In the past year

[tony]

What have Republicans accomplished? Obstruction just cause you oppose politically is hardly an accomplishment btw. Just curious.

[BanginJimmy]

They stopped the healthcare bill. That is enough for me.

[tony]

They stopped the healthcare bill. That is enough for me.

Dems had a filibuster proof majority, you can thank them for stopping health care reform, not Republicans.

[Total_Blender]

Yeah, the Republicans stopped the healthcare bill. Now the 46 million Americans who can't get healthcare can die and go to hell just like Glenn Beck and Pat Robertson have prophesied. They were all sinners who made a deal with the devil anyway so fuck 'em, right?

[David88vert]

The Republicans have not accomplished anything of value in the last year.
The Democrats have not accomplished anything of value in the last year.

The difference is that the Democrats controlled Congress, and had the White House. That speaks volumes about the quality of their Congressional leadership abilities.

[Vteckidd]

The Republicans have not accomplished anything of value in the last year.
The Democrats have not accomplished anything of value in the last year.

The difference is that the Democrats controlled Congress, and had the White House. That speaks volumes about the quality of their Congressional leadership abilities.

I think the Republicans lack real ideas. They need a "newt gingrich" type guy to really challenge and be proactive with the Dems and President. Boehner needs to really step it up IMO.

Dems are all over the place. They had power but were not consolidated. They tried to do too much

[Vteckidd]

Yeah, the Republicans stopped the healthcare bill. Now the 46 million Americans who can't get healthcare can die and go to hell just like Glenn Beck and Pat Robertson have prophesied. They were all sinners who made a deal with the devil anyway so fuck 'em, right?

quit with your propaganda for christs sake. Glenn Beck never said anything remotely close to that.

Id rather come up with a way that really WORKS to let people AFFORD their OWN healthcare , than the govt blindly trying to give it to everyone with no way to pay for it.

Ive always said the OBAMACARE would give you healthcare at the EXPENSE of your job. Seems you still dont understand that.

And please stop with the 46million crap, its not that high. 15 million are peope pASSING through the system and drop coverage between jobs or a lapse of 1-3 months.

5 million are people that CAN AFFORD HEALTHCARE but refuse it.

12-18 million are illegal immigrants who dont deserve govt taxpayer funded healthcare in the first place.

So you are left with less than 15 million who REALLY CANNOT AFFORD healthcare or choose not to pay for it.

5% of our nation doesnt have healthcare. LETS REVAMP THE ENTIRE SYSTEM because 5% are lacking. Hell even if you use 46million people its 15% of our population WITHOUT HEALTHCARE.

Instead of GIVING it away, how about making the poor able to afford it by getting them jobs or better training to make more money.

You would rather make the rich pooorer than the poor rich

[BanginJimmy]

quit with your propaganda for christs sake. Glenn Beck never said anything remotely close to that.

Id rather come up with a way that really WORKS to let people AFFORD their OWN healthcare , than the govt blindly trying to give it to everyone with no way to pay for it.

Ive always said the OBAMACARE would give you healthcare at the EXPENSE of your job. Seems you still dont understand that.

And please stop with the 46million crap, its not that high. 15 million are peope pASSING through the system and drop coverage between jobs or a lapse of 1-3 months.

5 million are people that CAN AFFORD HEALTHCARE but refuse it.

12-18 million are illegal immigrants who dont deserve govt taxpayer funded healthcare in the first place.

So you are left with less than 15 million who REALLY CANNOT AFFORD healthcare or choose not to pay for it.

5% of our nation doesnt have healthcare. LETS REVAMP THE ENTIRE SYSTEM because 5% are lacking. Hell even if you use 46million people its 15% of our population WITHOUT HEALTHCARE.

Instead of GIVING it away, how about making the poor able to afford it by getting them jobs or better training to make more money.

You would rather make the rich pooorer than the poor rich

Beat me to the 46mil line. I would say the real number is even lower than your numbers though. I would guess it is somewhere between 7-10mil.

[Total_Blender]

I keep forgetting that you guys all think the US census is government tyranny and that all numbers have to be verified by Rupert Murdoch before they are acceptable.

The part about Glenn Beck was a little humor. You redwingers err... right wingers I mean... can dish it out but you can't take it.

As far as leadership goes the GOP doesn't have any. Bohener and Jindal lack charisma, Michael Steele comes across as a mean spirited asshole, and Palin's petite little hands are just not big enough to write all the party's talking points on. Moderates like Colin Powell get pushed aside while loudmouths like Joe Wilson and Michelle Bachmann are given favor. I don't think we will ever have another Teddy Roosevelt or Barry Goldwater as long as the party is actively courting the lowest common denominator with this "tea party" nonsense.

[BanginJimmy]

I keep forgetting that you guys all think the US census is government tyranny and that all numbers have to be verified by Rupert Murdoch before they are acceptable.

Not sure what the census has to do with it, but the numbers Obama has been reading are wrong, just like the stories he likes to tell.

As far as leadership goes the GOP doesn't have any.

I actually agree with you here. The leadership as a whole is gone in Washington. It starts with the top and encompasses both parties though. I cant think of a single ranking politician in Washington that has even the slightest clue what they are doing. Obama, Pelosi and Reid are all ideologues and cannot see further than their own overinflated ego to actually see what anyone in this country wants.

[Vteckidd]

The numbers are wrong blender. Go watch any video collage of Obama and watch how the numbers change.

Statistics are skewed to highlight his agenda.

Are you telling me 46 million american citizens are without healthcare?

[David88vert]

As far as leadership goes the GOP doesn't have any. Bohener and Jindal lack charisma, Michael Steele comes across as a mean spirited asshole, and Palin's petite little hands are just not big enough to write all the party's talking points on. Moderates like Colin Powell get pushed aside while loudmouths like Joe Wilson and Michelle Bachmann are given favor.

I agree on this as well. Both parties are not representing the people in the middle.

[Alan®]

Yeah, the Republicans stopped the healthcare bill. Now the 46 million Americans who can't get healthcare can die and go to hell just like Glenn Beck and Pat Robertson have prophesied. They were all sinners who made a deal with the devil anyway so fuck 'em, right?

every time you post i feel like just reading it i lost 5 I.Q. points

[BB6dohcvtec]

What have Republicans accomplished? Obstruction just cause you oppose politically is hardly an accomplishment btw. Just curious.

Its just a setup for the upcoming elections. They are the party of no right now. They can't come up with their own ideas, so the plan is to say no to everything that Obama and the dems come up with to save face. The problem with that is they are suppose to shut up and let the dems fall on their face, but they just can't seem to do that because they have to add their two cents when it really wasn't needed. Oh yea and the tea party movement won't help the republican efforts it just splitting them in two.

[Vteckidd]

The tea party is not a GOP movement it's more independents than republican. The tea party will help as it is damaging to dems and only helps the republicans as it's a
more conservative leaning movement

[Total_Blender]

The tea party is laughable bullshit. Half those idiots have no idea what is going on other than they disapprove of Obama because they think he's a Kenyan Muslim with a fake birth certificate.

every time you post i feel like just reading it i lost 5 I.Q. points

Every time I read your posts, I find errors in punctuation and capitalization. If you're attempting to criticize someone's intelligence, at least fucking get basic 3rd grade grammar right.

[Vteckidd]

You've demonstrated time and time again you have no idea nor actually watch read or comprehend anything on the right side of the aisle

you spew olberman talking points and lack the comprehension to even articulate a rational argument.

All you see is the liberal left blog posts you refuse to look at the other side.

Peoples right to assembly, protesting big govt, socialism, higher taxes, and govt policy is laughable bullshit? Figures it would be to a liberal zealot , you guys trample enough on the constitution as it is.

I'm going to challenge you:

sit through a Glenn beck episode I'll watch the same one. TiVo it. At the end you tell me where he's wrong or he's in the tank for the GOP

[Total_Blender]

I've busted on Glenn Beck numerous times. I have more productive and enjoyable ways to spend my time than watching any more of his nonsense.

[Vteckidd]

That's what I thought

[BanginJimmy]

That's what I thought

Its people like Blender that gave rise to Hitler, Mao, Castro, Lenin, and many others. He believes only in the Party and sees no reason to justify or corroborate anything he says. Quick to throw insults and whenever challenged, he deflects with further insults. Hitler and Lenin used the failings of their predecessors, to go along with bringing the nation back to prominence, as their main talking points. This is exactly the same mantra Obama has been using into his second year in office. Every failing is Bush's or the GOP's fault. Every lie is deflected or simply ignored. Will it ever stop? Will he ever take responsibility for his own failings? Will he ever realize that he agenda is not what people want? Judging from his State of the Union speech, I seriously doubt it.

[Total_Blender]

. He believes only in the Party and sees no reason to justify or corroborate anything he says. .

So the number when you account for non-citizens is 36 million. That's still a whole lot of people without insurance. You can also see how the lower incomes are most of those who are uninsured.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121820/on...insurance.aspx

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...-about-46-mil/

Here is the US census survey used to get those numbers:

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthinsseq.pdf

I've posted many times about my disagreements on Obama's policies, but you guys are all too busy teabagging one another to really pay attention.

[tony]

The tea party is not a GOP movement it's more independents than republican. The tea party will help as it is damaging to dems and only helps the republicans as it's a
more conservative leaning movement

C'mon now, tell me you dont believe this. The Tea Party movement only bolsters Democratic support, Palin is their unofficial spokesperson. Look, if there is one thing that Republicans haven't learned from their recent loss is that moving farther right isn't the answer. The fact that Palin is a legitimate candidate (and probably the most polarizing for the Republican party) shows the status of the GOP.

[alpine_aw11]

C'mon now, tell me you dont believe this. The Tea Party movement only bolsters Democratic support, Palin is their unofficial spokesperson. Look, if there is one thing that Republicans haven't learned from their recent loss is that moving farther right isn't the answer. The fact that Palin is a legitimate candidate (and probably the most polarizing for the Republican party) shows the status of the GOP.

I would laugh uncontrollably if Palin was nominated, fortunately it probably wont happen.

The thing is, neither party has accomplished anything in the past year and it will continue to be that way for a while. Possibly forever.

[BanginJimmy]

So the number when you account for non-citizens is 36 million. That's still a whole lot of people without insurance. You can also see how the lower incomes are most of those who are uninsured.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121820/on...insurance.aspx

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...-about-46-mil/

Here is the US census survey used to get those numbers:

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/hlthinsseq.pdf

I've posted many times about my disagreements on Obama's policies, but you guys are all too busy teabagging one another to really pay attention.

Next you have to remove the people that choose not npot have health insurance and people with existing conditions that basicly bar them from coverage.

Lower income people will be more represented because low income people have low end jobs that rarely offer those benefits.

I will comment further when I get to a computer and can see the info on your links.

[Total_Blender]

Next you have to remove the people that choose not npot have health insurance and people with existing conditions that basicly bar them from coverage.
.

Most of those people "choose" not to have it because they can't afford it, or they can but they would have to make a lot of sacrifices. And its just not right that people with existing conditions can't get coverage.

[Verik]

Most of those people "choose" not to have it because they can't afford it, or they can but they would have to make a lot of sacrifices.

This is the fucking world of capitalism. Welcome to the basic concept of opportunity costs... your going to bitch and complain because "capitalism inspires inequality" and completely disregard that this country was not built upon the principles of economic equality, but economic [b]equity[b]. You also have to realize that the classification of poverty is subjective to the society. If we start using the IMF's poverty levels, I would be willing to bet substantial money that under 1 million people in america are considered in poverty.

And no, the ones who are classified as "choosing" not to have health insurance aren't the ones who "can't afford it" (you'd be contradicting the definition of them having a choice if they had no viable choice), they are the ones who ignore the risk associated with having no coverage and would rather buy a new lcd tv, or live in the 800 square ft apartment rather than the cheaper 500 sq ft one, or make payments on a lexus instead of paying off a toyota in full. This is America, people choose to ignore risks associated with not purchasing healthcare so that they can feed their unrestricted consumerist mentality which has plagued americans for the past 20 years.

You need to realize before you start down the road of "well they would choose health insurance if they didnt have to give up so much." that right there classifies how much the person values their health. If they can't give up the bigger apartment (or a single apartment instead of living with roomates or instead of taking on a car payment, paying one off in full, etc), then their rational is simply one that their health is not as important as those items which they purchase. You want to get more people health coverage? Find a way to fix their fiscally fucked up consumerist mentality that has made American households the most irresponsible and indebted in the world for the sake of leading a lifestyle which is beyond their financial capabilities. Why dont you encourage people to fix their misaligned priorities rather than simple putting it in the government's hands to solve.

And its just not right that people with existing conditions can't get coverage.

why? There are international alternatives if they dont wish to pay the rates for medical care inside the US. Also never once has the US government said that health was a given inalienable right. You've never taken a risk management course or even understand the concept of pooling risk do you? if insurance companies were forced to accept a large pool of high risk applicants, everyone's rates would justifiably go up. It's simple risk association with standard deviations. You don't understand a thing about the concept of insurance if you think there should be no requirements or screening of applicants.... that contradicts the entire prospect of control while pooling risk.

[David88vert]

This is the fucking world of capitalism. Welcome to the basic concept of opportunity costs... your going to bitch and complain because "capitalism inspires inequality" and completely disregard that this country was not built upon the principles of economic equality, but economic [b]equity[b]. You also have to realize that the classification of poverty is subjective to the society. If we start using the IMF's poverty levels, I would be willing to bet substantial money that under 1 million people in america are considered in poverty.

And no, the ones who are classified as "choosing" not to have health insurance aren't the ones who "can't afford it" (you'd be contradicting the definition of them having a choice if they had no viable choice), they are the ones who ignore the risk associated with having no coverage and would rather buy a new lcd tv, or live in the 800 square ft apartment rather than the cheaper 500 sq ft one, or make payments on a lexus instead of paying off a toyota in full. This is America, people choose to ignore risks associated with not purchasing healthcare so that they can feed their unrestricted consumerist mentality which has plagued americans for the past 20 years.

You need to realize before you start down the road of "well they would choose health insurance if they didnt have to give up so much." that right there classifies how much the person values their health. If they can't give up the bigger apartment (or a single apartment instead of living with roomates or instead of taking on a car payment, paying one off in full, etc), then their rational is simply one that their health is not as important as those items which they purchase. You want to get more people health coverage? Find a way to fix their fiscally fucked up consumerist mentality that has made American households the most irresponsible and indebted in the world for the sake of leading a lifestyle which is beyond their financial capabilities. Why dont you encourage people to fix their misaligned priorities rather than simple putting it in the government's hands to solve.



why? There are international alternatives if they dont wish to pay the rates for medical care inside the US. Also never once has the US government said that health was a given inalienable right. You've never taken a risk management course or even understand the concept of pooling risk do you? if insurance companies were forced to accept a large pool of high risk applicants, everyone's rates would justifiably go up. It's simple risk association with standard deviations. You don't understand a thing about the concept of insurance if you think there should be no requirements or screening of applicants.... that contradicts the entire prospect of control while pooling risk.

X2

This is a true statement.

Many small businesses do not offer health insurance, and many younger people would rather spend their money on other things than health insurance.
I'll explain it this way. From 1990-2000, I did not have any health insurance. I was making ok money enough to afford it, but did not choose to, based upon my acceptance of the risk of not having it. What did it cost me? My total medical costs during that decade was $2000 out of pocket. What would it have cost me to pay monthly insurance that I would not have used? A LOT more.

Currently, I work for a company that provides health insurance to my family at low rates, so I have it, but I understand why a 20-30 year old would rather spend their money on something else, when they are likely not to need medical coverage.

[Total_Blender]

It's simple risk association with standard deviations. You don't understand a thing about the concept of insurance if you think there should be no requirements or screening of applicants.... that contradicts the entire prospect of control while pooling risk.

The so called "public option" is/was supposed to provide an alternative to those who have pre-existing conditions so they would be able to obtain care they could afford without having to seek "international alternatives" or whatever is is you were talking about (I assume you want to make them Canada's problem or something like that).

As far as "consumerism" goes... I live with 4 roommates, I buy all my clothes at thrift stores, I drive an '84 Mazda I paid $700 for, and I bought my 19" CRT TV from a pawn shop for the kingly sum of $20. I don't even like to wear clothing with logos as I feel that companies should be paying me if I'm going to advertise their product. So as far as your rant on consumption-driven culture I'm with you 100% but I don't see what that has to do with fixing the healthcare system.

[BanginJimmy]

The so called "public option" is/was supposed to provide an alternative to those who have pre-existing conditions so they would be able to obtain care they could afford without having to seek "international alternatives" or whatever is is you were talking about (I assume you want to make them Canada's problem or something like that)

So why should I be forced to pay for someone elses health insurance?

As far as "consumerism" goes... I live with 4 roommates, I buy all my clothes at thrift stores, I drive an '84 Mazda I paid $700 for, and I bought my 19" CRT TV from a pawn shop for the kingly sum of $20. I don't even like to wear clothing with logos as I feel that companies should be paying me if I'm going to advertise their product. So as far as your rant on consumption-driven culture I'm with you 100% but I don't see what that has to do with fixing the healthcare system.

Either you didn't bother to read what he said or you don't have the intelligence to comprehend it.

[Total_Blender]

Either you didn't bother to read what he said or you don't have the intelligence to comprehend it.

I read what he posted, and he's right that some people do choose not to have insurance to suit their materialistic lifestyle. But those same people might be more inclined to choose health insurance if it were cheaper and there were some sort of guarantee that they would not be dropped from it because of a "pre-existing condition" should they get sick. I have never been satisfied in any of my dealings with insurance companies, they are more in the business of making money than helping people.

As income goes down, the percentage of people who have health insurance goes down. You can see that in the tables in this table... its a read-only so it will open in Excel.

http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthi...ily_income.xls

[tony]

So why should I be forced to pay for someone elses health insurance?

You do it anyway under the current system.

[Vteckidd]

I've always said you can't legislate CHOICE.

Where does it stop? The govt (in new York) want to take salt off the table because it causes too many health issues, but alcohol and smoking, no problem let's leave those.

The market sets the price for insurance, not the govt. What we should be doing is concentrating the outside factors that drive costs up, such as tort reform, allowing
more private sector competition like buying across state lines, getting rid of pre-existing conditions clauses, allowing people to buy catastrophic insurace only, giving tax credits to people or busiensses that offer health care etc.
iNSTEAD we want to make it a right, have no way To pay for it, and instead of working on increasing the peoples wages who CANT afford it, you want to cripple the system in a takeover to make it free to those.

Again it's nothing more than a power play you'd rather make the rich poorer instead of the poor richer.

Even then anyone that wants healthcare can get it.

[Vteckidd]

X2

This is a true statement.

Many small businesses do not offer health insurance, and many younger people would rather spend their money on other things than health insurance.
I'll explain it this way. From 1990-2000, I did not have any health insurance. I was making ok money enough to afford it, but did not choose to, based upon my acceptance of the risk of not having it. What did it cost me? My total medical costs during that decade was $2000 out of pocket. What would it have cost me to pay monthly insurance that I would not have used? A LOT more.

Currently, I work for a company that provides health insurance to my family at low rates, so I have it, but I understand why a 20-30 year old would rather spend their money on something else, when they are likely not to need medical coverage.

agreed, however if you had walked out of your house tripped and broke your leg, you would have been financially screwed. Broken leg can cost upwards of $30,000 with treatment, rehabilitation etc.

Regular illnesses are relatively CHEAP to treat. So thats why i think there should be a CATASTROPHIC INSURANCE policy, something that covers you up to $100,000, $200,000 whatever.

Recently i took my nephew here in DC to a MINUTE CLINIC. They are located in CVS pharmacy stores. They take regular insurance as well as non insured people. I looked at their rates for NON INSURANCE holders:

Services and Costs
Minor illness exam $62
Minor injury exam $62
Skin condition exam $62
Wellness & prevention $20-$95
Vaccinations $30-$120


heres what they consider MINOR ILLNESS
Allergy Symptoms
Body Aches
Corneal Abrasions
Cough
Earache
Ear Wax Removal ($59)
Flu-like Symptoms
Itchy Eyes
Motion Sickness Prevention
Nasal Congestion
Pink Eye
Sinus Symptoms
Sore Throat
Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms

Heres what they consider MINOR INJURY
Blisters
Burns
Deer Tick Bites
Lacerations
Splinters
Sprains (Foot, Ankle, Knee)
Sunburns
Suture Removal
Wounds & Abrasions

Heres what they consider SKIN CONDITIONS
Acne
Athlete's Foot
Cold & Canker Sores
Impetigo
Infections (Minor)
Lice
Oral/Mouth Sores
Poison Ivy
Rashes (Minor)
Ringworm
Scabies
Shingles
Sunburn (Minor)
Swimmer's Itch
Wart Removal


Wellness and Preventions
EpiPen refill $41
Health screening package $66
Cholesterol screening $45
Diabetes screening $40
Hypertension screening $30
Weight evaluation $30
Physical exams

Camp physical $30
College physical $30
DOT physical $60
Sports physical $30
Pregnancy testing $51
Smoking cessation $30
TB (Tuberculosis) testing $20


Vacinations
DTaP (Diphtheria,
Tetanus, Pertussis) $67
Flu (Seasonal) $30
Hepatitis A (Adult) $87
Hepatitis A (Child) $56
Hepatitis B (Adult) $67
Hepatitis B (Child) $52
Meningitis $112
MMR (Measles,
Mumps, Rubella) $67
Pneumonia $49
Polio (IPV) $82
TD (Tetanus, Diphtheria) $42
Tdap (Tetanus,
Diphtheria, Pertussis) $62


as you can see its VERY INEXPENSIVE to treat 90% of the illnesses and problems out there. prescriptions cost extra, but youre talking roughly under $150 per hosiptal visit OR LESS WITH MEDS.

The insurance i carry (AETNA) as a SMOKER costs me $145 a month. Thats a PPO, i pay co=pay to $5000 then after that its free.

[99hatch]

I went through a period in my life when i was 19 or so. I paid rent, only made 8 bucks an hour (which is just barely above min wage now). Still managed to afford health insurance which was only 60 bucks a month. It wasnt the best coverage, however it did cover me in the event of an emergency. Now i have a much better job, and health insurance through my work. Still have to pay over 100 bucks a month to insurance, and I havent been sick in 3 years. But I make that sacrifice because in the event that something does happen. I will need it. People in America need to quit looking for handouts from the government and start earning their own. That is what the country was built off, the pursuit of happiness. Not the Pursuit of handouts.

[BanginJimmy]

You do it anyway under the current system.

Well in that case, we should let the govt handle all the money right? They do such a great job at it already that they bankrupted social security and medicare.


As was already said, none of the real factors for rising costs are being addressed. Tort reform and buying across state lines would do more to bring down costs than anything the govt has proposed to date.

[Alan®]

The tea party is laughable bullshit. Half those idiots have no idea what is going on other than they disapprove of Obama because they think he's a Kenyan Muslim with a fake birth certificate.





Every time I read your posts, I find errors in punctuation and capitalization. If you're attempting to criticize someone's intelligence, at least fucking get basic 3rd grade grammar right.

HAHAHAHAHA. Ok. Since this is the internet and it's "serious business", I'll step up from my normal "3rd grade grammar". You have to be one of the most short sighted ignorant people I have ever had the displeasure of having to read posts from.

You seem to have this opinion of anyone who doesn't worship the ground that the Left Wing political agenda is "they think he's a Kenyan Muslim with a fake birth certificate.". Sorry but the contrary is true. Yes, there is a great number of people who do feel that way but anyone who actually takes 20 minutes to watch more than one news organization talk about the issues think a little bit more than what you seem to think, that they think. Some of us are actually capable of forming independent thoughts and opinions and it just so happens that those of us that can, agree with one side or another.

You on the other hand, can't seem to comprehend that and instead choose to believe that anyone from a differing opinion from yours is incompetent.

And before you go judging a book by it's cover, you might want to know that I am actually a Junior at Kennesaw State University with a major in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies.

But hey, what do I know. I'm just some pinko right wing fanatic with the grammar skills of a 3rd grader. Oh wait.....I'm not.

[Total_Blender]

.
And before you go judging a book by it's cover, you might want to know that I am actually a Junior at Kennesaw State University with a major in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies.

But hey, what do I know. I'm just some pinko right wing fanatic with the grammar skills of a 3rd grader. Oh wait.....I'm not.

Hooray for you, since you want applause for that. Even Sarah Palin graduated from college with a degree in - wait for it - Journalism. Having a college degree alone does not prove one's capacity for original thought or leadership, nor does it prove that one is erudite. College is more like a survey that prepares one for scholarship rather than the sum, total, and proof that one is a scholar. I know a lot of college graduates who have neither read a book from start to finish nor even set foot into a library.

Pinko, by the way, is a derogatory term for left wing people:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinko

I would think you'd get that right since you're Mr. Red GT Political Science Junior at Kennesaw State Esq.

A derogatory term for you to choose for yourself might have been:

Nut Job
Redneck
Whitebread
Bible Thumper
Nazi
Teabagger

[David88vert]

agreed, however if you had walked out of your house tripped and broke your leg, you would have been financially screwed. Broken leg can cost upwards of $30,000 with treatment, rehabilitation etc.

I completely agree. My point is at that time, I was willing to accept the risk, and did pay out of pocket for when I needed attention at the hospital.

I believe that insurance should only be for the larger items that you cannot pay out of pocket - such as major injruries/surgeries, etc. NOT of office visits and regular lab tests. If people would use insurance for major issues, and not for everytime they go for a checkup, insurance costs would be lower. The problem is that everyone thinks that their insurance is a debit card.

[Vteckidd]

True there has to be a way to allow insurance for things over $1000 versus $40 checkup.

[Vteckidd]

I hate to equate it to car insurance but if you have a $1000 deductible and you do $500 in damage to your car, you pay out of pocket.

The difference or problem lies with you can wait 2-3 year to fix your car (cosmetic damage) with your health that could mean you die. What if you really don't have $500 to pay for your doctor visit? You can throw a car away can't throw a life away

has to be some sort of middle ground to service both customers