OT - when politics gets personal

I just now heard that a friend in Idaho has been diagnosed with very
serious condition.

He and his wife have tried for years to find decent, affordable health
care insurance but to no avail, because of 'pre-existing" conditions.

They run a small business in the finest tradition of such things, work
incredibly long hours and don't make much doing so. They are
assets to their community in multiple ways, beyond their small store,
they are damn fine people. They, imho, are exactly the type of
people this country should be looking out for best, not screwing
around for political reasons.

May I say, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of them and the
millions with similar stories,
**** Republicans in the US Senate

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
I just now heard that a friend in Idaho has been diagnosed with very
serious condition.

He and his wife have tried for years to find decent, affordable health
care insurance but to no avail, because of 'pre-existing" conditions.

They run a small business in the finest tradition of such things, work
incredibly long hours and don't make much doing so. They are
assets to their community in multiple ways, beyond their small store,
they are damn fine people. They, imho, are exactly the type of
people this country should be looking out for best, not screwing
around for political reasons.

May I say, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of them and the
millions with similar stories,
**** Republicans in the US Senate


Why blame republicans? My wife had a preexisting condition, so I had to
start a small company. You can get Group Insurance for a group of 2. Group
insurance does not normally look at pre conditions. Did cost me $1200 a
month. Is that not reasonable?

Bill McKee wrote:
"Larry L" wrote in message
...
I just now heard that a friend in Idaho has been diagnosed with very
serious condition.

He and his wife have tried for years to find decent, affordable health
care insurance but to no avail, because of 'pre-existing" conditions.

They run a small business in the finest tradition of such things, work
incredibly long hours and don't make much doing so. They are
assets to their community in multiple ways, beyond their small store,
they are damn fine people. They, imho, are exactly the type of
people this country should be looking out for best, not screwing
around for political reasons.

May I say, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of them and the
millions with similar stories,
**** Republicans in the US Senate

Why blame republicans? My wife had a preexisting condition, so I had to
start a small company. You can get Group Insurance for a group of 2. Group
insurance does not normally look at pre conditions. Did cost me $1200 a
month. Is that not reasonable?

Unless you live in Idaho Bill, you really don't know what
kind of group insurance is available or what it costs. And
that, of course, is part of the problem.

As for whether your $14.4K/year insurance is reasonable we'd
need to know deductibles and whether or not it includes yearly
or lifetime limits on you or your wife's coverage.

Single payer is the best system but it's not even being discussed
in the US and for that you can certainly blame Republicans.

--
Ken Fortenberry

On Feb 23, 2:34*pm, "Bill McKee" wrote:

*Did cost me $1200 a
month. *Is that not reasonable?

I doubt seriously they could afford that.

As for blaming
... nothing, this last year could probably have changed my friends
situation, not enough time

.... but the ****ing Repugnants with their filibuster mania forced
what really could have been well discussed, compromised, health care
reform to fail ( admittedly, partly because a few imbecile Democrats
had to be "accommodated") because not even a few reasonable Repugs
were to be found in the hall )

... shouting "no" is NOT leading, it's lying about being a leader

On 2010-02-23 17:54:19 -0500, Larry L said:

On Feb 23, 2:34*pm, "Bill McKee" wrote:

*Did cost me $1200 a
month. *Is that not reasonable?

I doubt seriously they could afford that.

As for blaming
... nothing, this last year could probably have changed my friends
situation, not enough time

.... but the ****ing Repugnants with their filibuster mania forced
what really could have been well discussed, compromised, health care
reform to fail ( admittedly, partly because a few imbecile Democrats
had to be "accommodated") because not even a few reasonable Repugs
were to be found in the hall )

... shouting "no" is NOT leading, it's lying about being a leader

Larry, with all due respect, blaming it on the Republicans is not fair.
The Democrats have major majorities in both Houses and occupy the WH.
They could have passed *anything* that looked good. What they came up
with was a pitiful mess that the majority of Americans do not want.
They had to bribe pols to get the bills through, and even now, the
Senate version will NOT pass in the house because of its contents. The
Republicans did not pen these bills; Democrats did and both Pelosi and
Reid know the bill is dead and going nowhere. As far as Republican
actions on these bills...... I remember seeing Obama on the news
meeting *exclusively* with the Dems of both Houses. The Republicans
were not invited.

Even if the Republicans voted 100% for the bills in the House and the
Senate, it would take *years* to impliment. Your friend is not dying
because of anything Congress or the Senate did or did not do. Perhaps
he should have planned better, ensured that he and his would always be
covered by some kind of insurance. I did, and I am called an imbecile,
idiot, moron, uneducated, etc by the insane and nasty denizens in this
rat hole. I don't mean to sound cruel, but there is no free lunch; if
you don't watch out for yourself, no one else will. Plan, save, and do
it yourself. Don't rely on the politicians, because they sure as hell
don't love you and yours, or me and mine. Do you honestly think Nancy
and Harry care about your friend? They don't. They are the ruling
class; you, your friend, me - we aren't part of their world. If every
pol voted what his/her constituents wanted, their would be no health
care bill as it now exists, but there *could* have been a bill that
everyone agreed upon if only the process was different. I have but a
few years to live and I know I will not see universal health care in my
life time. My children doubt they will see it, or even see Social
Security because we are so very deep in debt. They know that DC
doesn't care **** about them, Republicans or Democrats.

I pray your friend has an easy time of it in the short time he has left.

Dave

On Feb 23, 10:35*pm, David LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-02-23 17:54:19 -0500, Larry L said:





On Feb 23, 2:34 pm, "Bill McKee" wrote:

Did cost me $1200 a
month. Is that not reasonable?

I doubt seriously they could afford that.

As for blaming
*... nothing, this last year could probably have changed my friends
situation, not enough time

*.... but the ****ing Repugnants with their filibuster mania forced
what really could have been well discussed, compromised, health care
reform to fail ( admittedly, partly because a few imbecile Democrats
had to be "accommodated") *because not even a few reasonable Repugs
were to be found in the hall )

*... shouting "no" is NOT leading, it's lying about being a leader

Larry, with all due respect, blaming it on the Republicans is not fair.
*The Democrats have major majorities in both Houses and occupy the WH. *
They could have passed *anything* that looked good. *What they came up
with was a pitiful mess that the majority of Americans do not want. *
They had to bribe pols to get the bills through, and even now, the
Senate version will NOT pass in the house because of its contents. *The
Republicans did not pen these bills; Democrats did and both Pelosi and
Reid know the bill is dead and going nowhere. *As far as Republican
actions on these bills...... I remember seeing Obama on the news
meeting *exclusively* with the Dems of both Houses. *The Republicans
were not invited.

Even if the Republicans voted 100% for the bills in the House and the
Senate, it would take *years* to impliment. *Your friend is not dying
because of anything Congress or the Senate did or did not do. *Perhaps
he should have planned better, ensured that he and his would always be
covered by some kind of insurance. *I did, and I am called an imbecile,
idiot, moron, uneducated, etc by the insane and nasty denizens in this
rat hole. *I don't mean to sound cruel, but there is no free lunch; if
you don't watch out for yourself, no one else will. *Plan, save, and do
it yourself. *Don't rely on the politicians, because they sure as hell
don't love you and yours, or me and mine. *Do you honestly think Nancy
and Harry care about your friend? *They don't. *They are the ruling
class; you, your friend, me - we aren't part of their world. *If every
pol voted what his/her constituents wanted, their would be no health
care bill as it now exists, but there *could* have been a bill that
everyone agreed upon if only the process was different. *I have but a
few years to live and I know I will not see universal health care in my
life time. *My children doubt they will see it, or even see Social
Security because we are so very deep in debt. *They know that DC
doesn't care **** about them, Republicans or Democrats.

I pray your friend has an easy time of it in the short time he has left.

Dave

Idiot.

Pig.

g.

On Feb 23, 8:35*pm, David LaCourse wrote:
On 2010-02-23 17:54:19 -0500, Larry L said:





On Feb 23, 2:34 pm, "Bill McKee" wrote:

Did cost me $1200 a
month. Is that not reasonable?

I doubt seriously they could afford that.

As for blaming
*... nothing, this last year could probably have changed my friends
situation, not enough time

*.... but the ****ing Repugnants with their filibuster mania forced
what really could have been well discussed, compromised, health care
reform to fail ( admittedly, partly because a few imbecile Democrats
had to be "accommodated") *because not even a few reasonable Repugs
were to be found in the hall )

*... shouting "no" is NOT leading, it's lying about being a leader

Larry, with all due respect, blaming it on the Republicans is not fair.
*The Democrats have major majorities in both Houses and occupy the WH. *
They could have passed *anything* that looked good. *What they came up
with was a pitiful mess that the majority of Americans do not want. *
They had to bribe pols to get the bills through, and even now, the
Senate version will NOT pass in the house because of its contents. *The
Republicans did not pen these bills; Democrats did and both Pelosi and
Reid know the bill is dead and going nowhere. *As far as Republican
actions on these bills...... I remember seeing Obama on the news
meeting *exclusively* with the Dems of both Houses. *The Republicans
were not invited.

Even if the Republicans voted 100% for the bills in the House and the
Senate, it would take *years* to impliment. *Your friend is not dying
because of anything Congress or the Senate did or did not do. *Perhaps
he should have planned better, ensured that he and his would always be
covered by some kind of insurance. *I did, and I am called an imbecile,
idiot, moron, uneducated, etc by the insane and nasty denizens in this
rat hole. *I don't mean to sound cruel, but there is no free lunch; if
you don't watch out for yourself, no one else will. *Plan, save, and do
it yourself. *Don't rely on the politicians, because they sure as hell
don't love you and yours, or me and mine. *Do you honestly think Nancy
and Harry care about your friend? *They don't. *They are the ruling
class; you, your friend, me - we aren't part of their world. *If every
pol voted what his/her constituents wanted, their would be no health
care bill as it now exists, but there *could* have been a bill that
everyone agreed upon if only the process was different. *I have but a
few years to live and I know I will not see universal health care in my
life time. *My children doubt they will see it, or even see Social
Security because we are so very deep in debt. *They know that DC
doesn't care **** about them, Republicans or Democrats.

I pray your friend has an easy time of it in the short time he has left.

Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Dave that is really naive. You need to read more before you join the
choirs. The "Obama" bill contains many of the provisions worked out in
Mass by Republican Romney. And the "Obama" bill also includes several
features from the old Senator Coburn Republican health-care reform
legislation. Period. Why do you think so many liberal Dems feel Obama
has compromised too much?

People who follow this stuff in DC know that what is going on is part
of a slash and burn strategy imposed by ultra conservatives of the
National Committee of the Republican Party. The objective is to deny
the Democrats credit for reforming health care. Its a risky strategy
because the "Tea Party" movement is such an unpredictable factor and
is resistant to the full court press for control of the Party radicals
and right wing ideologues like Grover Norquist and Dick Armey. The
"Teas" could turn on these 2nd wave "conservative" dinosaurs in a
minute. And finally the GOP risks exposure as a "puppet for hire" by
international capitalism, if the recession's effects persist too long,
and they overplay their hand trying to brand Obama as some kind of
Communist with all this outdated 1950s rhetoric.

There has been all kinds of quiet bi-partisan work constructing the
"Obama Bill" and that is well known in DC. But GOP party discipline
and threats of retaliation by the notorious "Club for Growth" has
pummeled even the Republican cooperators into silence. I keep
believing that patriotism will trump party politics and some of the
"silent Republican moderates" will break ranks with the dinosaurs and
start earning their pay.

Hard ball Politics, that's what is going on. And the American people
are the worse for it.

Dave

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
On Feb 23, 2:34 pm, "Bill McKee" wrote:

Did cost me $1200 a
month. Is that not reasonable?

I doubt seriously they could afford that.

As for blaming
... nothing, this last year could probably have changed my friends
situation, not enough time

.... but the ****ing Repugnants with their filibuster mania forced
what really could have been well discussed, compromised, health care
reform to fail ( admittedly, partly because a few imbecile Democrats
had to be "accommodated") because not even a few reasonable Repugs
were to be found in the hall )

... shouting "no" is NOT leading, it's lying about being a leader

There was very little in the "health care plan" to control costs. They
should have had insurance before the pre existing conditions. I think
insurance companies should have to accept pre existion conditions at no
extra charge if the person already was covered by insurance. Let the 2
insurance companies work out the extra costs. But if someone does not have
insurance and then gets sick and wants insurance, he should pay more. Maybe
a lot more. Covering all pre-existion conditions is sort of like being able
to have no fire insurance on your house, and it burns down. You think that
pre-existing condition should be covered by the new insurance company?
Insurance is spreading the risk over a large group. Sort of like gambling.
You gamble a small amount each month that you will not have to pay a huge
medical bill.

On Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:28:51 -0800 (PST), Larry L
wrote:

I just now heard that a friend in Idaho has been diagnosed with very
serious condition.

He and his wife have tried for years to find decent, affordable health
care insurance but to no avail, because of 'pre-existing" conditions.

They run a small business in the finest tradition of such things, work
incredibly long hours and don't make much doing so. They are
assets to their community in multiple ways, beyond their small store,
they are damn fine people. They, imho, are exactly the type of
people this country should be looking out for best, not screwing
around for political reasons.

May I say, from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of them and the
millions with similar stories,
**** Republicans in the US Senate

Quick question for ya - all politics aside, who would you suggest has the
duty/responsibility to pay for your friend's medical care? Before you answer
that question, let me ask another - are you prepared, right here, right now, to
state that you are willing to pay a proportional share of not only his, but
these other "millions with similar stories," regardless of what that mean for
your and your family's own financial situation? And, if you know, why didn't
they get insurance before they had "pre-existing conditions?"

TC,
R

wrote in message
...
are you prepared, right here, right now, to
state that you are willing to pay a proportional share of not only his,
but
these other "millions with similar stories," regardless of what that mean
for
your and your family's own financial situation?

not going to answer for Larry, but the sensible thing for all Americans,
with any sense of a common social contract with one another, would be to
answer 'yes'. Why? Because the bit about 'regardless of what that means...."
is just a smokescreen. With single-payer national health insurance, the cost
per person would plummet. It's a given. And, it ought to be a no-brainer,
except for the fact that the one party which has shown no brains, and less
compassion, seems determined to block it. And the other,seemingly, doesn't
have the collective balls to make the case and pass it.
Tom