Current Events

[Renegade_Pilgrim]

And for those of you who don't understand what really happened with the health INSURANCE reform bill that just passed, or more like, what is wrong with healthcare in this country, a tutorial for you:

http://www.slideshare.net/danroam/healt ... apkins-all

[kookie21]

What are all your opinions on the healthcare bill thing? Having the NHS in the UK (altho not perfect), its an overwhelimg situation to fathom how people can be denyed such things - the news states that people are opposed to it - why is that? Is it something that alot of americans want? I@m interested in thoughts from your side.

[Renegade_Pilgrim]

Most Americans don't know what the f**k the legislation is about. It was a health INSURANCE reform bill and it was horribly written. It's a step in the right direction, but it is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. As someone who works in healthcare, I have very strong opinions about universal healthcare coverage. In order for healthcare to improve in this country, we need TORT reform, INSURANCE reform and PHARMACEUTICAL reform, but mostly we need the first two. One comprehensive bill is not going to solve all of our problems. People need to take responsibility for their health and the costs associated with healthcare. This is a HUGE issue and there are so many angles to it.

For the record, I am opposed to this legislation that just passed because it is not a GOOD bill. I am for universal healthcare coverage, not necessarily socialized medicine, but some hybrid of it. We'll see how this all pans out.

[Andie]

All I know is that I shouldn't have to be paying $375 a month for the insurance coverage I need. How am I ever gonna move out with a part time min wage job and that kind of bill?

[ShadowOnTheWall88]

I guess I watched "Sicko" at a perfectly relevant time.

[kookie21]

i take the NHS for granted so much. - i read that link - Renegade_Pilgrim - i didnt really understand all of it. i've been thinking about taking out healthcare insurance here, so that if something important happened that i had the option to faster treatment and more choice. the NHS has its problems and its not free because i pay national insurance, but i cant imagine being under the pressures that Michael Moore portrayed in 'Sicko' - which i know was not balanced totally, seeing as it portrayed the NHS as pretty perfect.

[ShadowOnTheWall88]

i take the NHS for granted so much. - i read that link - Renegade_Pilgrim - i didnt really understand all of it. i've been thinking about taking out healthcare insurance here, so that if something important happened that i had the option to faster treatment and more choice. the NHS has its problems and its not free because i pay national insurance, but i cant imagine being under the pressures that Michael Moore portrayed in 'Sicko' - which i know was not balanced totally, seeing as it portrayed the NHS as pretty perfect.

I've heard from those who have universal health care, and they've said it is not perfect, and there are problems with it. But it's just not right that the "most advanced/techonologically advanced country in the world" is #37 on the WHO rankings. Something needs to be done to help our citizens. Exactly what? I don't know, but we can't continue like this.

[falling*out]

I wrote my college english paper on this subject. We were supposed to pick a problem or controversy and argue both sides - or kinda pick one. I chose this topic because we didn't have health insurance (or, very good health insurance at least. I think I had an "accident" one, but that was it) at the time. Since my dad owned his own business and worked for himself and my mom wasn't working at the time, it was very expensive to get health insurance so we didn't have it.

My paper was pro universal health care. Really, I'd like a bit of a mixture. I'm not exactly sure how that'd be done, but it's likely possible. Where people can still have the option to go to a different doctor/hospital and there would be a free market (would that be the term?) sector of the health care. And there would also be the government run section too - one that is better than it is. Native Americans have their health care taken care of by the government, and from what I've seen it seems to be sh*t. It's nice that everyone can get health care in the UK and other such places with however much they need to pay to the government, but I'd also not want to wait forever to see a doctor and/or get a surgery. yes, I know it's different depending on what surgery it is - I did a lot of research for that paper.

Like RP said, a lot of it just needs to be reform with how insurance and other aspects of health care are run.

the ironic part about me writing that paper and leaning more towards universal health care is how steadfastly my parents and grandparents are against "socialized medicine." I've experienced 'socialized medicine' down in Jamaica when I had to get stitches in my arm. It definitely wasn't my cup of tea. And I felt really bad for the guy that was sitting in the lobby waiting for a doctor while he had a towel held up to his head because blood was gushing out of it. What my parents need to realize is that just because this country may be going towards a more universal program doesn't mean the U.S. is going to turn into Jamaica in a year.

Also, for the most part, I think government screws up a lot of things. They aren't really well run when it comes to their more "business" aspects (take the DMV for instance) because they don't have competition to make them better. So, I don't really want the government running health care.

I was actually wondering the reverse, kookie. What do those outside of the US think of the health care bill? or, just our health care system in general?

[kookie21]

i've always found it scary to think of being in a situation where i can't afford to get healthcare because there is no national system. when it looked likely that i'd want to move to the states, it scared me that i would lose that safety net, and i hated that paying for healthcare was something that so many people passed on because they couldnt or wouldnt want to pay for it for whatever reason. for a long time health cover was something that someone i cared a great deal for didnt have and it really scared me.

it seemed pretty scary that having to 'budget' for something like giving birth to your baby or insurance to cover it. my parents friends in the states had a grandchild that was really sick when it was born and had to be in intensive care for quite a while - it was something like (if they'd had to pay for it) £11k a day or something??

however, i'm lucky enough so far in my life (touch wood) not to have had the need to 'test' the Uk system by needing major treatment. i can get an appt if i need one at a GP within a few days (no thanks to snotty receptionists!) but i've not had an emergency or a serious issue that i've had to deal with. luckily.

[mele]

My cousin is a paranoid schizophrenic (obessed with guns & god, of course) and cannot afford his medication. He stays pretty sane working out on the fishing boats as an engineer but when he's home, it can get pretty scary. (He doesn't own anymore guns, btw, and I don't think he can buy anymore.)

I know this is a random post but I'm kinda hoping people like him can get more help at some point. (Not that they'll actually TAKE the help...)

[PJ]

I guess I watched "Sicko" at a perfectly relevant time.

good movie.

[ShadowOnTheWall88]

14 state attorneys general are now filing lawsuits against the new Health Care bill, claiming that it is unconstitutional, and that the government is overstepping its power.

[tigger]

14 state attorneys general are now filing lawsuits against the new Health Care bill, claiming that it is unconstitutional, and that the government is overstepping its power.

and sadly one of those states is Washington

[Mo]

That part of the bill that fines the individual if they don't pay for the coverage does seem a bit unconstitutional. Pretty obvious IMO almost as if it's placed there on purpose. So if the bill gets thrown into litigation for a few years, I'm hoping that it will take it's shape and turn into something every American can be proud of.

I went to hear First Lady(at the time) Hilary Clinton speak about health care reform and one of the biggest challenges would be having enough medical doctors. They need to make it easier for students to get into medical schools immediately to be ready when the dust clears (just my opinion).

[falling*out]

I don't like the 4% increase in interest on student loans. makes no sense

[areslei]

04.16.2010 Day of Silence - This Friday

Put an end to school bullying:

http://www.dayofsilence.org/content/truth.html

[dtsHurricane]

Not really a current "event" but it's some news...

Country singer Chely Wright (hit song in the late 90s/early 2000s) has announced she's a lesbian.

So, I really loved her back when I listened to country music (same time frame as her hits). But haven't paid any attention to her in years. Is it wrong for me to love her again just because she came out?

I never wanted to be a person who only loved an artist because they were gay or only like gay artists, but I find that more and more of my favorites do have the gay. I'm becoming that person. I tell myself it's coincidence, but in this instance with Chely it wouldn't really be the case.

Anyway, I came across this article and I think it's really great.
http://www.edgeonthenet.com/index.php?c ... &id=105333

Some excerpts:

"I felt like God had been on my shoulder whispering to me, saying, ’Stand up.’ The fear hushed those whispers. I found myself with a gun in my mouth. It was life or death."

"Hiding was a spiritual and emotional cancer. I am thankful to God for giving me the gift of language, the ability to know how to communicate."

"I don’t feel like I am coming out as much as coming together. I feel my limbs attaching to my body. I hope to be a good steward of the gifts I’ve been given. For the first time in a while, I cannot think of any fears."

"I’m proud to be who I am, and know that it is who God intended me to be. I could not be happier."

[llaura]

I got an email from the International Lama Association saying that they needed llama fiber to make mats to soak up the oil spill. Perfect timing. I am a major fiber producer right now.

[TrompeLeMonde]

Are they going to pay you? Who had any idea there was an International Lama Association?

[llaura]

No, no pay. It's an organization called Matter of Trust and they collect all sorts of hair (including human) and fiber for the purpose of cleaning oil spills. Pretty cool.

[kookie21]

thinking our election will be pretty controversial as it seems hundreds of people were not able to vote - some places ran out of ballot papers (doh!) and lots of people queuing near the deadline.

[kookie21]

so this is what it feels like to have a leader of the country that wasn't technically voted in....

[areslei]

^ Whoah! Just had a flashback to the 2000 election.

Hopefully yours turns out better!

[mele]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMUVFctJ ... e=youtu.be

[zipthistle]

That's so very good.