Thoughts on the bailout from the radical left...

[Total_Blender]

So heres some commentary of the bailout/stimulus from a commentator on Z-mag (which offers real journalism from a leftist perspective).

http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/20842

Notice that the guy includes an annotated bibliography listing all of his quotes and sources at the end of the article.

Anyway... discuss.

[BanginJimmy]

They would like increased levels of education, welfare, health care (and other "Democratic stuff" like that) in the ever more poverty-ridden U.S., the industrialized world's most unequal society - a country that denies basic health coverage to nearly 50 million of its citizens.

I didnt agree with him, but could see his point until I read this. I cant possibly take anything else he says seriously and have found myself doubting his overall intelligence.

[Total_Blender]

Yeah, that phrase was pretty bad... I wouldn't say we are the most unequal society. Mexico is considered industrialized but they have an upper class that lives in luxury and they also have people living in third world slums.

[BanginJimmy]

Yeah, that phrase was pretty bad... I wouldn't say we are the most unequal society. Mexico is considered industrialized but they have an upper class that lives in luxury and they also have people living in third world slums.

As bad as that part was, the part I was refering to was:

a country that denies basic health coverage to nearly 50 million of its citizens

That statement gives the impression that the govt has labeled a certain portion of the population and systmaticly denys them any form of health coverage. We all know this is not true. There isnt a single person in this country that can be denied health care under any circumstances. Now, if you cant afford health insurance then you have to pay full price, but it doesnt have any affect on your ability to get health care.

[Total_Blender]

but it doesnt have any affect on your ability to get health care.

There's a difference between care and coverage. If I had an accident at work and had to go to the ER I could get treatment and they'd just send it to a collections agency or write it off as indigent care. But if I wanted a yearly physical/checkup as a preventative thing and had no means of paying (because of unemployment, being a full-time student, poverty, etc) I'd be SOL.

[BanginJimmy]

There's a difference between care and coverage. If I had an accident at work and had to go to the ER I could get treatment and they'd just send it to a collections agency or write it off as indigent care.

No, that would be a workers comp issue, you would not be laible for a penny.

But if I wanted a yearly physical/checkup as a preventative thing and had no means of paying (because of unemployment, being a full-time student, poverty, etc) I'd be SOL.

I realize this and I agree it sucks. Me and my wife did some research a few months back about dumping our medical/dental insurance in favor of a private major medical plan. The plan we looked at had a $2500 deductable and paid out as much as 250K in a year. It would have cost us a little less than half of what our current payments are. Then we started adding up the costs for an uninsured doc's visit and 2 trips to the dentist a year for both of us. It worked out to just about even when you add co-pays in. We never did it because I hurt my ankle pretty bad and I still may need surgery on it.

If I get this new job, we are going to see what the insurance is like. If it isnt any better than her insurance will will most likely dump regular insurance in favor of a private major medical plan and we will cover everything else out of pocket for less.

[Total_Blender]

No, that would be a workers comp issue, you would not be laible for a penny.
.

I don't think workers comp covers part time workers, interns, or volunteers does it? I was always told when I had part time jobs that I'd be ineligible for WC if I had an accident.

The point of the article I posted is that the far Left is just as furious at the administration as the right. The money spent on the megabanks could have gone into much more stimulative areas, like education, health care, and infrastructure that would make the US more competitive in the global economy. The "socialism" is not going to the people... its going to the capitalist interests like banking and finance.

Granted, there are plenty of those programs in the stimulus. But these articles are critical of bailing out the banks in a time when people are un-likely to borrow. Its not because of a lack of access to credit that people aren't buying houses or cars, its because they are not willing to spend when they are in danger of losing their jobs.

Likewise, businesses are not needing credit for expansion right now, if anything most are looking to shrink.

Here's another good atricle:

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff03062009.html

[BanginJimmy]

I don't think workers comp covers part time workers, interns, or volunteers does it? I was always told when I had part time jobs that I'd be ineligible for WC if I had an accident.

Not sure about volunteer, but EVERY employee is eligible for workers comp.

The point of the article I posted is that the far Left is just as furious at the administration as the right. The money spent on the megabanks could have gone into much more stimulative areas, like education, health care, and infrastructure that would make the US more competitive in the global economy. The "socialism" is not going to the people... its going to the capitalist interests like banking and finance.

Granted, there are plenty of those programs in the stimulus. But these articles are critical of bailing out the banks in a time when people are un-likely to borrow. Its not because of a lack of access to credit that people aren't buying houses or cars, its because they are not willing to spend when they are in danger of losing their jobs.

Likewise, businesses are not needing credit for expansion right now, if anything most are looking to shrink.

Here's another good atricle:

http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff03062009.html

And I do agree. There is VERY little support for these bailouts from anyone that does not stand to profit greatly.

There never was much of a credit crisis, credit just got harder to get, just like it should be. I know that I do not support any form of bailout, whether they work in this situation or not I still do not agree with them.