Ted Kennedy's Passing

[Tim Burton]

Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment, but will speak to him personally in the morning.

[Apoptosis]

...

UNA-USA Mourns the Passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Aug. 26, 2009 -- The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-UNA) joins millions of people around the world in mourning the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy. While Senator Kennedy is being remembered for his many achievements on behalf of the poor, the downtrodden and the disenfranchised in the United States, he is also being recalled as a longtime champion and leader in advocating for the poor and for those without a voice in other countries.

Senator Kennedy led the effort to secure for refugees and immigrants the right to a life with dignity while also fighting for greater resources for those around the world who suffer in poverty and with sickness. He was a strong supporter of the United Nations and its mission. And while Senator Kennedy was beloved in this country, he will also be sorely missed by people far outside our borders, especially those who will no longer have his voice to rely on for their behalf.

[bmaverick]

Well another Bilderberg Society puppet of many years bites the dust. His efforts for bringing America closer to Socialism reflect very well in his career achievements.

[Digital Puppy]

Bleh, I disagree with the snarkism here. You can say what you want about his accident (in fact, I'm sure you more upset about that than the 600,000 US civilians in Iraq and all the servicemen to lose their lives there), but you can't fault a man who for his entire life dedicated himself to the advancement and helping of others: WIC, VA, ADA, Section-8, OSHA, Title IX, FEC, COBRA, minimum wage, voting rights act, civil rights act, and on and on...you sound ignorant when you talk about 'socialism'. That means you, nor anyone in your family, nor any of your friends or acquaintances rely (or want to rely) on the VA, Social Security, Medicare, not to mention roads, bridges, tunnels, librarys...

*sigh*

Not sure why I'm even responding except to tell you that not everyone in this country is out for themselves. There are some people (and a hand-full of elected officials) who are actually trying to do things for those who cannot. I do think the accident at Chappaquiddick defined this man (but trust me, you wouldn't have liked Mary Jo Kopechne anyway since she was a liberal progressive who dedicated her career and life to helping the Kennedys help the less fortunate).

His record in the Senate shows his mettle and his desire to atone for that.

[InspectahACE]

Personally I don't know what to say bout Ted. He was a damn good guy. Only one in Politics I felt was worthy of serving ..One thing i will say is, I agree with Digital Puppy..Ted did a lot of damn good for this country, regardless of his past

[unfaithfulsfan]

I usually have a good time here on LR and I'm sure I will again but bmaverick, while I realize everyone is entitled to their own opinion, I really tired of the one-sidedness and self-centeredness of arguments such as yours. Anything that helps the less fortunate among us is dubbed as "socialism" If y'all had a life-threatening illness and were unable because of your condition to work, or had LOST jobs because of your health, I'll bet most of you would be singing a vastly different tune. What if your employer cut your insurance plan because of the expense of it? What if you suddenly didn't have coverage? How against universal healthcare would you be?

Universal healthcare is not just another welfare scam. I worked for 38 of my 47 years on someone's payroll. Yep, I got my first job at the age of 9 sweeping the parking lot and helping the order packers at KFC with my dad for 10¢ an hour. I was on company payroll and paid taxes. I got my first store manager's position when I was 17. Most of the management jobs I held didn't offer great benefits packages like most corporate and government jobs, especially government jobs.

I've been a Type 1 Diabetic for 31 years. I went more than 10 years, prior to moving to NY, without seeing a doctor because I didn't have insurance. The state I lived in didn't offer it. I made too much money and had too much pride for medicaid. As a result of that 10 year span of time, I'm now in stage 3 kidney failure. I HAVE to have insurance. It would have sure been nice to have been able to see a doctor during that 10 span of time. Maybe I wouldn't be in the physical shape I'm in now had I had some affordable insurance. Don't think I haven't wished I would just die now because of the staggering cost of it all.

The only reason I have coverage now is because we now live in NY state which offers individual insurance coverage. I pay through the effing nose for it and it doesn't cover a whole lot. At least I can see my doctors and be admitted to the hospital like have 11 times in the past 10 months.

And I just reached my prescription cap of $3000 annually so now I have to pay cash for all my meds. One med alone costs $319 for a month's supply. I HAVE to have it. The insulin I need to stay alive costs $97 a vial and I use 2 vials a month. Fortunately I can get insulin from my endocrinologist but I'm screwed on everything else. I make $1100 a month on disability. Do the math. I take 9 meds. $100K plus in hospital bills not covered by insurance have wiped us out financially just as we were getting on our feet.

This healthcare plan is supposed to help those of us in the workforce or disabled to be able to afford decent coverage. If you don't want it, don't take it. Why don't all you doom criers spend some time helping to find an equitable way to pay for the coverage so the maybe mega-rich among you don't have to give up so much of your precious wealth.

That's just MY opinion.

Jack

[Apoptosis]

That's just MY opinion.

Jack

And that is the joy of Legit Reviews... Everyone can speak what they want... Keep it clean guys... We all know how politics and religion get touchy and can upset people. I'll keep this thread open, but please respect others personal opinions.

Please express your thoughts, but don't tell someone they are wrong!!!

[Skippman]

Unfaithful,

I'm terribly sorry to hear about your plight. I know how devastating diabetes can be as my step-father has it. He's had to work out every day, watch everything he eats, and take his meds to keep it under control. It's a life long regiment and it's only a matter of time before he's physically unable to continue his workouts and he starts to suffer some of the more permanent effects of the disease. I don't envy your position one bit. It's well documented that the number one reason for bankruptcy claims in the US by individuals and families is due to medical expenses and the related issues that go with them.

Lately I find myself attacked by both sides of the house. The conservative Republican's amongst my friends accuse me of not "doing enough" to stop National Healthcare. The liberal Democrats, mostly my Union brethren, accuse me of being an insensitive and heartless bastard for not supporting National Healthcare. Being a Libertarian is a tough road to go sometimes as you're never quite sided one way or the other.

I agree that "some form" of healthcare reform is needed. I disagree that a government funded plan is the best course of action. Let me explain the basis of my argument in a few bullet points here then we can feel free to discuss them. These thoughts and feelings are my own, based on what I've read and heard about the proposed legislature.

1.) Nothing the government has ever run has been successful long term. Social Security payouts are dwindling, the Post Office is going bankrupt, Medicare and Medicaid are both broken, and the national Welfare system has failed to help those it was designed to and instead has created an entire culture of people dependent on it for every aspect of their lives. Even Cash-For-Clunkers isn't being run correctly with many of the dealerships who took advantage of this program failing to get their reinbursements.

2.) The government produces nothing that generates revenue. It manufactures nothing, provides no services for profit, and is solely funded by "We, the people". As such any new programs that are created have to be funded by "We, the people". Since the government isn't phasing out any existing programs to cover the cost of the new National Healthcare proposal that will mean higher taxes across the board. For you, for businesses you buy from who will have to raise their prices, and yes "Buffy, the Rich Playboy" will have to pay more too.

3.) National Healthcare in other countries has or is failing. When the head of the Canadian Healthcare System tells you it's failing, that's a sign that it simply doesn't work. Prices are controlled by competition. You can get an affordable automobile because there are many companies who make them. You can get an affordable meal out because there is a plethora of restaurants. When you create a National Healthcare system, it will at some point eliminate it's competition. Why should you, I, or our employer pay for private healthcare when the National plan is so much cheaper?

4.) There are other alternatives to a state run national healthcare plan that we have yet to explore. Tort reform being a huge part of it. Frivolous lawsuits and malpractice lawsuits have destroyed not only the medical healthcare system but the legal system as well. When half the cost of many medical practices is their malpractice insurance that goes a long way to explaining why healthcare costs are as high as they are. OB/GYN malpractice insurance for doctors who deliver babies can have that insurance be up to 2/3 the cost of their practice. As with car insurance for you or I we would hate to have to file a claim. Doctors are the same way, not only out of financial concerns but out of ethics and a desire to do no harm. Thus we find doctors running every conceivable test imaginable to reduce the chance that they might be sued later. True there are going to be a few legitimate cases where a doctor, in gross negligence, has done something to warrant a huge settlement. The patient who had the wrong foot amputated in Florida springs immediately to mind. But by and large medical procedures are done because they are believed necessary by people who have gone through years of rigorous training, screening, and internships. Much like fixing a PC sometimes trouble shooting is required and nothing is guaranteed. To quote an old saying "that's why they call it PRACTICING medicine". With successful Tort Reform we could reduce the overall cost of malpractice insurance to physicians and eliminate many unneeded medical tests which are billed to the private insurance industry thus reducing overall cost.

These are just a few of my thoughts and feelings on the issue. Social Security, the largest government controlled public trust program, is going bankrupt because there are not enough new people paying into the system to support its rising cost of living. I truly fear a national healthcare system would be a crushing blow to our national debt that I'm not sure we'd be able to recover from. We are already trillions of dollars in debt. Our currency is loosing it's value world wide as a reserve currency for other nations. We cannot support the programs we already have in place. And now we want to spend even MORE money? Not just billions, not even hundreds of billions, but TRILLIONS of dollars? Mathematically it's suicide.

Do I agree that every person should have the opportunity to have healthcare? Yes.

Do I agree that the government should promote programs to get that care to the people? Yes.

Do I agree that the government itself should insure the people? No. We simply cannot afford it.

[unfaithfulsfan]

That's just MY opinion.

Jack

And that is the joy of Legit Reviews... Everyone can speak what they want... Keep it clean guys... We all know how politics and religion get touchy and can upset people. I'll keep this thread open, but please respect others personal opinions.

Please express your thoughts, but don't tell someone they are wrong!!!

My apologies to LR and to BMaverick for my tirade. I'd just gotten through with a heated debate over the same topic with a friend of mine and I think your statement, bmav, touched an already frayed nerve. As y'all hopefully know, I'm a huge fan of everyone being entitled to their own opinion. Once again I apologize sincerely.

Skippman, I mostly agree with everything you said. I don't believe government should RUN healthcare. I just think it is going to have to be involved with launching some form of national health care system. I know medicaid and medicare are classic examples of what NOT to do however, there are positives in both of them. Take those positives, no matter how few they may be, and build on them to make a better system. Don't lambaste me for my next statement because I have 4 nephews in the military. We can build one of the mightiest militaries in the world. But even our soldiers don't have 100% decent healthcare. Something's definitely wrong with our priorities. We continue to be a nation of haves and have-nots and the gap is ever widening.

I just wish that at the "town hall" meetings, the yellers and the shouters, of both parties, would just shut up and listen. Be a part of the solution, not the problem. There's a way to do this, I'm convinced. But it takes everyone trying to work towards a common goal part of which means to take a moment to think about those who don't have things as good as you.

I don't know the answer of how to create a system that works for everyone. I know doctors don't want to lose their income. No matter what you make, you adjust to it and it's never easy to go backwards. I understand that completely. After the last 2 years, I REALLY understand it. I just want a genuine effort to be made by everyone in government and in society and I don't feel it's happening.

It's very frustrating to those of us who have to live on disability and get no breaks from the pharmaceutical companies let alone the government. I've seen insulin go from $4 a vial in 1977 to $97 a vial now. I thought things went DOWN in price over time. But that's another argument so I'll shut up now.

Again, I offer my most sincere apologies to LR and to anyone I have offended. The soapbox is now open.

Jack

[Skippman]

I had a couple of legitimate ideas that people seem interested in.

Make a minimum standard of healthcare a requirement for minimum wage.

Pros:

It would remove the burden of paying for the plan from the employee and place it on the employer.

It would provide healthcare to those who most cannot afford it, or might opt out of it if it cost.


Cons:

Could cause an increase in hiring of "undocumented workers", or as I refer to them Illegal Aliens. Since they don't pay other federal costs like social security on these workers it's doubtful they would provide them with government mandated healthcare.

Could be to expensive for some small businesses to pay for causing them to go under.



Allow the formation of government recognized Healthcare Co-Ops

Can't afford to pay for healthcare on your own? What if you and 200 other people chipped in together on a group plan? A healthcare co-op could be run like any other Non-For-Profit 501C. By pooling your money you can purchase lower cost healthcare from a major healthcare provider like United, Blue Cross, and other HMO's.

Pros:

It would be cheaper to buy as a group than as an individual.

You co-op could elect to change healthcare carriers depending on cost, services provided, and quality of care.


Cons:

It ads another layer of bureaucracy to the situation.

Chance for embezzlement and other illegal activities if not properly monitored.



These are just a couple idea's I've put forth and e-mailed to my representatives. Does anyone else have a constructive idea? I'd love to hear some other views!

[InspectahACE]

I just think this whole health system need an overhaul. I don't personally care how it's done as long as companies and Citizens can afford it and won't go under because of it. I stay away from the politics of healthcare so I can't say much on how to fix it..Granted, Doctors don't wanna lose their income, fine. But they need to actually use their expertise. I just dropped a doctor I've seen for 20+ year because she's got her head so far up her ass, that not only does she think she's right 9 times out of 10, she straight out lied on an official document saying my mother was uncooperative, refused to follow her instructions, and wanted to see another doctor. I know that's all a lie because I was there at every appointment and when the b*tch said " I don't know what else to do for you, I'm going to refer you to someone who might be able to help ", her EXACT words..My mother still goes to her for now, probably since she's known her for so long( wont be much longer as she even stated she no longer wants to have her as a Dr.)... In my situation with Disability companies(or the one i got), a total disgrace. I've been fighting with them for my mother for the last 4 months so far because they say a doctor or 2 (out of 6 she sees) has not complied or responded to them. What's so crap about it is, both of those doctors, both have said no company has called them in reference to my Mom's case. They even gave us all of the paperwork on her to send to the disability company. Even gave us their cell number in case.. I mean, she went to the hospital in November last year, used up the short term, and since we've tried to get the long term going for her, they completely gave her the run around. No way in hell should she or I have to send 20 pages of medical history, from 6 of her doctors, more than 3 times each to the company. They say they either didn't get one page, or whatever. Total lack of organization much less compassion. My mother hasn't been paid since May because of all that. Thankfully, she is still employed at MedCo, but she cannot work. Even at one of her doctor visits the other day, he said he doesn't see her going back to work for at least 6 months as she's not getting better as they hoped. Which means I pick up what bills I can and she has to ask family for money for what I can't cover. Regardless If I'm unemployed or even IF I had a job, we'd still be in the hole because of the disability not doing their job and giving her the money she's due. I don't even want to go into Doctors..besides the one my Mom and I have..They're supposed to make you feel better, not make you sicker, or kill you. Example, Michael Jackson..that right there says enough..But I will tell you why I get so bent about what happened to him..everyone has at least 2 best friends they grow up with right?. I don't have 2 anymore. Because my close friend passed away from the SAME EXACT reason MJ died. Because a doctor gave the patient what they wanted, and NOT what they NEEDED. MJ had all that IV sh*t..my friend was given close to 1000 pills of different kinds of things on different occasions(that means he took more than a few thousand over time before he passed. For what? Money? I would bet every paycheck on that..but still, I lost a friend because a doctor cared more for himself than my friend's well being. I know my friend hadhis own mind (somewhat) but he needed help, not pills. Straight up. This system needs work..it needs it soon. Unfortunately, it probably wont be soon enough for alot of people..and I sure hope it isn't any of us here at LR or our relatives that get stuck in that. Again, I'm sorry if I got off base with my rant, but like every one said...This is one seriously touchy subject no matter how we got rolled on, whether it was a company or a doctor alone..

[Skippman]

Inspectah,

I'm sorry to hear about your plight as well. Both you and Unfaithful have more medical problems than I ever hope to see in my lifetime. I truely feel for each of you and hope that both your mother and Unfaithful get back to being healthy as soon as possible. I don't wish to see anyone suffer.

Is your mother on FMLA or Social Security Disability?

What you describe is typical of government run healthcare. We hear stories daily of how the VA has sent wrong test results to soldiers and vets advising them they may have HIV, ALS, or any number of other diseases. This is part of my concern about allowing the government to oversee such a critical part of our every day lives.



You self answered part of the problem your self Inspectah.

I stay away from the politics of healthcare so I can't say much on how to fix it..

The average Amercian citizen is so jaded to the politcial process and lies that our elected officials tell us that they've become completely apathetic. "I don't care what happens as long as someone does something about it" is the mantra of the average citizen. Then, when something DOES happen and it's a disaster they wonder who to blame and how something could have become so badly screwed up. The simple answer is you have no one to blame but yourself and the elected offical you put in office. If something like that happens, remember it, and come election time let that official know how you feel by not re-electing them. Write them letters letting them know your concerns and problems. You might be suprised. I've recieved letters back from my local representatives that were not just form letters.

I am about as apolitical as they come. I prefer the absolute minimum of laws and rules nessicary for a society to function. Laws never prevent people from performing an action, they only hold them accountable. The police never show up before a murder and prevent it, they only catch the perpatrator later and punish them. But that being said particiaption in the process is how change occurs.

You've told me your story. One I heartfeltly hope gets better. But what do you think of my proposals? If you were in power, what kinds of things would you look to do to correct the problems with our existing healthcare?

[unfaithfulsfan]

In searching for coverage before I moved to NY, I actually stumbled across a couple of co-ops. It's such a good idea but like you said, they severely need proper monitoring. Both turned out to be about like US Fidelis is to auto repair.

Unfortunately, as much as I also am not interested in the government being solely in charge of healthcare, I feel it has to at least launch and monitor the new system. But once you get the government involved, the system turns into a quagmire of PACs, lobbyists, greed and ultimate failure. Society is now so "me-centric" that I sometimes feel we're doomed from the start.

The minimum wage idea is a very good one. Illegals would not be an issue if the government AND especially the employers were doing doing their respective jobs. The employer should be requesting the proper documents from the applicant and not hiring them if they don't have a social security card. The government should be checking everyone's employee records regularly to make sure the I-9 is completed properly and on file. The employer needs to be maintaining the employee files and doing their part oto enforce the law, too.

I used to manage a Papa John's near the Mexico border. I had all kinds of illegals apply but none of them got hired because, as a manager, I did my job. Yeah, it's a huge, time-consuming PITA task to do it, but I knew it was my job as a manager. It was tough to take a driver off the road because his insurance had expired and then try to run a $2500 Friday dinner short another driver but that's the kind of diligence it takes. Most of my peers didn't do that and the DM never checked up on them. But I knew it was the law and it would have been worse for the driver to get into an accident and my company get sued. Plus, being that close to the border, the government could have easily popped in and asked to see the employee records. Not likely as they were right up the shopping center at the bar named "Copz" Ironic, right?

The minimum age worker is the real root of the problem. Most salaried workers have access to some kind of health care or that has been my experience in my brief stint in IT and sales outside the restaurant industry. It's the minimum wage worker who gets lost in the shuffle simply because they are minimum wage. They change jobs like the weather in Buffalo changes because of 10¢ an hour higher pay or more hours somewhere else. Perhaps having useful benefits would stabilize the turnover problem. Most "insurance" plans are they type that you pay through the nose for; there's no hospitalization or prescription coverage, only a $500 benefit for an emergency room visit. An ER visit for me is around $4,000. I know an ambulance ride with no medications administered, just questions asked, runs $892.

But give the minimum wage worker real affordable insurance coverage and there might be some stability. Not to go off on an unrelated rant but part of the reason prices are so high is proper training. I figured out that at PJ's each new employee cost me over $6000 to fully train. It's a shame to spend that much money only to have the employee go somewhere else for a dime more per hour. Y'know? Perhaps with a true benefits package, employees would be more stable and willing to stick with a company. Maybe I'm just blowing smoke, I don't know. Young kids don't have any loyalty at least in the restaurant biz. I was lucky to keep a core crew of about 12 people because I treated them like real human beings with real problems. Half of them still call me "Dad." Most places don't do that, hence, the turnover.

I don't know. The Percocet has me rambling. Sorry. But hourly employees, especially those at minimum wage, are the ones who always fall through the cracks. Even as a bottom-of-the-totem-pole car salesman I had insurance available to me.

The government has to take a fully bipartisan look at that problem and work towards a viable, affordable solution. We have to elect officials who are willing to do that. Get rid of the ones on BOTH sides who just bicker and fuss at anything the majority wants to accomplish. I don't know how to do that. How do we find open-minded officials? Obama at least seems to want to get there, despite his questionable citizenship and having thousands of dollars worth of lobster dinners flown in to wherever his next town hall meeting is scheduled (an email an anti-Obama friend of mine forwarded). I find such accusations sad and completely detrimental to the problem at hand.

Insurance companies are not going to take the lead on this issue. Pharmaceutical companies won't either. Doctors definitely won't. Society at large is too self-centered to focus on the problem. That leaves only the government. It's scary but that's about the only option we have.

Jack

[InspectahACE]

Son of a ..I had a reply all typed up then i got logged out..guess I took too long in the other room..Yes Skipp, i believe she was or is still using the FMLA to some extent..She is in a Union too so that probably is helping a great bit too on keeping her job. As far as the SS Disability, I don't know if there's an age requirement, but I think she's just below it if there is one(She's 54).

Saying I didn't care was probably a bit overboard. I do care, just instead of hearing/seeing people working together to come up with a feasible, affordable solution for ALL Americans(legal ones of course), i either see the opposite or nothing at all. Yes it is my fault for not doing more on my end. I honestly don't know a turd from a cat when it comes to healthcare, much less politics, other than they both are in need of repair in one way or another. After seeing a good number of local pols get pinched for busting a nut on someone who he/she isn't married to or take bribes then lie about it, maybe I am a bit Jaded..It's one thing to bang someone you're not married to, but lie about it, not to mention lie about taking bribes, then it becomes a whole different thing as who knows what else they lied about. Skip, I like and have no complaints about the proposals you have. A little concerned on the cons, but I don't know of a Pro that doesn't come with a Con. I just think that there is at least some way to get all this fixed to where health insurance is affordable and adequate for EVERYONE and that won't have a negative impact on citizens or the country..I had more written before I got logged out, but the smoke from Cali is well into Vegas and it's bothering me a bit so I will stop my uneducated rant here. I do believe something can be done, and as mentioned before, I hope it's soon as we all are affected by this whether it's our own health or our familys

[Major_A]

If I learned anything from his passing it's to skip a traditional Catholic funeral. How long did the service go on? I gave up after an hour and I didn't see an end in sight.

[Nobahar]

Sorry about Ted Kennedy. My only comment on healthcare is I hear a lot of people attacking doctors pay from time to time.

I think doctors are in the same class as lawyers or other professionals and should make accordingly, due to many years of school and challenges in their careers. But as someone pointed out, a lot of the cost to the consumer ends up coming down to drug costs and insurance coverage.

People simply can't have the best available healthcare on a reasonable budget. What are the standards for minimum healthcare? People always want more than what they have.

For example, say you develop long-lasting headaches over the period of several months that have gotten worse and drugs won't make it go away. The doctor originally thought it to be a migraine and gave you according medicine, but prescription drugs didn't have any effect on it.

Now they have a choice, should they CT your head, do an MRI, to figure out what could be wrong- maybe you have a tumor. MRI is the best tool for visualizing the brain, it may see things the CT doesn't pick up, but it also costs several thousands of dollars more. They give you a CT and find nothing and can't figure out what is wrong, the MRI would have picked up the brain tumor but insurance won't cover it because if they gave everyone an MRI in situations like this you might as well add $80 a month to everyone's insurance (dramatic example, but still, a new MRI machine costs in the millions, money that for-profit hospitals spend easily).

Months later the tumor is so big that another CT picks it up, but it's too late for surgical intervention. You sue the doctor/hospital for negligence, in order to avoid being sued by others they begin ordering tests people don't really need or can afford just to save their own ass and healthcare costs rise for everyone.

--

The longer people live, the more it costs to keep them alive with drugs/care they need to survive. If they don't make the money for it, they will probably die, but the only way to pay for it is to make everyone else chip in an extra dollar. If you want to give him the CT and not the MRI, well it's not going to cost as much, but I don't think people will settle for less healthcare when that technology saves lives.

Obviously, the law suits are hurting the system and everyone involved from the pharm company, hospital, insurance company, doctors are all for-profit. But fundamentally, the question is what standard of healthcare will people accept and how can we fund that reasonably. A lot of people don't make enough money to afford mri's and brand-name drugs, and a lot of companies cannot afford to provide that- restaurants for example, they can't just raise the cost of their burgers from 10 dollars to 15. They will go out of business.

In my opinion, too many people are trying to profit from this. Insurance companies should be non-profit corporations, pharamaceutical companies should only make enough profit to reinvest into drug research, hospitals should be non-profit. Physicians should be billed for their time, but have some basic protection against malpractice suits over doctor-patient grievances. Doctors are mostly sued for emotional reasons than for actually making conscious errors, I think doctors will accept some levels of pay-cuts if they didn't have to pay 50-100K a year in malpractice insurance.

Just some thoughts.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Nobahar, I certainly agree that malpractice insurance is another animal that must be factored in. The system is clogged with frivolous lawsuits of all kinds. People are inherently litigious and lawsuits are considered a viable way to acquire wealth in this country.

One of my doctors told me he pays nearly $60K a year in malpractice insurance. How can that be? Have we truly become that greedy?

Insurance companies are another culprit. however, pharmacies are also. Unless something has changed since this happened to me, The practice is pretty obscene. At the time, I could walk into any pharmacy and buy a vial of Novolog 70/30 for around $20. I mean any pharmacy. After I got insurance, I stopped by the pharmacy and I overheard a discussion between the tech and the pharmacist about how much to bill the insurance. Turns out that $20 vial of insulin for me was billed to the insurance company for almost $100!

To me, it seems corruption exists at all levels. That's why I feel government is the only entity that can with anything like a clear conscience that can initiate an alternative. I know a bunch of you are going to say the government's part of the problem but I also think that perhaps that's what Obama's trying to correct.

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm suffering from cranial/rectal inversion. But I believe in my heart of hearts that EVERYBODY, me included, needs to stop with the bickering and drop the agendas and at least listen to the other side. And imagine a US without 100 frivolous malpractice lawsuits for every one legitimate case. One with affordable healthcare for everyone, not just the rich or well-to-do. And work towards finding a way to pay for it that everyone can live with. Can't we, as the greatest country in the world, do that one thing?

[Skippman]

"And I won't rest until EVERYONE is at least middle class!"

I respect your idea of a utopian society where everyones medical issues were treated with the care and concern that they undoubtably warrent. If you can find an economically viable way to do so, then I'll jump on board just as quick as I can buy a ticket.

I'm 110% open to a solution to this problem. My one caviot, and it's the stickler, is that you cannot raise my taxes to pay for it. If you want to cancel some existing ear-marks and cut back spending to support this agenda, I'll listen to your proposal. But we cannot increase our deficate by the amounts theorized nessicary to provide universal healthcare. We'll economically implode.

We are at a negative indigenous population growth right now. That means more native born citizens are dying than being born. This means as more people approach the retirement age our tax rate can do nothing but increase as it is. We have to in order to support the millions who will be elegable for Social Security. Remember Social Secuirty? This big magical lock box we pay into every month so that we have something to spend durring our "golden years"? Guess what, the box was opened long ago and all that money that was there has already been spent. Instead we have a system where my payment for Social Security goes to providing benifits to someone already on it. By time time I'm elegable, well... I doubt very much it will be around anymore.

If we cannot afford to keep a float what government agencies we have now (VA, Post Office, Social Secuirty, etc) how can we possibly afford a new one? Let alone one that could, in theory, take over 1/6th the nations industry.

I don't intend to seem a cold, heartless a-hole about the situation. But facts are facts. We don't have the money to pay for it. All you can do is continue to take money from your citizens until they themselves can no longer afford to pay for thier own healthcare, rent, and other bills. Then who do you take the money from?

[unfaithfulsfan]

Nor am I a complete bleeding heart about it either, though I may at times sound like one. I completely agree that it must be done without raising taxes. However, I think everyone on both sides of the aisle has to give up something to pay for it. All the little riders that get tacked on to a bill the minute it gets voted into law have to completely stop. Welfare and medicaid as we know them have to be reworked with accountability, which is gonna piss a lot of people off. I say that from experience having managed a convenience store in rural Alabama when the EBT system crashed. (I'll probably catch hell for that one but the truth is the truth)

Maybe the pain meds are getting to me but the only times I've been unemployed is when I didn't want to do anything to have a job. There are always jobs available. Are people willing to do them? No. At my peak in restaurant management in the mid 80s, I made $75K a year with bonuses. During my career, however, I worked as a burger flipper, cashier, fry guy, whatever it took to get the paycheck. I worked as a graveyard shift cashier at a New Orleans convenience store. Granted on that one I was promoted to manager ultimately but the fact remains, I always took pride in my work and that's how I (or anybody for that matter) moved upward. I remember a tour guide in Key West who said "Key West has 0% unemployment. If you're unemployed, you just don't want a job" That's the way I feel about it.

This is what I used to tell my employees So effing what if the job is not what you went to school for. Is the job benefiting you in any way? Is it paying your bills? Is it putting gas in your car? Is it paying your rent? If yes, then put your friggin' heart into it till something else comes along. I cannot tell you how many awesome employees left me because some bigwig customer noticed their can-do attitude.

All you have to do is visit your local big box retailer to see the stopped up toilet that is the great American work ethic. Only 1 out of 100 employees acts like they even care that they're there other than to completely ignore the customer they're waiting on. Until we make it less beneficial to be on welfare instead of the other way around, nothing's ever going to change.

I don't know if anything I just wrote made any sense.