the above begins "in off the moors, down through the mist bands God-cursed Grendel came geedily loping." Beowulf if ghey

Is that the name of your sheep?

I would look for the following: Fiscal responsibility Business friendly Limited Government Balanced, forward-thinking energy policy I would accept other positions not on the list and normally associated with the "left" if the net of the policies was better than what we have now (or under Bush). Examples include: Health care reform Environmental policies Reducing presence in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere; shift in foreign policy overall I'm not looking for a "moderate" party, riding the center, but one which stakes positions and works to fulfill their promises. If the party pisses off about 20% of the population on each side of the current political divide, that is a good thing. Also, we need a government that stops telling everyone what they want to hear, brush problems under the carpet, and bribe voters with payouts.

Like the South? STFU douchebag

Uh, yeah... Can't wait to see what you've got lined up for us next time around! We know what you have lined up... a tour of N. Korea would suffice to illustrate

Freedom means starving or not getting adequate health care if you choose to buy too much shit you can't afford.

agreed, except I am not sure our "standard of living" will decrease - just spending on stupid shit we don't need.

Nice job, Dan! This is the kind of shit I need to get motivated again!

the opposition base is pissed... so are a significant number of those that voted for B-HO. At least that's true today. 14 months left until midterm elections... exactly. The opposition base is pissed (they always are, whether in power or out), and once again the democrats are going to shoot themselves in the foot by squabbling endlessly amongst themselves and will then wonder how they blew it so quickly. Meanwhile the Republicans can't wait to take back power in 2010 and maybe 2012 too, so they can get back to doing absolutely nothing about health care except maintaining the profit margins of the insurance lobby. the base was pretty blase during the 2008 election I'm hoping for a viable third party to rise up

the opposition base is pissed... so are a significant number of those that voted for B-HO. At least that's true today. 14 months left until midterm elections...

nothin' like a good bushwhack from time to time to build character

caves are aid

where is the Hangdog Watchdog! The horrors!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it doesn't

Then again, I may be mistaken, and "Hangdog Watchdog" is just Unidawg's pet name for you. Don't need any more details on that...thanks

those having fun in the way Your Highness dictates as ethical anathema - those are the ones the "watchdog" berates for having fun