Comments on: I didn’t know this

By: licensed to kill time

licensed to kill time — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:34:55 +0000

I’m retrieving my reply arrow from those Evil Overlords who steal it every night whilst I’m asleepin’.

By: Smedley

Smedley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:08:35 +0000

@Chuck Butcher: Umm they do pay for their family coverage out of their pocket just like any other business. Look it up and stop sounding like Palin...

By: Smedley

Smedley — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:01:58 +0000

@soonergrunt:
How is the FEHB plan so wonderfully different than plans offered by industry? I take a “hard shot” in the wallet for my FEHB plan. I have friends at Ford, IBM, Caterpillar who have a much sweeter deal and better benefits like dental and vision coverage with in their plan. Perhaps a little research on your part would make it less likely that you would sound like a tea bagger. Every one, including my congress critters pay into the plan. How sharp the hit really depends on the size of the wallet. From my perspective the FEHB program looks very much like an exchange. A wide variety of plans negotiated from providers offering an array of options. You choose the best based on coverage and cost. BTW costs are going up next year substantially but pretty much in line with non FEHB programs I implore all of you to do some research before you spout off about the wonders of Federal bennies…. The FEHB does closely resemble what the exchanges might look like as I understand this weeks version of the health care bill. And as such makes an excellent model for program available to all. But you will pay for it… A “sharp hit” to the wallet.

By: Kirk Spencer

Kirk Spencer — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:40:00 +0000

I hate to tell you all this, but the current Congressional health plan would meet the requirements.

Setting aside certain frills, it has to cap certain costs to the insured and it has to provide a certain minimum of benefits. Nothing in there says the plan can’t be BETTER than the minimums, nor does it say the plan can’t cap costs at a lower level.

By: Starfish

Starfish — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:30:14 +0000

@Martin: Joe Biden has a very carefully crafted image. He has one son who is running for Senate and another one that is a lobbyist for health care companies or has lobbied for health care companies at one time.

By: Notorious P.A.T.

Notorious P.A.T. — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:27:27 +0000

I think “REAGAN” needs to be a new conservative battle cry. WOLVERINES! is getting a little tired.

Aha! But it is about to get a fresh coat of paint:

Remake of ‘Red Dawn’ puts metro Detroit in the spotlight

Thank goodness that, after 20 years of Reagan and Bush, my state looks enough like a war zone to host this movie!

By: Martin

Martin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:22:48 +0000

@The Other Steve: But that's my point. If the Feds already have an exchange, what's the (theoretical) difference between that exchange and the one they are proposing for the rest of us? Functionally, they may be different, but that functional difference is what will make the world go round. Are congressmen any different from consultants that pack up for other states for a month at a time, or airline pilots, or 100 other professions? No. So, the road to a good exchange is one that is good enough for everyone.

By: Mako

Mako — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:09:30 +0000

heh, the f-word triggers moderation.
Because, of course f-ing is wrong.

By: Mako

Mako — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:07:55 +0000

@mcc:
That and it only costs a couple hundred a year to get your card and receive excellent service. Cuz you know, it’s socialist.

Fuck, you know even Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, has national health care. If you can afford the couple of bucks for antibiotics and a scalpel and you are a citizen, you can get an India-trained doctor in a crumbling hospital to cut the ugly infected abscess out of your neck.

But, like all sensible thinking americans, I would much rather support the invisible hand of capitalism, because- Reagan.

By: fred

fred — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:49:33 +0000

Congress has 89 reserved parking spaces at Reagan Washington National Airport (the airport we locals call National Airport).

http://www.wtop.com/?sid=12861.....#038;pid=0

Congress folk are almost universally too schedule driven to be able to use the subway/Metro.

By: mcc

mcc — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:29:12 +0000

Where the Japanese health care plan really shines is in its treatment of the elderly. Only in Japan do retirees have a legally mandated right to a robotic hospital bed capable of assimilating electronics into itself and destroying entire cities once it has grown to enormous size.

By: Joel

Joel — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:26:28 +0000

I think “REAGAN” needs to be a new conservative battle cry. WOLVERINES! is getting a little tired.

By: Toni

Toni — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:21:45 +0000

@Texas Dem: I think Obama’s hands-off approach which comes off as AWOL to many is the correct one because of what you cite as the differing ideologies in the democratic caucus. On a contentious issue like the public option, he has not made it absolute which makes progressives mad but it keeps all 60 senators at the negotiating table. They are still there and the public option is still in play even though it’s supposedly been dead since August.

I think for the average voter it will be about the benefits from the bill that is passed. It needs to have as much tangible benefits as possible starting right away. It will give enough of the base something to rally around. If that is coupled with an improving job market, which rallies the base and independents, they will minimize their losses in 2010 such that they still keep their majorities.

By: Mako

Mako — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:11:29 +0000

@Chuck Butcher: No worries mate, we're all dumbass sometimes

By: jwb

jwb — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:11:19 +0000

@The Main Gauche of Mild Reason: Pessimistic, but certainly within the realm of possibility. Of course, it's also within the realm of possibility that the Dems go on a role of getting legislation passed, the goopers go all teabaggy and so the Dems actually pick up seats. I don't see either scenario as likely.