Health care bill passed

[Sampson]

Re: Health care bill passed

so far it all looks like "Oh no, more people will have insurance so I have to wait longer at the doctor's office!"

same old "got mine, **** you" attitude. yay.

I think the attitude of "I deserve this even though I didn't work for it" is worse.

[Denmo]

Re: Health care bill passed

How about, "I don't deserve this, but thanks!"?

[Sampson]

Re: Health care bill passed

If you're a 20-something middle class individual, which is about 75% of this board, this bill actually hurts you most.

You'll be forced to buy insurance you don't need, and you'll pay all the taxes for the different provisions. Fun stuff.

[Sejon]

Re: Health care bill passed

List of top 10 countries by military spending for 2008:

1. United States - $607.0 billion, 41.5% of world share
2. People's Republic of China - $84.9 billion, 5.8% of world share
3. France - $65.7 billion, 4.5% of world share
4. United Kingdom - $65.3 billion, 4.5% of world share
5. Russia - $58.6 billion, 4.0% of world share
6. Germany - $46.8 billion, 3.2% of world share
7. Japan - $46.3 billion, 3.2% of world share
8. Italy - $40.6 billion, 2.8% of world share
9. Saudi Arabia - $38.2 billion, 2.6% of world share
10. India - $30.0 billion, 2.1% of world share

Yea, the US could probably afford to cut back a bit there.

[Caciss]

Re: Health care bill passed

we gotta protect the world bro.

[Kire]

Re: Health care bill passed

If you're a 20-something middle class individual, which is about 75% of this board, this bill actually hurts you most. You'll be forced to buy insurance you don't need, and you'll pay all the taxes for the different provisions. Fun stuff.

Maybe not everyone, but I sure as hell did...and a trip to the emergency room with Cobra cost me 8k plus. I have non insured friends with jobs still paying off their medical bills because they couldn't afford insurance.

I know you're defending your position, but you're really, really wrong on that one.

[Denmo]

Re: Health care bill passed

If you're a 20-something middle class individual, which is about 75% of this board, this bill actually hurts you most.

You'll be forced to buy insurance you don't need, and you'll pay all the taxes for the different provisions. Fun stuff.

Or I could take my teaching career path and have the state pay for my plan. Either way I'm doing my part and I'm OK with that.

I had a guy claim that he earns 200k a year and 'worked hard' to get it, and that the government has no right to take his away and give it to those who 'don't deserve it'.

If you grew up in a country that allowed you to earn 200k/yr, I think you should give a little credit where credit is due and stop whining about it.

[Valkysas]

Re: Health care bill passed

I think the attitude of "I deserve this even though I didn't work for it" is worse.

Wait, so all the people who arent lucky enough to have a high paying job that provides insurance deserve to rack up insane medical bills, even though they work, they just dont deserve it because of the type of job they do?

or that people deserve to be rejected for having pre-existing conditions and being completely screwed even if they have a job that provides health insurance? that people suffer and die because they aren't lucky enough to have the right kind of job.

they just don't deserve it because of what their job is? that they aren't working for it even though they have a job? oh, its because they arent doing the right kind of work. right. yeah.

you actually believe that?

really?

You'll be forced to buy insurance you don't need

Since when are you, or anyone else for that matter, an authority on what I need? I have things going on that I need insurance for. I have mental issues that I didnt have time to get diagnosed before I was kicked off my dad's insurance. these issues continue to get worse. I don't know what's wrong, I know it scares me, impacts my daily life, and I know I need it taken care of. my problems are documented, I recieved medication to see if it would help the symptoms, and it's very likely no insurance company would touch me until they legally can't refuse me in a few years.

from what I understand, the only people that are really going to be effected by this are:
- those that make over 200,000 dollars a year, and yeah, they can afford to pay a percentage point or two more on taxes for the benefit of all the people that they and the rest of us rely on day to day.
- people who refuse to get medical insurance, despite different state programs starting up to make it easier to get - yes, I agree that it's stupid people will be forced to get medical insurance. but it's not that big of a deal.
- elitist ****s who are going to be disgusted by all the lower class people sharing the same waiting room as them.

did you see the footage of how the conservative republicans were reacting to this? screaming racial slurs and homophobic BS at elected officials, shouting out "baby killer", spitting on people, they're being ****ing CHILDREN.

[Shard]

Re: Health care bill passed

I have medical and dental insurance through the state of CA. It's not great, but it's okay.

I spent over $4k out of pocket for dental expenses last year. If I hadn't had insurance it'd be closer to $12k.

The reason I had so many expenses in a single year is because I couldn't afford to visit the dentist when I was working in private industry. My issues got worse and more costly as a result.

I have no doubt where I'd be right now without insurance, even though they gouge me, and opt not to cover procedures that are medically necessary to prevent future problems.

It's my sincere hope that this bill paved the way for a public option, and dramatic cost containment, in the future.

[Sivart the Sloth Trencher]

Re: Health care bill passed

I don't know what I would have done if they didn't eliminate the "pre-existing conditions" crap, honestly. I've had asthma for about 7 years now and I'd be so ****ed if I couldn't get insurance because I didn't suddenly develop the condition.

[IamPinhead]

Re: Health care bill passed

List of top 10 countries by military spending for 2008:

1. United States - $607.0 billion, 41.5% of world share
2. People's Republic of China - $84.9 billion, 5.8% of world share
3. France - $65.7 billion, 4.5% of world share
4. United Kingdom - $65.3 billion, 4.5% of world share
5. Russia - $58.6 billion, 4.0% of world share
6. Germany - $46.8 billion, 3.2% of world share
7. Japan - $46.3 billion, 3.2% of world share
8. Italy - $40.6 billion, 2.8% of world share
9. Saudi Arabia - $38.2 billion, 2.6% of world share
10. India - $30.0 billion, 2.1% of world share

Yea, the US could probably afford to cut back a bit there.

But honestly, we're assuming that each military is spending money on the same ****. I agree, DAMN. Lots of money is being spent on the military. But maintaining ourselves as a world power is expensive. Do you want the commies to win? Do you?

Back to the debate. Personally, I do not need medical insurance. I need dental at this point, yes. But not medical. I'm eighteen and in the best shape of my life. I'm not allergic to anything, I have no diseases or disorders. However, there are people who are dying right now because they were denied treatment due to prior conditions. Or lack of coverage. Or some other ridiculous mumbo-jumbo. That disgusts me, and even though I don't need care, I can't assume other people my age or mid-twenties have the same luck. There are plenty of people who deserve health care merely because they're citizens of our country, i.e. everybody. Nobody should get denied because they can't afford it. But people will get denied.
Correct me if I'm wrong (I know there are some Canadians on this here board), but there are waiting lists even with universal coverage. People tend to use something more often when it's free, and that's going to be evident when people who couldn't get treatment before will. Necessary surgeries could get canceled several times before you get actual treatment. These surgeries are also expensive, and at the end of the day specialists (with a 300% pay grade difference from general practitioners) and orderlies still need to get paid.

shouting out "baby killer"

Leaving out abortion entirely would have been the smart way to go. That's (again, correct me if I'm wrong) not only elective but not often necessary to your well-being. That would be like, at least in that sense, covering plastic surgery. Furthermore, abortion is one of the touchiest issues in politics today. It's complicated, ugly, and people don't like talking about it. I wouldn't think of addressing that ugly bag of snakes. I'm not condoning in the least bit grown men spitting at people and shouting slurs, but you should really look before you leap. Until every state (or at least 40 of them) can agree as to the legality of getting an abortion in the first place, the government has little ground in making such a monumental change related to that.

[Leish]

Re: Health care bill passed

Personally, I do not need medical insurance. I need dental at this point, yes. But not medical. I'm eighteen and in the best shape of my life. I'm not allergic to anything, I have no diseases or disorders.

You never know what'll happen, man...

[IamPinhead]

Re: Health care bill passed

You never know what'll happen, man...

I'm eighteen and American, therefore invincible.

[marcus]

Re: Health care bill passed

List of top 10 countries by military spending for 2008:

1. United States - $607.0 billion, 41.5% of world share
2. People's Republic of China - $84.9 billion, 5.8% of world share
3. France - $65.7 billion, 4.5% of world share
4. United Kingdom - $65.3 billion, 4.5% of world share
5. Russia - $58.6 billion, 4.0% of world share
6. Germany - $46.8 billion, 3.2% of world share
7. Japan - $46.3 billion, 3.2% of world share
8. Italy - $40.6 billion, 2.8% of world share
9. Saudi Arabia - $38.2 billion, 2.6% of world share
10. India - $30.0 billion, 2.1% of world share

Yea, the US could probably afford to cut back a bit there.

One of my pet peeves is when people compare America's military spending with the rest of the world without first looking at each country's economy. 3% of Russia's GDP is spent on military compared to 2.8% of USA's GDP. Russia spends a whopping 4.7% of their GDP on military spending and even a small country like France spends more on military (compared to the country's worth) than America. Looking at the per capita parity of countries like China, it's ridiculous how much their country bleeds them dry. The average chinese worker makes $6,000 (converted to USD) a year compared to the average American ppp which is $48,000.

America spends the most money on military resources because, holy crap this is gonna blow your mind, A) it has the largest military in the world which is synonymous with bigger budget and B) the average American makes more money than the rest of the world. Could there be military cutbacks? Well, there already are, believe me but the whole developed world needs to make military cutbacks. Almost every developed country in the world has saw an economic downturn of about 2-3% fiscal year 2008 (Japan has the highest with close to 5%!!). Likewise, almost every developed country on that list spends between 2-3% on military with Japan being the lowest at less than 1% (which is understandable given their size).

But even if you cut the military to its most bare bones essentials, USA would still be spending triple what other countries spend due to simple numbers. If I could afford ten brand new cars while my neighbor can only afford five, which one of us will be paying more for maintenance and upkeep?

(numbers are based on GDP official exchange rate)

[Sampson]

Re: Health care bill passed

This might blow your mind Marcus, but maybe we could *gasp* shrink the military?

Ya'know, since the military is large and powerful enough to defend against an invasion from all the other armies on the face of the earth combined, I figure it could be reduced in size.

I'll get to healthcare comments later...