Random Thoughts (Political Edition)

And how much pork was thrown around to pass it? It is a large, dense, and complicated piece of legislation meant to provide soundbites for politicians. Costs will not be lowered and benefits will be illusory.
I'm not arguing with any of that. The money they had to throw around, favors, etc is disgusting. Stupak even extorted an executive order out of Obama (to block federal funds from paying for abortions) because he couldn't get his outrageous amendment in. Again, if this had been done 9 months ago I think a lot of that would've been avoided.

Hell I don't even like the plan. Without public option it's half-ass at best. I want true universal coverage, but this is at least something that can be worked with. Costs will probably be capped and then they'll say they've been "lowered". Coverage (for a majority of Americans, iirc) will be government subsidized. So nearly everyone should have healthcare. Plus no more people getting dropped by their provider and going bankrupt. Considering 60% of bankruptcies in the US are blamed on medical bills, I'd call that a tangible benefit as well.

The real solution is universal coverage, but that's socialist and bad, so we can't have that. Even though it would be an improvement over this legislation and the status quo. Lower costs, massively reduced bureaucracy, private insurance if you want it, true 100% coverage, etc etc etc.
 
As far as I can see those are the three best achievements of your new Health Care reform:

1. PPL with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied coverage.
2. PPL cannot be dropped if bankrupt.
3. Rush Limbaug, as promised, will have to leave for Puerto Rico (and, surprisingly, get socialized health care there)

Also, you've just given each and everyone in China 75 cents. Now, if you want, let's say, a banking reform and/or financial control measures, you may want to build a few bronze Mao's here and there.
 
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I'm putting my iTunes music on hold tomorrow and listening to the radio all day. Who should I listen to?

My choices right now are:
Michael Graham
Rush Limbaugh
Glenn Beck
Bill O'Reilly
Jay Severin
Laura Ingraham


They all pretty much conflict which each other time wise, so I don't know which one to listen to live. I'll eventually listen to all of them at some point or another (or will try to find archived copies). Limbaugh and Beck because they are so radical its comical, but the others are actually are good. I'm considering Michael Graham the most.
 
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Tigger y'know what you guys need? Someone from Scandinavia to decide how to work out health care. If anyone disagree, that's fair, but they will be hit over the head with a two-by-four.

I'll do it. For some photo gear and a couple of cases of single malt. That's cheap.
 
Im waiting for Glenn Becks reactions and after that for Daily Shows reaction.

Otherwise, I am very happy for the US that were able to take a step forward to the right direction.
 
"The grasp of the totalitarian, tyrannical state". Meh.
 
I'm putting my iTunes music on hold tomorrow and listening to the radio all day. Who should I listen to?

My choices right now are:
Michael Graham
Rush Limbaugh
Glenn Beck
Bill O'Reilly
Jay Severin
Laura Ingraham


They all pretty much conflict which each other time wise, so I don't know which one to listen to live. I'll eventually listen to all of them at some point or another (or will try to find archived copies). Limbaugh and Beck because they are so radical its comical, but the others are actually are good. I'm considering Michael Graham the most.

Oh god you have to Listen to Mitchel Savage. He is usually the most extreme of the bunch even worse then Limbaugh or Beck.

http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/
 
To those who are throwing a fit and claiming that the health reform will ruin America, abort our babies, kill our elderly, and bring the scourge of socialism inside our borders: now you know how we, as the vocal opposition, felt when the USA PATRIOT Act was passed, or No Child Left Behind was passed, or when Iraq was invaded, or when the Space Shuttle program was killed, or when warantlessly wiretapping American citizens was defended... and we have not forgotten how you, as loyal supporters, offered us no sympathy for our concern, nor heeded our arguments or considered our views, and branded us as everything from merely "uninformed" to downright "terrorists".

Today, you will see the favor returned.
 
Oh god you have to Listen to Mitchel Savage. He is usually the most extreme of the bunch even worse then Limbaugh or Beck.

http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/
I've always wanted to call into his show and call him by his actual name; Micheal Weiner. Doesn't quite have the same angry ring to it, does it? :lol: If him and Glenn Beck got together the combined crazy would probably burn a hole in the face of the Earth.
 
It's a sad day if this passes. I know where my vote is going.

I'm not paying for something I don't want. Simple.


Glances at age...

You are fucking 18. Pretty good chance you don't even make enough money to pay Federal income taxes. Also a pretty good chance you won't make enough to pay for federal income tax for years.

A friend of mine has a good policy when it comes to paying taxes for stuff he doesn't support. He just doesn't have his taxes go to those programs. In his head all of his federal taxes go to NASA. It helps him accept that the US go'vt does things he doesn't like or support because to him all of his taxes goes to NASA.
 
It's a sad day if this passes. I know where my vote is going.
What vote are you talking about?

In his head all of his federal taxes go to NASA. It helps him accept that the US go'vt does things he doesn't like or support because to him all of his taxes goes to NASA.
I like that. :lol:
 
It's a sad day if this passes. I know where my vote is going.

What vote are you talking about?


I like that. :lol:

It is a great way to think about it. Unless you make a truly huge amount of money the amount you pay in taxes as an individual or couple is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

My wife and I combined make a healthy amount of money per year. Not going to say how much exactly but we do ok for ourselves in a state with the highest per capita income in the country and the third highest household income.

Since we have been married our effective tax rate after all deductions and credits has averaged less then 5%. Once you add up all the deductions for state and local taxes, mortgage interest, this and that and now the deductions we have for our son it takes a huge chunk out of the bill.

People area always complaining about how high marginal tax rates are but the fact is in the US they aren't that high and almost no one pays the marginal rate. The wealthy you are the more random deductions you can find and your effective rate is much, much lower. Now if you don't have kids and own your house outright then you might be paying close to the marginal rate but you still have some basic deductions to take care of. The people who don't have kids and own their house outright are going to tend to be older and be more able to pay higher taxes anyway. They are also more likely to be taking medicare and social security as well so they shouldn't complain too much.
 
I'm still not over the executive order on abortions.

If I were in the house, I'd propose an ammendment making all golf-related injuries exempt from federal money.

Okay, I woulldn't, and I can't even vote in the US, but it would be good fun. Come to think of it, eating-related illnesses shouldn't be covered either, if you get shot, tough luck, you shouldn't have been there. And if you shoot yourself in the foot with a shotgun, I don't see why federal money should be spent reattaching your toes.

*bangs head on wall yet again*
 
I'm still not over the executive order on abortions.
So far as I've been able to tell, all the Executive Order is doing is reiterating what's in the bill. What are you under the impression it's doing?

Also, on the subject of paying higher taxes, a co-worker just said that he's read that people who make $5m/year will see their Medicare payroll taxes increased by $43k/year. Now that seems like a lot of money (assuming it's even correct), but when you drill that income down to a more reasonable $50k/year, you'll (apparently) see your payroll taxes increased by... $430/year. $8.27 per paycheck. A 0.86% increase.

Now far be it for me to speak for anyone else, but personally, I'm okay with seeing my taxes go up 0.86% if it means 11.40% of Americans will have better access to health insurance.
 
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I'm not paying for something I don't want. Simple.

I read this and thought it summed it up perfectly.

For all those out-of-work, underemployed or retired, red-meat, red state conservative 'Merikans that are getting social security, disability, medicare and unemployment benefits that rue the day about how big gubmint and taxes are ruining America, I suggest they forfeit all aspects of government that they benefit from.

No more calling 911 for any emergencies, no using the interstate highways for you, no flying (FAA controls the air paths), no buying gasoline or using electricity (those are gubmint subsidized industries), no buying any food product that includes corn or high-fructose corn syrup (all heavily government subsidized), don't buy California lettuce (it uses Federally subsidized water to grow it), don't go to a state university that accepts Federal grant dollars for science and medical research, stop using that Social Security check to pay for your rent, don't use Medicare to cover your hospital stay or for substance abuse counseling due to being depressed about how much your life sucks in the socialist-infected, pinko-commie, PC-gay-agenda run America.

Give up all that stuff and we can talk about how you're doing as a self-supported individual paragon of freedom, loving America.
 
So far as I've been able to tell, all the Executive Order is doing is reiterating what's in the bill. What are you under the impression it's doing?
My head was somewhere else, I was thinking of the bill itself, too little coffee.

Also, on the subject of paying higher taxes, a co-worker just said that he's read that people who make $5m/year will see their Medicare payroll taxes increased by $43k/year. Now that seems like a lot of money (assuming it's even correct), but when you drill that income down to a more reasonable $50k/year, you'll (apparently) see your payroll taxes increased by... $430/year. $8.27 per paycheck. A 0.86% increase.

Now far be it for me to speak for anyone else, but personally, I'm okay with seeing my taxes go up 0.86% if it means 11.40% of Americans will have better access to health insurance.
That seems reasonable.
 
You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to that socialist-infected, pinko-commie Plissken again.
 
Also, on the subject of paying higher taxes, a co-worker just said that he's read that people who make $5m/year will see their Medicare payroll taxes increased by $43k/year. Now that seems like a lot of money (assuming it's even correct)

isn't it just a 1.16% increase, for someone who earns 5 million.
 
isn't it just a 1.16% increase, for someone who earns 5 million.
What? According to the numbers given, 46,000 / 5,000,000 = 0.0086.

Also,

http://www.aolnews.com/nation/artic...e-us-if-health-care-reform-is-passed/19389808
Correction, March 10, 1:16 pm An earlier version of this story mistakenly reported that Rush Limbaugh had threatened to move to Costa Rica if Congress passed health care reform. Instead, Mr. Limbaugh said that he would travel to Costa Rica for medical care if the bill was passed while continuing to reside in this country.

(March 9) -- Radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has thrown down the gauntlet. If the U.S. Congress passes health care reform, Limbaugh will leave the country to receive his medical treatment.

Specifically, Limbaugh told a caller that he envisions traveling to Costa Rica should the government, through a federal program costing upwards of $1 trillion, expand health care coverage to approximately 30 million Americans who are currently uninsured.

Ironically, Costa Rica offers universal heath care to all of its residents.

The caller asked Limbaugh where he would go for health care if Congress were to enact reform.

"I don't know," Limbaugh responded. "I'll just tell you this, if this passes and it's five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented, I am leaving the country. I'll go to Costa Rica."
 
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