the revamping is what is being done or trying to be done by the congress, try to keep up. I am not subject to media scares, but I am concerned by what is going on and the speed at which huge legislation that basically affects everyone is being attempted to get passed. this is an important issue; why hurry? congress should listen to the people and hear what they have to say. then, if the majority wants, say, single payer, then so be it. optimally, the market should be able to affect the proper change, but congress seems to be committed to meddling with it.

Let me get this straight; Other people have something you want so you think the govt. should provide it for you?

I think the poor understand economics just fine. It's not a matter of not being a financial genius to excuse the fact that your priorities are misplaced, and this doesn't only apply to the poor. The point I am trying to make is we are being told of this travesty of 47 million people who "can't afford" insurance when, in my opinion, a lot of them could afford it if they made it a priority. Minus the illegal aliens and the people who just don't buy insurance even though they can afford it and I think its a much smaller number.

I have a great understanding of the monthly expense for a family. I am a self employed contractor with 3 young children and my wife doesn't work (or I should say she doesn't earn any money, she works 24/7). I pay for my own health insurance and all medical and dental directly out of my pocket. You have obviously mistaken me for an evil rich person. I have been struggling with meeting my financial obligations for a while now. Sure there are people who have better healthcare than I do, but does that mean I want the govt. to step in and level the playing field? No thanks. Do I think that the insurance companies and the HMO's are without flaws? Absolutely not. do I think that the govt. can do a better job for less money? Not in a million years.

You know, you could have actually read what I posted. No one gets anything for free in this system, and not only that, you are already paying for them and their nasty old chrome rims down at the ER. This system provides a method to develop a revenue stream directly from these people, and gets them out of the ER in the process. Believe it or not, most poor people actually do work, and they actually have funds withheld from their paychecks, and thanks to various Earned Income Credits, they also usually get a nice tax return. That's where the money for these accursed welfare queens and boom-box minions is going to come from, right now it is coming out of your pocket! At the county hosipital! Dig it?

I am amazed that obviously intelligent people are falling for the illogical, politically driven crap that is eminating from the right. The facts are stark. We pay 15 to 18% of our GNP, money that could be going to modernize our manufacturing base and improving our competiveness, in healthcare costs, while the rest of the world is paying 8%. Period. Black and white. We pay too much. End of story. The greedy bast*rds making the easy money don't want the gravy train to stop, and they have millions to pour into Tea Baggers and TV, so that it doesn't. Duplication of effort, unnecessary bureacracy, unnecessary repetitive state regulations, treatment of minor health problems and chronic diseases in ER's, etc, and you are all worried and suffering great angst over a set of $3700 rims some moron put on a $700 dollar car. I got news for you, that moron already has you paying big money to fix his last stab wound, down at the ER. The real problem isn't getting money from people who can't or won't pay, that's the problem we already have and are attempting to solve. The real problem is a trillion dollars a year of mis-directed capital going down the toilet, and into the pockets of people who are doing great while the rest of the country is being taken for twice the scratch people in other country are paying, and you think we should do nothing, absolutely nothing to change it, because somebody has convinced you that if it does, some crackhead might rip you off for a bandaid. Amazing.

Wake up to the facts, dude. Nobody is proposing anything like that, it is a testament to the power of Right Wing Propaganda that you think that someone is. You get to choose your own policy from a Health Insurance Exchange. Choose the one you have, fine with me. Nothing changes for you if you do. Nothing.

Where I live "dude" is an insult.

I am surprised you have dental coverage. When I looked into it, every plan I found was for employer based only. There were only pools available, where the dentists participating agreed to a price for those in the pool.

You are struggling to meet your financial obligations now. I am assuming that you have prioritzed well, as that is a point of criticism of yours. If something should happen to one of your children that your health care would not cover, or cover enough, or provide the best doctor for, I do not think your child should be deprived of the attention he or she deserves. Nor do I think you should financially collapse trying to provide the best care possible. That doesn't help anyone. If the government can provide an option - just that, provide some option - that allows for you to get the best care for your child, I think it should exist. That system can take any shape.


Really? I've never heard that considered insulting before.

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1984 300TD

He can't. So, the employer, Mr 10fords in this example, (if he's not providing coverage to this assuemd employee through a group plan. this is unclear), would likely say to his employees. "I'm paying the 8% payroll tax (3,200)" I can't afford to pay it either."

Now what?

I heard one woman say she was relieved that Obama was elected because "Now I won't have to pay my mortgage anymore."

I'd like a free Ferrari, where do I put my request in?

I don't have any employees anymore. It is too hard to find people who take pride in their work anymore. They all think that you are getting rich off of their labor, but they forget that you are providing them with a job. But, I digress, that is a rant for another time.

If you make $40,000 a year and have 3 kids you will not pay any taxes, and you will get a EIC refund from the govt. So there is an additional $8,000+ there. Forget the $2,500 for recreation- It is a luxury- not a necessity. The other things are too variable by region etc. for me to comment on accurately. So, using your numbers they could have health insurance, but life would not be very fun. But, once again it is about your priorities. Presently my health ins. is $6540 per year. That is with a $5,000 deductable, so it is basically catastrophic coverage. I don't have dental coverage so I pay out of pocket for that, and all 3 of my kids have or are going to need braces. Same with vision. Needless to say I have a large financial burden with healthcare. Kind of a bleak picture if you think about it, but I still dont think is the job of the govt. to see to it that everyone lives the good life and has no worries. Nor do I believe that if it were that they would do it properly. Name me a few things that the Govt. does well. Most of my dealings with govt employees involve frustration and large amounts of money out of my pocket. The building dept comes to mind. I could give a hundred examples of incompetence, negligence, and just plain dont give a sh%t attitude, and I wouldn't expect it to be any different with healthcare. I think It is better for my children not to have their futures mortgaged before they can even vote than for me to possibly(but I doubt it ) save some money on healthcare now. BTW this is just my own opinion and I am not trying to legislate other people to live my way, but the same is not true of the healthcare reform advocates. It is not help if you don't request it and it is forced on you.

I don't believe I am similar to you at all-We dont seem to agree on anything. And you owe me an apology for your disparaging remarks about my ability to run a family.

I didn't take his statement to imply he had dental insurance.

I don't like being called dude by strangers. To strangers, imo, it has a pejorative connotation. There's no inflection on a keyboard.
Is it dude,(as in friend, buddy, pal ) or DU-UDE!!!!

Decent housing is the next "right" coming down the pike. Stay tuned.

lets not forget that the 40K a year employee usually has a spouse or significant other who is also employed.

Ah, cherry picking conditions to make a point. If you were that 50 yo man, would YOU want to trade places with a guy on death row? IOW, would you take the good with the bad or just cherry pick a condition to have?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Interesting take. So your point is that only those who have no insurance, and will therefore be getting a freebie are eligible for comment. Kinda rigging the results, aren't you?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow