Think that's odd . . . consider the healtcare plan in MA.

Hawaii's healthcare system, recently lauded by Rush himself, is a combination of employer subsidized (some 100%, others have an employee contribution) benefit for full time employees and their dependents and a state medicare/medicaid system for welfare recipients. Briefly, it does increase business costs, however it has resulted in uncrowded ERs and significant advances in wellness and longevity in the state. Tradeoffs galore.

But at what price do those tradeoffs come? You know when I don't believe someone? When they tell me all the good stuff but none of the bad. That is the hallmark of a used car salesman. Car gets excellent mileage, great shape, good engine, gently used, easy payments, etc, etc. A good thing you have going is that you don't have too many illegals sucking up resources, do you? The rest of the states have that issue because we are too stupid to turn away those that cannot afford it which leads them to the ER and it gets clogged up. Sorry, if you insist on throwing stuff down the toilet that wasn't meant to be there, you have to accept that it clogs up here and there.

As I always ask, who would manage the system if the govt runs it? The same group that gives us the national debt? Or the shady accounting practices of transferring money from one pool to another? Govt is acceptable as a watcher. As a player in the game, not so good.

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yes, as one of the tea party guys said: " keep the government's hands off of medicare."

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

Makes sense if you think about it. Why would I want something I benefit from to be more screwed up? If I am getting it in the end by Bubba once a day, do I want him to go at me twice a day?

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???

(lovely visual image, by the way, reminds me of the movie "deliverance")

(uh, medicare is a program run by... the u.s. government since about 1965)

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

I know that. However, the more they mess with it, the worse it will get. Just like the Bubba example. Bad enough to have to submit to him once. I'd avoid the 2nd time if I can. So yes, while it might be a PITA today, it can be worse if they try "help" us out. Might not be apparent in that program but it will come back to bite us at some other point. So yes, leave it alone.

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We do have illegal immigration here, even from Mexico, although the majority is from Asia and South Pacific, but since health insurance is essentially universal here for workers and those on welfare, you better have a pretty good excuse for showing up at an ER without coverage.

The obvious trade off is that group plan healthcare costs are business expenses, however it's a level playing field if all employers have to play by the same rules. The system isn't run by the government, it's all handled by the HMO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, etc. that are licensed to do business in the state.

I wouldn't think it is as bad as the border states, is it? How do you have illegals running across the border that much when there is a lot of water around you? With universal coverage, having people not clog up the ERs is a benefit. HOWEVER, you did pay for it by giving them something they didn't earn. Kinda like me bribing my kid to mow the lawn and being happy that the grass is cut without me breaking into a sweat. We paid for it already.

Do the HMOs, BCBS, govt, etc, etc, pay for the leaches that can't afford it? IF so, that might be the not so obvious trade off. A reduction in the motivation for them to better themselves and a loss of an example of someone who cannot and/or will not better themselves.

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Rush did praise the health care he rec'd in your State. However, he paid all his expenses himself, and did not take advantage of the health care SYSTEM.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Does it matter who or how it was paid? The point being that the CARE he received, in a state with near universal coverage, was to to his standards.

He should know. Especially about the pharmaceutical end of things. A druggie windbag's opinion doesn't impress me. OTOH, if he were a medical person, I'd be interested to know. This is like Tiger Woods endorsing Buick or Tag Heuer watches. WTF does he know about that? He is a golfer.

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yes, i'd respect his opinion on prophylactics more.

back to the rnc; i do hope if they get ill they do not avail themselves of that kind of healthcare. i hope that's part of the purity test as well.

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

How nice!

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I thought I heard that he had one oopsie. Not sure

Isn't that like either Rich or JR's argument of "If you don't support medicare, don't touch it when you are retired."?

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it's meant to be a bit absurd; principles taken to ridiculous lengths.

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."