Zipp0 1
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I apologize for the "I".
We are going to have to pay taxes one way or another. Our tax dollars are going to go somewhere. I much prefer that my dollars stay here in the U.S. to help other Americans. I'm not very happy about the billions of dollars that are being given to such corporations as Halliburton. I am not very happy about religious groups getting my tax dollars to build huge churches. I am not very happy about religious groups receiving a huge amount of my tax dollars that were meant to fight the spread of HIV and to help those who are infected. I'm not very happy that my tax dollars are being use to provide medical care in third world nations when there are plenty of people right here who are in need. I am not very happy that my tax dollars are being used to pay the salary of a multi-millionaire politician. You are forced to pay for all of that and even more that you do not even know of! Are you happy about that or is it just more convenient to scream about the little that you do know. Before you pick on those who really do need help (feel free to go after those who are scamming the healthcare system), take the time to see where the vast majority of your dollars are going. You will be shocked to see how much real waste there actually is. But, from what I see and hear, it is way too much to expect that Americans would be willing to help out their brothers and sisters. Please note, I am not speaking of those who much rather sit and drink beer all day but, those who have worked and paid into the system.
Tell me, what do you suggest that we do with all of the Iraq war veterans who are going to find themselves homeless, unemeployable, ill, addicted to the drugs that they were given, unable to cope with daily life? Should our tax dollars help them? What about their children? Should our dollars help them? In the years to come the system will be even further burdened with the influx of these people. You think it is bad now? Just wait, it is going to get far worst.
We are going to have to pay taxes one way or another. Our tax dollars are going to go somewhere. I much prefer that my dollars stay here in the U.S. to help other Americans. I'm not very happy about the billions of dollars that are being given to such corporations as Halliburton. I am not very happy about religious groups getting my tax dollars to build huge churches. I am not very happy about religious groups receiving a huge amount of my tax dollars that were meant to fight the spread of HIV and to help those who are infected. I'm not very happy that my tax dollars are being use to provide medical care in third world nations when there are plenty of people right here who are in need. I am not very happy that my tax dollars are being used to pay the salary of a multi-millionaire politician. You are forced to pay for all of that and even more that you do not even know of! Are you happy about that or is it just more convenient to scream about the little that you do know. Before you pick on those who really do need help (feel free to go after those who are scamming the healthcare system), take the time to see where the vast majority of your dollars are going. You will be shocked to see how much real waste there actually is. But, from what I see and hear, it is way too much to expect that Americans would be willing to help out their brothers and sisters. Please note, I am not speaking of those who much rather sit and drink beer all day but, those who have worked and paid into the system.
Tell me, what do you suggest that we do with all of the Iraq war veterans who are going to find themselves homeless, unemeployable, ill, addicted to the drugs that they were given, unable to cope with daily life? Should our tax dollars help them? What about their children? Should our dollars help them? In the years to come the system will be even further burdened with the influx of these people. You think it is bad now? Just wait, it is going to get far worst.
"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young
Royd 0
I haven't seen any churches using tax money to build sanctuaries. That would be a real conflict between church and state.
I do agree with most of your post about sending our tax money elsewhere.
What's the difference between money going to Evil Haliburton, which is used for doing various jobs, and money going to some small paving company to pave that last mile of dirt road to someone's house, and a crappy job it was.
I know that HIV is your burden, but in general, using that mentality, shouldn't we be throwing tax money at every medical situation?
Let's be honest. Most of the tax money spent on projects isn't really about the betterment of the whole. It's about pleasing the constituency in order to stay in power.
Maybe we should depend upon private donations to foundations to get the job done, and eliminate govt. intervention as much as possible.
You can't say that we are a bunch of cold hearted bastards, because we don't want to pay for someone else's health care, and then bitch about us sending medical relief to a foriegn land. People are people, right?
You think that we are the pariah of the world now, imagine how we would be viewed if we shut off all aid.
Think of the children!
QuoteIn any insurance scheme some people gain and some lose. It's all about managing risk.
Everyone benefits from having insurance.
I'll ask this - what is the purpose of purchasing insurance? What I mean is, why do people purchase insurance?
I've got my theory - I have insurance because the primary purpose is, to me, "peace of mind." Insurance gives you peace of mind in knowing that in the event of disaster, you will not suffer financial hardship.
I've got the following policies between me, my business and family:
Business (not including mandatory programs like SSI, unemployment, etc):
1) Commercial General Liability and umbrella (with additional coverage like non-owned hired auto, etc.)
2) Professional Errors and Omissions (malpractice)
3) Workers comp
4) Key Man
5) Business interruption insurance
6) Renter's insurance
Personal:
1) Life (me, my wife and kids) plus umbrellas (presently term, but plans on converting to whole life)
2) Health (and I'm just now adding dental) (and an HSA account)
3) Disability (my wife and I)
4) Homeowner's
5) Vehicle plus umbrella (high limit in case of disaster)
Now, I haven't had any need to use any of the insurances that my business maintains. We have only had to use health insurance because we've had no disability, vhicle crashes or anything. In fact, the ONLY timeI have ever needed to use insurance other than health insurance is when items were stolen out of my car a few years ago.
I could have saved probably $100k in the last 4 years had I not had these policies. The only ones I am required to have are workers comp (by law), vehicle (by law) and homeowner's (by mortgage). I sure as hell am not required to carry the policy limits that I carry.
But I carry those high limits because of the desire for peace of mind. If I get sued for malpractice I'm not gonna lose the house. If an employee causes a car wreck while running an errand for me, I am insured.
I have peace of mind of knowing that I have covered the angles that I can cover. And while my lifestyle has suffered as a result of the loads of money I'm pouring into peace of mind, I'd rather face this than face what freethefly is facing.
Insurance is for peace of mind, professor. Whats' the price on that? For most it is apparently too much, for they choose to ignore the risks.
QuoteWith respect to health care a sizeable fraction of the US population is unable to manage that risk for one reason or another because of the way the "system" (or lack thereof) works.
And it's probably too much because they fail to recognize the risks. If they appreciated the risks (everone knows the risks - they just choose to believe it won't happen to them) these people would value their peace of mind much more.
I don't buy that most of the uninsured are "unable to manage that risk." I believe that damn near all of them ARE able to manage that risk.
How many of your poor students are truly unable to grasp what you are teaching them? Oh, they could grasp it and master the material IF they: 1) paid attention; and 2) practiced to mastery. Very many things that you teach are difficult concepts to grasp - difficult but certainly not impossible for the vast majority of people.
Do you say, "You just can't hack it? You're too dumb to understand it?" Or do you say, "Here's another explanation. Practice, practice practice." That's the reason for homework - practice.
It's the same for people and insurance. Maybe if that student spent less time on the Playstation or less time drinking and partying - and more time studying - the student WOULD grasp the material.
If people made different choices in the cars they drive, the clothes they wear, the forms of entertainment they utilize - indeed the lifestyle they lead - they will be perfectly able to manage it.
By the way, the people who are uninsured are usually more apt to need the insurance because their lifestyles often put them at greater risk. "Health insurance? $120 per month? That's 6 jump tickets. No way." Thus, the person does not purchase insurance in order to engage in an activity that has a fairly IN-YOUR-FACE risk of catastrophic injury.
Government health care would merely subsidize this type of thing. Is this the sort of societal ethos that any senisble government would want to encourage?
My wife is hotter than your wife.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/10/09/past_foes_of_church_state_ties_turn_supporters/
There is no difference. The army could easily feed themselves using mess cooks. Haliburton is not needed to do the job that the army could very well do themselves. If a person wants to pave their private road, they could easily do it themself or hire a contractor to do it. But, this is much different than the army hiring contractors when they have the people to do the job.
Coupled with charitable donations, many illnesses could be tackled. As people claiming to be compassionate, we should look after one another.
I agree 100%. Pork is a major waste and both dems and repubs are guilty. We have all seen the waste and we should be screaming loud.
And we do. Jerry Lewis has been able to raise millions of dollars through his telethons. Cancers societies do it every day. I will be pestering the people on my road very soon to donate to the leukemia and lymphoma society. These dollars collected, coupled with tax dollars greatly offset the overall cost of the taxpayer. However, it is very much the same as using just tax dollars had the charitable donation been collected as tax dollars. People perceive donations has giving from the heart and not dipping into their taxes. Either way, the money is collected.
Correct. However, charity begins at home and filters out. My problem with our money going abroad is solely with the waste of the money. Bush has given faith based organization 1/4 of the money that was earmarked to help AIDS patients in Africa. Much of the money is unaccounted for. Many of the relgious groups that have received the funds are not using the money to educate and stop the spread of HIV. Much of the money is used to promote religion. Much of it goes to pay salaries. Money that is earmarked to fight HIV should go to health organizations to provide medications and education.
No, I do not believe that we are the pariah of the world. We, as a whole, do much good. Most Americans are great people. It is the few that drag us down. The same with all other countries. There are more good people than there are bad. Those people need to stand up. Darfur is a great example. I wonder how it got to the point it is today. Why didn't the people stand up and fight? Why did they just stand by and let it happen? Are the bad stronger than the good? The same in Germany under Hitler. Why did the many good Germans stand by and let it happen? It baffles me and I have no answer. I am just as guilty as everyone else. I read, I watch it on the news, I shake my head. But, still I do very little or nothing at all. But, what can I do about Darfur or the AIDS crisis in Africa? If someone has those answers, I'll do what I can.
They should be our main concern. They will someday hold the power over us older people. If we give them less today, they will return that to us. We should concentrate on cultivating a society of caring people not a society of warriors and hate.
QuoteWhat's the difference between money going to Evil Haliburton, which is used for doing various jobs, and money going to some small paving company to pave that last mile of dirt road to someone's house, and a crappy job it was.
There is no difference. The army could easily feed themselves using mess cooks. Haliburton is not needed to do the job that the army could very well do themselves. If a person wants to pave their private road, they could easily do it themself or hire a contractor to do it. But, this is much different than the army hiring contractors when they have the people to do the job.
Quoteshouldn't we be throwing tax money at every medical situation?
Coupled with charitable donations, many illnesses could be tackled. As people claiming to be compassionate, we should look after one another.
QuoteLet's be honest. Most of the tax money spent on projects isn't really about the betterment of the whole. It's about pleasing the constituency in order to stay in power.
I agree 100%. Pork is a major waste and both dems and repubs are guilty. We have all seen the waste and we should be screaming loud.
QuoteMaybe we should depend upon private donations to foundations to get the job done, and eliminate govt. intervention as much as possible.
And we do. Jerry Lewis has been able to raise millions of dollars through his telethons. Cancers societies do it every day. I will be pestering the people on my road very soon to donate to the leukemia and lymphoma society. These dollars collected, coupled with tax dollars greatly offset the overall cost of the taxpayer. However, it is very much the same as using just tax dollars had the charitable donation been collected as tax dollars. People perceive donations has giving from the heart and not dipping into their taxes. Either way, the money is collected.
QuoteYou can't say that we are a bunch of cold hearted bastards, because we don't want to pay for someone else's health care, and then bitch about us sending medical relief to a foriegn land. People are people, right?
Correct. However, charity begins at home and filters out. My problem with our money going abroad is solely with the waste of the money. Bush has given faith based organization 1/4 of the money that was earmarked to help AIDS patients in Africa. Much of the money is unaccounted for. Many of the relgious groups that have received the funds are not using the money to educate and stop the spread of HIV. Much of the money is used to promote religion. Much of it goes to pay salaries. Money that is earmarked to fight HIV should go to health organizations to provide medications and education.
QuoteYou think that we are the pariah of the world now, imagine how we would be viewed if we shut off all aid.
No, I do not believe that we are the pariah of the world. We, as a whole, do much good. Most Americans are great people. It is the few that drag us down. The same with all other countries. There are more good people than there are bad. Those people need to stand up. Darfur is a great example. I wonder how it got to the point it is today. Why didn't the people stand up and fight? Why did they just stand by and let it happen? Are the bad stronger than the good? The same in Germany under Hitler. Why did the many good Germans stand by and let it happen? It baffles me and I have no answer. I am just as guilty as everyone else. I read, I watch it on the news, I shake my head. But, still I do very little or nothing at all. But, what can I do about Darfur or the AIDS crisis in Africa? If someone has those answers, I'll do what I can.
QuoteThink of the children!
They should be our main concern. They will someday hold the power over us older people. If we give them less today, they will return that to us. We should concentrate on cultivating a society of caring people not a society of warriors and hate.
"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young
mnealtx 0
QuoteQuoteWhat's the difference between money going to Evil Haliburton, which is used for doing various jobs, and money going to some small paving company to pave that last mile of dirt road to someone's house, and a crappy job it was.
There is no difference. The army could easily feed themselves using mess cooks. Haliburton is not needed to do the job that the army could very well do themselves. If a person wants to pave their private road, they could easily do it themself or hire a contractor to do it. But, this is much different than the army hiring contractors when they have the people to do the job.Quoteshouldn't we be throwing tax money at every medical situation?
Coupled with charitable donations, many illnesses could be tackled. As people claiming to be compassionate, we should look after one another.QuoteLet's be honest. Most of the tax money spent on projects isn't really about the betterment of the whole. It's about pleasing the constituency in order to stay in power.
I agree 100%. Pork is a major waste and both dems and repubs are guilty. We have all seen the waste and we should be screaming loud.QuoteMaybe we should depend upon private donations to foundations to get the job done, and eliminate govt. intervention as much as possible.
And we do. Jerry Lewis has been able to raise millions of dollars through his telethons. Cancers societies do it every day. I will be pestering the people on my road very soon to donate to the leukemia and lymphoma society. These dollars collected, coupled with tax dollars greatly offset the overall cost of the taxpayer. However, it is very much the same as using just tax dollars had the charitable donation been collected as tax dollars. People perceive donations has giving from the heart and not dipping into their taxes. Either way, the money is collected.QuoteYou can't say that we are a bunch of cold hearted bastards, because we don't want to pay for someone else's health care, and then bitch about us sending medical relief to a foriegn land. People are people, right?
Correct. However, charity begins at home and filters out. My problem with our money going abroad is solely with the waste of the money. Bush has given faith based organization 1/4 of the money that was earmarked to help AIDS patients in Africa. Much of the money is unaccounted for. Many of the relgious groups that have received the funds are not using the money to educate and stop the spread of HIV. Much of the money is used to promote religion. Much of it goes to pay salaries. Money that is earmarked to fight HIV should go to health organizations to provide medications and education.QuoteYou think that we are the pariah of the world now, imagine how we would be viewed if we shut off all aid.
No, I do not believe that we are the pariah of the world. We, as a whole, do much good. Most Americans are great people. It is the few that drag us down. The same with all other countries. There are more good people than there are bad. Those people need to stand up. Darfur is a great example. I wonder how it got to the point it is today. Why didn't the people stand up and fight? Why did they just stand by and let it happen? Are the bad stronger than the good? The same in Germany under Hitler. Why did the many good Germans stand by and let it happen? It baffles me and I have no answer. I am just as guilty as everyone else. I read, I watch it on the news, I shake my head. But, still I do very little or nothing at all. But, what can I do about Darfur or the AIDS crisis in Africa? If someone has those answers, I'll do what I can.QuoteThink of the children!
They should be our main concern. They will someday hold the power over us older people. If we give them less today, they will return that to us. We should concentrate on cultivating a society of caring people not a society of warriors and hate.
Not to take anything away from your other points, but the military has been downsized over the years to the point where they HAVE to have the contract support.
Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706
Quote
He ended up flying to India to have the surgery. The total cost including the surgery, airfare and hotels was just under 10K. He flew home a week later and his back is in great shape.
The story is true, and I've heard a lot of them. The difference, however, is that if his back got worse after the surgery because of the obvious medical mistake, he would not get a penny for that.
So it's basically a choice to use a properly insured doctor, be able to sue him for malpractice, and pay a lot of money for that - or use a doctor who has no insurance, so you cannot sue him (well, you can - but you will get nothing for it), but which costs much less.
* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *
Quoteor use a doctor who has no insurance, so you cannot sue him (well, you can - but you will get nothing for it), but which costs much less.
believe it or not, you can find doctors in the US with no malpractice insurance. the legal climate in some areas is getting so bad that insurance is simlpy unaffordable so they just don't carry it. they put all of their assets in their spouses name, which can't be touched. its cut the number of bs lawsuits way down.
"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com
Quote
believe it or not, you can find doctors in the US with no malpractice insurance.
Then you could sue him for his assets, and/or wages.
Quote
they put all of their assets in their spouses name, which can't be touched.
In California all the assets accrued during marriage are the common property, so it won't help here. Anyway, future wages cannot be put on the spouse name.
* Don't pray for me if you wanna help - just send me a check. *
while you may be right, it stops a whle lot of lawsuits when there are no deep pockets to go after. i'm not sure how the community property thing works. if only we had a lawyer from california that could clear it up for us.
part of the cost of healthcare goes to pay for malpractice insurance, which in turn goes to pay awards and settlements. many times cases are settled even when standard of care has been met simply because its cheaper than going to trial and winning. i would be interested to what percentage of the cost of healthcare goes towards lawyers, settlement, and awards.
part of the cost of healthcare goes to pay for malpractice insurance, which in turn goes to pay awards and settlements. many times cases are settled even when standard of care has been met simply because its cheaper than going to trial and winning. i would be interested to what percentage of the cost of healthcare goes towards lawyers, settlement, and awards.
Exactly. All those sick people are taking MY MONEY!!! Bastards!
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Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down.
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