Views on America
Replies
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Wow... just skimming the current pages there are so many misconceptions that I don't even know where to start... *sigh* and health care CAN be affordable if one learns how to navigate the system.
Exactly. People confuse halthcare with insurance.
Insurance is what I have incase I need to go to the
ER. Healtcare is what I receive when I give my DR
$60. ($100 for a full Physical) Healthcare is quite
affordable when you eliminate the middle man.
That, and our health savings account (pretaxed)
we do just fine.
Heck, I had to have out patient surgery done on
my face, and it was $400 cash. I paid $100 that
day, and $100 per month. In 3 months it was
paid off. (that included the biopsy)
The only people that come between and my
doctor, are the people they have working at
the front desk, and the RN.
And that's the way it should be. No insurance companies, no government involvement.
Anyone that's been in the military or worked for the US government can tell you that government mandated healthcare will be a total and complete flaming train wreck.
government run healthcare seems to work for other countries... but we would manage to screw it up (ie- military/ us government workers)
But it doesn't actually work for other countries well. The standard of care is something in the toilet compared to US medicine. Trust me I know, I spent time in a hospital in Germany. They are butchers, they don't care about patients, and it shows. It's a nice idea, but it's not practical nor sustainable at the level that we are accustomed to in this country.
Just wait until you are on a waiting list for simple routine procedures for months and see how that goes.0 -
Wow... just skimming the current pages there are so many misconceptions that I don't even know where to start... *sigh* and health care CAN be affordable if one learns how to navigate the system.
Exactly. People confuse halthcare with insurance.
Insurance is what I have incase I need to go to the
ER. Healtcare is what I receive when I give my DR
$60. ($100 for a full Physical) Healthcare is quite
affordable when you eliminate the middle man.
That, and our health savings account (pretaxed)
we do just fine.
Heck, I had to have out patient surgery done on
my face, and it was $400 cash. I paid $100 that
day, and $100 per month. In 3 months it was
paid off. (that included the biopsy)
The only people that come between and my
doctor, are the people they have working at
the front desk, and the RN.
And that's the way it should be. No insurance companies, no government involvement.
Anyone that's been in the military or worked for the US government can tell you that government mandated healthcare will be a total and complete flaming train wreck.
Yep, totally agree!!!!!!
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government run healthcare seems to work for other countries... but we would manage to screw it up (ie- military/ us government workers)
6 year anniversary of universal healthcare in Massachusetts.
There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good is that for the past 6 years my friends with small businesses can *finally* afford health insurance for their employees. The rest of the US can learn a thing or two from us here in MA.
Oh and, we allow gay people the right to marry.0 -
Wrong again. Did you even read what I wrote? There as no such thing as not being rich enough to get higher education in this country. I grew up in a military family and we were poor. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to get my parents to pay for college, so I enlisted in the Army, did my time, used my benefits and applied for student loans. NOBODY stopped me from doing this. I had NO leg up compared to anyone else to get my education.
You also don't have to be smart to succeed. I'm not sure where your ideas come from. I know plenty of people that are what you might consider "dumb" or "uneducated" but are more successful than I am by far. They saw a dream and went after it within their skillset. I know a man that dropped out of school at age 13, but now owns several restaurants, coffee stands and other businesses. He's a multi-millionaire, makes more in a day than I do in a month, and is certainly not educated.
Those with actual disibilities should be nurtured and given every opportunity to be normal. I helped teach Special Education PE when I was in high school. The gym teacher that I worked for treated those kids normal, taught them to FIGHT through their fears and physical and mental limitations, and they all came out stronger and better for it. Your average person needs to be given dreams and direction, but the rest should be up to them to do. Remove all restrictions and favortism and people will find their own path to success.
I must not be making my point clear. You keep referring back to opportunities and especially educational ones. But janitorial work doesn't require a good education. Yet America requires janitors. All I want is for those janitors and everyone else who does unskilled labor to have a decent quality of life and to be valued as human beings despite either being unwilling or unable to aspire to higher education. Because we need them, how dare we look down on them and ignore their needs?
Our unskilled laborers don't need private jets and summer homes, but they should be well treated. Because to do otherwise is to use them as objects instead of valuing them as human beings.
That's all I'm arguing here.0 -
No place is perfect but the USA does defend and protect all around the world. We do provide food to those that need it (not always within the US the way we should but any who), and we do have the freedom to be what we want, say what we want and so forth. But all that freedom does come at a price and everyone seems to have a hard-stance-belief on how the US is doing something or another wrong. But, I believe in the system. Not one person is perfect, therefore not one country is going to be either. BUT we can still whop *kitten* or protect it. Nobody can deny that 0
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It's only a matter of time before this topic gets locked again. Waiting...waiting...waiting....0
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No place is perfect but the USA does defend and protect all around the world. We do provide food to those that need it (not always within the US the way we should but any who), and we do have the freedom to be what we want, say what we want and so forth. But all that freedom does come at a price and everyone seems to have a hard-stance-belief on how the US is doing something or another wrong. But, I believe in the system. Not one person is perfect, therefore not one country is going to be either. BUT we can still whop *kitten* or protect it. Nobody can deny that
Right on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :flowerforyou:
:drinker: 0 -
There are lots of great opinions and thought processes on here. I would like to add mine.
The school systems across the country have slipped considerably and the "No Child Left Behind" is a horrible act. I understand the intentions were good but it takes away all accountability on the child. That is a lesson they need to learn everywhere, not just at home. If a child comes from another country, school or a different education the grade they are put in should not be base on age but education level. It's aggravating.
Religion, here we go, parents should teach their children the morals of society and/or of their religious beliefs. But trying to strictly separate religious teaching from the schools is next to impossible. Religion has driven so much of history you can't eliminate it. And it stil drives history. Look what a "Muslim Etremist group" has done to our country. Now I iterate "extremist group" because what they have done is in no way part of the muslim religion and I am not muslim, this knowledge the learned to understand a thought process. Jewish persecution drove WWII, The Spanish Inquisition displaced jews from Spain, Confucianism and Buddhism battled in Japan shaping thier trade with Europe. All of these are very important in our history so completely elimination religion is impossible. I do believe we all need to learn something of other religions so that we aren't so quick to jump on the religious discrimination bandwagon just because we don't understand why a religion believe what they do. It's like discrimination someone becuase they have a different accent or different color skin.
Government, won't go there too much corruption to even put on a post.
College education, basically you want an education, pay for it. Whether its thorugh grants, financial aid, scholarships or whatever, its your dream not someone elses. If you don't want to pay for it, or work for it then too bad you get whatever job will hire you without a degree. SOmeone wants it bad it enough to put in the time and money for one. I am a military member gettin laid off due to budget cuts and I will be getting those financial aids and grants and I will probably spend the rest of my life paying it back but I will get some job that will pay enough to pay it off over my lifetime. The E (Entitlement) generation needs to learn to earn it. No one is entitled to anything unless you work for it.
Healthcare, ours is messed up. And I believe we are going about nationalizing it the wrong way. I don't have the answer to what the right way is but the politicians need to butt out of it and let it be ran on a state level not federal.
Our fore fathers are indeed rolling over in their graves I am sure but we the people have let it get this far. This is my only my way or the highway statement: If you hate American so much get out.0 -
Wow... just skimming the current pages there are so many misconceptions that I don't even know where to start... *sigh* and health care CAN be affordable if one learns how to navigate the system.
Exactly. People confuse halthcare with insurance.
Insurance is what I have incase I need to go to the
ER. Healtcare is what I receive when I give my DR
$60. ($100 for a full Physical) Healthcare is quite
affordable when you eliminate the middle man.
That, and our health savings account (pretaxed)
we do just fine.
Heck, I had to have out patient surgery done on
my face, and it was $400 cash. I paid $100 that
day, and $100 per month. In 3 months it was
paid off. (that included the biopsy)
The only people that come between and my
doctor, are the people they have working at
the front desk, and the RN.
And that's the way it should be. No insurance companies, no government involvement.
Anyone that's been in the military or worked for the US government can tell you that government mandated healthcare will be a total and complete flaming train wreck.
government run healthcare seems to work for other countries... but we would manage to screw it up (ie- military/ us government workers)
But it doesn't actually work for other countries well. The standard of care is something in the toilet compared to US medicine. Trust me I know, I spent time in a hospital in Germany. They are butchers, they don't care about patients, and it shows. It's a nice idea, but it's not practical nor sustainable at the level that we are accustomed to in this country.
Just wait until you are on a waiting list for simple routine procedures for months and see how that goes.
My brother had the complete opposite experience in Germany. He had been bit in the face by a dog when we lived there and the US military doctors wanted to do a simple sew up procedure and then put him on a list for plastic surgery when he got older. The German doctor presented a different procedure that would not require plastic surgery at all. My mother, being an RN, decided to go with the German doctor and you can only tell if what happened if you knew the story.0 -
It wasn't locked because of content. It had reached its maximum 500 posts, so a new one had to be started.It's only a matter of time before this topic gets locked again. Waiting...waiting...waiting....0 -
with regard to the people that think our constitution is stupid, well im pretty sure what I have to say will get this thread locked.
Our constitution limits the powers of our government, forces it to recognize and protect our God ordained rights, and gives everybody more freedom than ever in history. Anybody against that has an agenda for power and control, a desire to have someone else footing their bills, or is just completely ignorant of what our Constitution represents. I'm going to go ahead and say it and I'm not sorry for doing it either so if your feelings are disturbed take it out on yourself cause I'm standing on my rights of Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness (PROPERTY FROM MY EARNINGS).
Yes, I've met a lot of people that are said to be smart, but wisdom escapes them excessively. Yeah, and that's Biblical too.
Want to prove me wrong? Then show me what you know about it, chances are you can't and that's because you don't know it. I suggest you begin to educate yourself with the Constitution before you decide to put it under your foot (like terrorist Bill Ayers, Obama's friend, is pictured on Time magazine in a dirty alley standing on our flag), It's call good judgement, another thing that is lacking around here too.0 -
Who looks down on janitors? Who believes the unskilled or uneducated do not deserve a decent quality of life and to be valued as human beings???? That's not the America I know. Certainly no one I've ever met feels that way.All I want is for those janitors and everyone else who does unskilled labor to have a decent quality of life and to be valued as human beings despite either being unwilling or unable to aspire to higher education.0 -
Wow... just skimming the current pages there are so many misconceptions that I don't even know where to start... *sigh* and health care CAN be affordable if one learns how to navigate the system.
Exactly. People confuse halthcare with insurance.
Insurance is what I have incase I need to go to the
ER. Healtcare is what I receive when I give my DR
$60. ($100 for a full Physical) Healthcare is quite
affordable when you eliminate the middle man.
That, and our health savings account (pretaxed)
we do just fine.
Heck, I had to have out patient surgery done on
my face, and it was $400 cash. I paid $100 that
day, and $100 per month. In 3 months it was
paid off. (that included the biopsy)
The only people that come between and my
doctor, are the people they have working at
the front desk, and the RN.
And that's the way it should be. No insurance companies, no government involvement.
Anyone that's been in the military or worked for the US government can tell you that government mandated healthcare will be a total and complete flaming train wreck.
government run healthcare seems to work for other countries... but we would manage to screw it up (ie- military/ us government workers)
But it doesn't actually work for other countries well. The standard of care is something in the toilet compared to US medicine. Trust me I know, I spent time in a hospital in Germany. They are butchers, they don't care about patients, and it shows. It's a nice idea, but it's not practical nor sustainable at the level that we are accustomed to in this country.
Just wait until you are on a waiting list for simple routine procedures for months and see how that goes.
why put words in my mouth? I never said I was for government run healthcare. I really don't think there's any winning no matter what way we go. Something will always find something to complain about... it is America after all0 -
Wow... just skimming the current pages there are so many misconceptions that I don't even know where to start... *sigh* and health care CAN be affordable if one learns how to navigate the system.
Exactly. People confuse halthcare with insurance.
Insurance is what I have incase I need to go to the
ER. Healtcare is what I receive when I give my DR
$60. ($100 for a full Physical) Healthcare is quite
affordable when you eliminate the middle man.
That, and our health savings account (pretaxed)
we do just fine.
Heck, I had to have out patient surgery done on
my face, and it was $400 cash. I paid $100 that
day, and $100 per month. In 3 months it was
paid off. (that included the biopsy)
The only people that come between and my
doctor, are the people they have working at
the front desk, and the RN.
And that's the way it should be. No insurance companies, no government involvement.
Anyone that's been in the military or worked for the US government can tell you that government mandated healthcare will be a total and complete flaming train wreck.
government run healthcare seems to work for other countries... but we would manage to screw it up (ie- military/ us government workers)
Yes, but those other countries pay considerably higher taxes than we do. This bill will cost billions in just the next ten years...and WE will be paying for it.
I dislike the argument that healthcare should be a basic human right. Should food then be free? Housing? We need both to survive so when does that argument begin. Who is going to pay for those things?0 -
Yes I can definitely attest to this. My husband was in the military for 3 years as an infantry solider. It's amazing what they think ibuprofen can cure. Also he's been out for over 3 years and still waiting on the VA to finish processing his paperwork.
Our military has been extremely effective when it comes to achieving the goals our politicians have set for it. It's not that they are incapable of providing proper healthcare to all soldiers and their families, it's simply that it isn't important to them to do so. You are confusing unwillingness with inability.
When and where did you serve?
From personal experience as a child growing up in the military and serving on my own, I can tell you that there is not an unwillingness to provide those services, they are just very bad at it. They are not held to the same standards of care, and you cannot sue them for maiming or hurting you.0 -
with regard to the people that think our constitution is stupid, well im pretty sure what I have to say will get this thread locked.
Our constitution limits the powers of our government, forces it to recognize and protect our God ordained rights, and gives everybody more freedom than ever in history. Anybody against that has an agenda for power and control, a desire to have someone else footing their bills, or is just completely ignorant of what our Constitution represents. I'm going to go ahead and say it and I'm not sorry for doing it either so if your feelings are disturbed take it out on yourself cause I'm standing on my rights of Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness (PROPERTY FROM MY EARNINGS).
Yes, I've met a lot of people that are said to be smart, but wisdom escapes them excessively. Yeah, and that's Biblical too.
Want to prove me wrong? Then show me what you know about it, chances are you can't and that's because you don't know it. I suggest you begin to educate yourself with the Constitution before you decide to put it under your foot (like terrorist Bill Ayers, Obama's friend, is pictured on Time magazine in a dirty alley standing on our flag), It's call good judgement, another thing that is lacking around here too.
Who on here said the constitution was stupid? I don't recall anyone saying that.0 -
Extremist. That's how the united states are viewed. In everything that is seen and heard about americans here, there are no social/cultural norms. Everything is either very sexualised, or very prudish. Very wealthy or suprisingly poor. The entire culture is viewed as terribly over-indulgent and having an every-man-for-himself mentality. I have been to your country and i know that there are many normal people who live the same as i do and have a good head on their shoulders, but as whole it is not represented as such.
I don't have much room to speak though, everyone thinks i live in an igloo and say 'eh' a lot.
Make sure not to come to the USA on vacation.
...or you could read the whole paragraph. Have been there, and enjoyed it. I said i know these things to be untrue, but that this is how your country is represented by media.0 -
It wasn't locked because of content. It had reached its maximum 500 posts, so a new one had to be started.It's only a matter of time before this topic gets locked again. Waiting...waiting...waiting....
Wrong.
It was locked because we're not supposed to talk about politics on here.
A moderator squealed.0 -
Who looks down on janitors? Who believes the unskilled or uneducated do not deserve a decent quality of life and to be valued as human beings???? That's not the America I know. Certainly no one I've ever met feels that way.All I want is for those janitors and everyone else who does unskilled labor to have a decent quality of life and to be valued as human beings despite either being unwilling or unable to aspire to higher education.
It is the America I see every day. The working poor are often are forced to apply for aid because they don't earn enough to feed their children despite working full time. The working poor are often out of work because American jobs keep getting sent overseas by corporations intent on getting the most profit by chasing lower wages and less worker rights. The working poor have the worst insurance, either their job offers them none, or their job only offers low quality insurance that won't really cover their healthcare needs. The working poor are often hired in 'part time' jobs of 30-35 hours/wk so that companies don't have to provide any benefits at all.
And then when those workers complain, people say, go to college, get a degree. But if they did, there wouldn't be enough jobs to go around anyway, and then there wouldn't be anyone to do necessary but low skill jobs.0 -
and I quote from the earlier post, 500 or not I think it got locked due to content:
Hey folks! While we all enjoy a good debate, some topics are better left for private messages, groups or outside MFP all together.
Please keep in mind this guideline while contributing to the post: No Political Topics in the Main Forums
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Thanks for your understanding-0 -
You and I see America in a very different way. What you do for a living does not define who you are as a person.It is the America I see every day. The working poor are often are forced to apply for aid because they don't earn enough to feed their children despite working full time. The working poor are often out of work because American jobs keep getting sent overseas by corporations intent on getting the most profit by chasing lower wages and less worker rights. The working poor have the worst insurance, either their job offers them none, or their job only offers low quality insurance that won't really cover their healthcare needs. The working poor are often hired in 'part time' jobs of 30-35 hours/wk so that companies don't have to provide any benefits at all.
And then when those workers complain, people say, go to college, get a degree. But if they did, there wouldn't be enough jobs to go around anyway, and then there wouldn't be anyone to do necessary but low skill jobs.0 -
I think viewing 'Sicko' should be required viewing before anyone comments on the state of US healthcare.
Oh, that and 'Capitalism: A Love Story" before anyone comments on the global economy. If you don't know what a Dead Pheasants Insurance Policy is you really need to learn.0 -
You and I see America in a very different way. What you do for a living does not define who you are as a person.
What you do for a living defines how much society values you, including your life. Statistically, the working poor die younger and have poorer health than the wealthy for a number of reasons. Many of those reasons are tied directly to income.0 -
6 year anniversary of universal healthcare in Massachusetts.
There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good is that for the past 6 years my friends with small businesses can *finally* afford health insurance for their employees. The rest of the US can learn a thing or two from us here in MA.
The bad, and the ugly.
http://www.necn.com/08/10/10/Mass-man-sues-over-health-insurance-law/landing_business.html?blockID=287568&feedID=4209
From JeepForum.0 -
You and I see America in a very different way. What you do for a living does not define who you are as a person.
What you do for a living defines how much society values you, including your life. Statistically, the working poor die younger and have poorer health than the wealthy for a number of reasons. Many of those reasons are tied directly to income.
See my comment on a Dead Pheasants insurance policy. That's when a company cashes in when you die. It's real and no one ever talks about it.0 -
6 year anniversary of universal healthcare in Massachusetts.
There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good is that for the past 6 years my friends with small businesses can *finally* afford health insurance for their employees. The rest of the US can learn a thing or two from us here in MA.
The bad, and the ugly.
http://www.necn.com/08/10/10/Mass-man-sues-over-health-insurance-law/landing_business.html?blockID=287568&feedID=4209
From JeepForum.
I only like you because you posted something from a Jeep forum.
It's not perfect here in MA but I'll take it. I'd rather not be bankrupt from medical bills.0 -
I think viewing 'Sicko' should be required viewing before anyone comments on the state of US healthcare.
Oh, that and 'Capitalism: A Love Story" before anyone comments on the global economy. If you don't know what a Dead Pheasants Insurance Policy is you really need to learn.
Indeed. A despicable practice.
Here is a very neutral description of the Dead Peasants Life Insurance Policy:
http://deadpeasantinsurance.com/0 -
You and I see America in a very different way. What you do for a living does not define who you are as a person.
What you do for a living defines how much society values you, including your life. Statistically, the working poor die younger and have poorer health than the wealthy for a number of reasons. Many of those reasons are tied directly to income.
In agreement with you on all most all of your posts. Class affects every aspect of your life. Completely.0 -
I think viewing 'Sicko' should be required viewing before anyone comments on the state of US healthcare.
Oh, that and 'Capitalism: A Love Story" before anyone comments on the global economy. If you don't know what a Dead Pheasants Insurance Policy is you really need to learn.
Indeed. A despicable practice.
Here is a very neutral description of the Dead Peasants Life Insurance Policy:
http://deadpeasantinsurance.com/
Thank you, I knew there was a link!
0 -
You and I see America in a very different way. What you do for a living does not define who you are as a person.
What you do for a living defines how much society values you, including your life. Statistically, the working poor die younger and have poorer health than the wealthy for a number of reasons. Many of those reasons are tied directly to income.
In agreement with you on all most all of your posts. Class affects every aspect of your life. Completely.
The good news is you can pull yourself out of a particular class. Ask anyone who was the first in their family to go to College (my Mom). Or someone that worked 50 years, 6 days a week for a family business (my grandparents). The American dream exists in some families. I'm lucky to be part of a family that it's real for.0
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