The union's angle..

[Nickdfresh]

Does anyone seriously go for single-payer? Most are in favor of actual competition, even if that means they have to compete against a gov't option. Not what we have now --which is essentially legalized collusion with insurance companies making all of the rules...

[Big Train]

ummmm...Ford has a slight preference for it..

[FORD]

It's more than a slight preference. It's the best solution, as proven by every other industrialized nation on the goddamn planet. Single payer MUST be the ultimate goal. But Dr. Howard Dean has a valid point. And not only is he someone whose opinion I respect a lot, but he is also a doctor, as is his wife, so unlike 99.9% of the people fighting reform, he knows what he's talking about.

And that is, that a valid public option would leave it up to the people to choose whether they want a private corporate plan, or a public plan along the lines of Medicare or the VA system. I suspect not many people are happy with their private plans, so that scenario would work itself out in the long run.

[sadaist]

I suspect not many people are happy with their private plans,

I was very happy with mine. What I was unhappy with was not having the option to keep it after my employment changed.

[Nickdfresh]

It's more than a slight preference. It's the best solution, as proven by every other industrialized nation on the goddamn planet. Single payer MUST be the ultimate goal. But Dr. Howard Dean has a valid point. And not only is he someone whose opinion I respect a lot, but he is also a doctor, as is his wife, so unlike 99.9% of the people fighting reform, he knows what he's talking about.

And that is, that a valid public option would leave it up to the people to choose whether they want a private corporate plan, or a public plan along the lines of Medicare or the VA system. I suspect not many people are happy with their private plans, so that scenario would work itself out in the long run.

And Dr. Dean is against a single-payer system...

The problem that we both have is that the current system is little more than a parochial oligopoly...

[FORD]

I'm fine with the public option as Dr. Dean has explained it, but I don't trust certain senators to mean the same thing when THEY say "public option". Some of these DLC types sure changed their mind about a public option recently, and it wasn't because they suddenly remembered they were supposed to be Democrats. They're trying to mutate this into some fucking national Romneycare thing, probably, which would be WORSE than what we have now.

So Dean's public option, yes. Chuck Schumer's "public option"?? probably not.

[FORD]

I was very happy with mine. What I was unhappy with was not having the option to keep it after my employment changed.

And there's the main reason employer based health care sucks. You had a decent plan, but it was totally dependent on your job. That shouldn't be the case. Especially for those who don't "change" jobs but rather lose theirs (which is a lot of people at the moment). Sure there's "COBRA" coverage, but it's usually twice what you paid for it on the job, and that don't cut it on unemployment.

[WACF]

I was very happy with mine. What I was unhappy with was not having the option to keep it after my employment changed.

And that is why the insurance plan idea is the wrong approach.

[sadaist]

Sure there's "COBRA" coverage, but it's usually twice what you paid for it on the job, and that don't cut it on unemployment.

Hell, it was more like 5 times what I was paying. COBRA is fucking expensive. And cutting it on unemployment, a PB & J barely cuts it on unemployment.

On a side note, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches are fucking awesome. Hadn't had one since can't remember when. A few weeks ago didn't feel like going out & that was all there was at home. Dayum! nomnomnomnom

Sorry, I tend to get sidetracked a lot lately with my ever aging mind. Aren't I supposed to be losing a fight with Bueno Bob somewhere?

[jhale667]

Hell, it was more like 5 times what I was paying. COBRA is fucking expensive. And cutting it on unemployment, a PB & J barely cuts it on unemployment.

True.

[Blackflag]

Hell, it was more like 5 times what I was paying. COBRA is fucking expensive. And cutting it on unemployment, a PB & J barely cuts it on unemployment.

The cost of Cobra is just the real cost of the insurance that your employer was paying. So you can continue to keep your insurance, it's just that you have to pay for it, because your employer isn't contributing any more.

There's no magical formula to making the insurance cheaper. You may be able to cut a little here or there, but the cost of a doctor is the cost of a doctor. But what you want is for someone to flat-out pay for your insurance for you if you're unemployed. And that's bullshit.

If you want insurance when you're unemployed, I offer you three choices: save your cash while you're working and resist the temptation of that shiny red pickup, get another job, or go without. Another option to get cheap, basic insurance while you're looking for another job. Maybe you just can't afford the high-line insurance if you don't have an employer willing to help you pay the premium.

In sum, you lazy redneck fuckers need to give up on your dream of having another taxpayer pay your way through life. Ford's had the welfare dream his whole life, and look where it's gotten him: fat, disgruntled, and stupid. Look where it got JHale - he became the boy who cries racism.

[Nickdfresh]

The cost of Cobra is just the real cost of the insurance that your employer was paying. So you can continue to keep your insurance, it's just that you have to pay for it, because your employer isn't contributing any more.

There's no magical formula to making the insurance cheaper. You may be able to cut a little here or there, but the cost of a doctor is the cost of a doctor. But what you want is for someone to flat-out pay for your insurance for you if you're unemployed. And that's bullshit.

If you want insurance when you're unemployed, I offer you three choices: save your cash while you're working and resist the temptation of that shiny red pickup, get another job, or go without. Another option to get cheap, basic insurance while you're looking for another job. Maybe you just can't afford the high-line insurance if you don't have an employer willing to help you pay the premium.

In sum, you lazy redneck fuckers need to give up on your dream of having another taxpayer pay your way through life. Ford's had the welfare dream his whole life, and look where it's gotten him: fat, disgruntled, and stupid. Look where it got JHale - he became the boy who cries racism.

^^Libertardian dickheads. Doing more for the public option than Ford, or Dr. Dean for that matter, ever could!

[Nitro Express]

I guess the Rappers who drove Escalades were Rupublican tax cheats. That Damn Snoop Dog had a hard on for Bush.

[WACF]

The cost of Cobra is just the real cost of the insurance that your employer was paying. So you can continue to keep your insurance, it's just that you have to pay for it, because your employer isn't contributing any more.

There's no magical formula to making the insurance cheaper. You may be able to cut a little here or there, but the cost of a doctor is the cost of a doctor. But what you want is for someone to flat-out pay for your insurance for you if you're unemployed. And that's bullshit.

If you want insurance when you're unemployed, I offer you three choices: save your cash while you're working and resist the temptation of that shiny red pickup, get another job, or go without. Another option to get cheap, basic insurance while you're looking for another job. Maybe you just can't afford the high-line insurance if you don't have an employer willing to help you pay the premium.

In sum, you lazy redneck fuckers need to give up on your dream of having another taxpayer pay your way through life. Ford's had the welfare dream his whole life, and look where it's gotten him: fat, disgruntled, and stupid. Look where it got JHale - he became the boy who cries racism.

Quite frankly...

You would be better off taking the higher wage...seeing as how employer payed insurance is basically part of your wage package.

When your employment ends...you lose the insurance with your wage.

So...you would be further ahead taking a higher wage...letting the gov. rasie the tax rate to pay for single payor...and you are always covered...as would your family...forever.

[sadaist]

I guess the Rappers who drove Escalades were Rupublican tax cheats. That Damn Snoop Dog had a hard on for Bush.

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Mike Myers is classic in this.