StevenSeagal

I don't solo for the money, my compensation is the lightness of being.

there's a big sale on discarded souls at the base of Castleton. You should go check it out. Also I have some extra shoe shine and tongue protectors if you need them. Fangrrrrrrl.

...all the while in no way denying that you'd 'hit that'!

Has anyone seen my ego? I can't seem to find it. I last saw it at the base of the wall.

I speak raven.

The free gear is nice though, truth be told.

I solo to inspire my fans. It's not really about me.

fangrrrl

fanboi

Certainly these could be common ground proposals; for 1) something like a sliding scale according to one's income for premiums. But really it is not the premiums per se that are as problematic as the high deductables and large out of pocket limits. Somebody has to bear the costs so how can these costs be reduced? They are being passed onto us by the insurance companies to the point where insurance doesn't ensure much. I like 2) and 3) but that's where I think staunch conservatives are going to have a real issue and sensitivity towards perceived "regulation" of industry by government; but reality suggests that some form of regulation is needed here to make these things happen. I also don't think zero copayment options are realistic, but I would like to see something like a fixed rate for doctors office visits and specialists that is affordable. Say $50 per visit or something reasonable. Just going for a checkup or a minor concern is expensive enough right now that it's enough to discourage people from going at all. What I mean is we need an increased emphasis on preventative care. The current system we now have does not encourage regular visits for routine checkups. In the long run I believe that will contribute to better overall health in society and, hopefully, decreased burden on the system. The preexisting condition deal is one of the biggest travesties since it effectively removes one's choice of plan if one is already sick since nobody will insure them. Not to mention it often strays into things like family history and whatnot. It's like insurance for insurance that they won't ever have to pay benefits, and it punishes people who aren't blessed with good health or good luck.

We all just need to work harder, is that it? I'll see if I can increase my salary at the same pace as medical costs and insurance premiums are increasing. Looks like I have my work cut out. By your logic perhaps the most noble thing would ne doing away with insurance altogether and paying entirely out of pocket- after all why do need to sponge off insurance companies, maybe you just need to work harder...

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.

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). if I made that much, I wouldn't be complaining because a 1-2K a month premium for complete coverage wouldn't make a dent in my wallet and I would have unfettered access to what is otherwise the best quality care on the world. But I don't, therefore even with insurance even minor injuries and illnesses will be a huge financial setback; a major event will do the same but the only consolation is there is some cap to it- that is, if the insurance company doesn't find a way to deny coverage. Oh and long term PT? 10 visits a year! In a major injury, that should be used up in about 3-4 weeks, about a 1/5 of the time you need for recovery and PT from, for ex., ACL repair. Anyway my point was that I would even be willing to pay a little extra in taxes as a trade off for not losing 1-2 years of savings all at once for each medical incident. At least you can budget for your taxes or premiums.

this is exactly it: questioner: "what are your hopes for health care?" lady: "I want Obama voted out of office!" These people aren't interested in addressing this problem despite admitting there is one; their primary interest is in defeating the president and winning political points. There isn't a single proposal that Obama could offer that will gain a single Republican vote- Grassley himself helped wring out talk of concession on the public option then today says they'll oppose any health care reform legislation. So at this point if the democrats want anything passed, they need to unite amonst themselves on a common goal and say fuck the republicans- it would be better to be defeated going all out than to cave in and get defeated anyway. FW, put another way, I would rather pay either higher taxes ( within reason) or higher premiums for where I have a known and predictable cost, and have peace of mind that I am covered, than currently paying relatively high premiums and still living in constant worry that a broken ankle or an ER visit is pretty much coming completely out of my pocket to the tune of 7-10 grand, which will set me back years financially - despite the fact that I've bucked up for insurance. That so many conservatives would rather play politics and declare themselves happy with the prospect of being bankrupted is baffling to me- I don't hear anything that is proposing "free" health care- I don't expect it- I just expect "insurance" to be exactly that- insurance against going broke for getting sick or injured. The current system only does that for people who can already afford coverage that equates to an amount akin to a second mortgage payment. FW is there any reform you would accept much less advocate assuming it came from Obama? Or does it have to be a conservative that proposes it? Because at this point the conservatives appear to me to be interested simply in obstruction.

I don't. Looking at Justin Thibault's (Choada Boy) continual attack posts that never have any logic, address the issue or are on topic, I just figured he must be too stupid to formulate thoughts of his own which make sense and are well argued and on topic and perhaps he's just plain mentally fucked up so this is his plea for attention. In either case, I decided to ignore him like most others on this site. Regards did you give him a care bear? Otherwise your ignoring of him is just symbolic.

...and, of course, have someone else pay for it. Sorry, but I would rather tolerate the present cost-shifting scheme via higher premiums than sacrifice any more freedom to government. premiums which are only going to keep getting higher, including your own. How long til your employer decides to bail on your plan FW? Word is many employers are going to keep dropping plans in the near future since the current system is not sustainable. But for now, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters. There are a lot of hard working people who cannot afford decent coverage, that isn't your reality but it's a fact of life if you would take a look around and suspend your assumption that all un or underinsured are just lazy. Your quote about men with consciences being more dangerous is interesting, but perhaps you should question whether with this issue the conscience lies not just with some liberal politician and more within the heart of the public as well. Despite hyperbolic angry demonstrations and media distortions, the majority of Americans would like to at least have the option to CHOOSE a public plan, as well as allowing people like you to keep your wonderful plan. I just think your proposal is more likely to kill your own plan in the long run.

Yes we want pie charts and a full cost/benefit analysis for each of the top 50 countries by 8 AM tomorrow.

Ooooh, fanbois are here!!!

don't forget Sean Hannity selling hot dogs, Mark Levin as the angry manager, Michael Savage as the costumed mascot pantomiming murdering effigies of the other team, and Anne Coulter scrubbing toilets in the locker room.

Freedom means buying expensive health insurance and nonetheless losing your entire life savings to medical bills when you get sick.

wouldn't want chapped lips when you have to smooch ass to sponsors right after that send..

agreed, except I am not sure our "standard of living" will decrease - just spending on stupid shit we don't need. that is more or less what I mean, but for a disturbing number of people, buying a lot of SHIT constitutes a quantifiable standard of living...

that's cause between Obama's popularity and how bad Bush had screwed things up, it was probably pretty hard to get too excited about anything. People are still in denial, they think as soon as the stimulus works or whatever that economic recovery is going to look like how things have been for the past 2 or 3 decades- unbridled debt spending, soaring home prices, and no manufacturing. The reality is I think that our standard of living as a whole can remain adequate and comfortable but necessarily has to decrease- considering that it has all this time been built on illusion and speculation rather than concrete footing. For some who have lived within their means it won't mean much, for others...

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.

Word. I was thinking the same thing. You mean you didn't like the Alpinist piece where she quoted Christina Aguilera lyrics and described the spiritual enlightenment and egoless state derived from an unelaborated vaguely alluded to personal crisis that created a tortuous personal introspection that caused her to jump from airplanes in fancy suits and ultimately led to a solitary personal journey up the Diamond with two different photographers and which begat the death of the ego and the self?