Health care reform almost at the finish line... correction: it's finished

My store manager knows I'm a fishing nut (as is he) and asked me discreetly and in an ominous tone if I'd 'heard of Obama's plans to ban fishing?' I hadn't, gave a little snort, waited for the punch line, and after an uncomfortable moment discovered that he was a bit of a closet wingnut. I sort of shuffled my feet, slipped away and proceeded to debunk all of it in the span of 3 minutes online. Why, why, why? Why is it that some normally reasonable people are so quick to make themselves into the village idiot when it comes to anything anti-Obabma, instead of spending a couple minutes researching? Instead, they remain ignorant, open their mouths and let shit fall right out. Unreal.As for health care, I can say from inside this industry that it is rotten to the core. I've done a little research, but I don't think a little research will cut it unfortunately, as hyro has alluded.But from what I can see, since investment and desire to engage in risk is what 1. drives the economy and is 2. dependent upon comfort level, fixing this healthcare situation can't help but serve to increase economic development, and decrease the deficit in turn. But that's an admittedly big-picture view... I'll be following this thread with great interest--hopefully some folks who actually have time to research some of this can weigh in and educate those of us who don't. Have a good one.

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"My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. J.B.S Haldane 1892-1964

In a normal situation, I'd have done just that. Except letting my direct superior know I think he's a loon does not a pleasant workplace make. I have plans to tactfully ask him how the fishing ban's shaking out and watch the stumbling backpedal dance.I do agree with the Buz comment, though... Have a good one.

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"My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. J.B.S Haldane 1892-1964

Hey Huntard.Your relation of your situation is resulting in a cacophony of facepalm slaps around the forum here...So can you tell me, just for my own sanity's sake, how this type of plan can exist for everyone in your country? I realize most of it comes from the lack of bullshit waste we have here in the US, but what sort of tax rate do you pay? It's my understanding that Canada's income tax is much higher than that which we have here, but if anyone can tell me otherwise I'd like to know...

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"My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. J.B.S Haldane 1892-1964

MN has a couple options, besides self-funded private insurance. One is fully state-funded, referred to as MMA (Minnesota Medical Assistance) and is provided for individuals and families at no cost (there are paltry copays required for some things, including prescriptions). It is, of course, mostly based on income (max income ~ $1500/mo for ind. or $3000/mo for fam.) and/or level of mental/physical disability. The other option is called Minnesota Care, which offers coverage for higher incomes (up to ~ $4500/mo or so) and requires both premiums and copays. From what I hear, they're pretty well run, though like many other government run programs, are rife with folks who abuse the system. If I had a nickel for every mom who came to the pharmacy and picked up $700 of meds for free, and then hopped in her new Mustang while surfing on her iphone.... Sorry for your troubles, hooah. Hopefully this plan passes and you can make some lemonade out of it...for everyone else, all I can say is I'm sick of conservatives' opposition for no other reason than that their stubborn bias says they should oppose it. The GOP has not come to be the "Party of No" for no reason...This is a different bill entirely from the 2009 plan -- tax cuts, credits and other concessions have been added in order to try and appease the GOP whiners, but it seems no amount of peace offerings will suffice. Indeed, it makes me ill...

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"My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. J.B.S Haldane 1892-1964

I don't know about everyone else, but I've about had it with this legislation. Tomorrow can't come soon enough, and pass or fail, at least this round will be finished (this begs the question of what will be offered as a replacement if it fails, but that's putting the cart before the horse...) I just thought I'd bring this to light, in case anyone missed it. What a clear example this is of what's wrong with politics these days. ...which led to NY's Anthony Wiener ripping NJ's Scott Garrett a new asshole on the floor of the House. If you've never watched Wiener go at it, so to speak, you can find some pretty funny stuff doing a quick search on YouTube. The dude's a bulldog, if a little skinny...The silly part about all this is that the so-called "doc fix" isn't actually part of the health care plan at all. It's something Dems apparently have on their docket to tackle later this year whether the plan passes or not. Leave it to conservatives to bungle an attempt at a fallacious red-herring which took Dems precisely .7 seconds to debunk.Oh, and in other news we just may be getting rid of Brother Limbaugh if this bill passes. If that's not reason enough to phone your representative right now, I don't know what is. The really funny part about Limbaugh's "threat" is that in Costa Rica (where he'll allegedly live ... afterward ), health care is firmly nationalized. Have a good one.

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"My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. J.B.S Haldane 1892-1964

Hey Taq. And see where banking deregulation got us? All roads led to Delaware, and after years of corporate excess and individual greed, we got a major recession (depression in 30s lingo) and almost double digit unemployment. As much as I'd like to believe that grown-up executives can be trusted to handle insurance and health care responsibly, history tells us otherwise.Regulation would be wise, prudent, and practical. IMO.Have a good one.

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"My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. J.B.S Haldane 1892-1964