Mandatory Healthcare?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

So please, explain how MA's being in arrears of it's states' matching Medicare payments to it's own facilities has anything at all to do with the federal government?

Or how the MA program, which differs completely from the federal healthcare reform act, is pertinent to the discussion?

The MA program has been used by the WH as an example of mandated insurance. (That would be considered a connection)

Massachusetts' example

White House budget director Peter Orszag says penalty size isn't the only factor in determining whether people buy coverage. He predicts the mandate will help create societal expectations that everyone gets health insurance, just as most people feel obligated to buckle their seat belts.

He points to Massachusetts, which in 2007 became the first state to require that most residents have insurance. Since then, the percentage of uninsured has declined to 4% from about 7%.

The Massachusetts penalty for failing to buy insurance this year is $1,068 — about half the cost of the lowest annual premium. About 96% of tax filers in the state in 2008 reported they had coverage; only 1% paid a penalty

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...nsurance_N.htm

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

Which is beyond absurd, considering how the Constitution structured voting in the Senate to be simple majority rule - which is supposed to account for the imbalance of both small population states and large population states having equal weight via 2 senators.

The fillibuster and 60-vote-for-everything games? The GOP needs to be slapped silly. Mitch McConnell just stood up there and lied this morning in his speech before the vote. But the Dems used it, too.

I think the Senate needs to change the house rules, and the one I like is that every three days, the votes required to break fillibuster lower. After three days, it doesn't take 60 to break, it takes only 59, then 58, etc.

Debate happens, but complete obstruction of our government - which is exactly what is happening now - is removed.

What degree do you hold that makes you an expert on Congressional procedures also?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Riot

Sorry - they get no credit for that from me. The GOP took away all possible control over premium costs for those people out of the Senate bill. That's how that part of the bill was "released" by them.

And it doesn't much matter what the GOP wants to try and take credit for "being in favor of", when 100% of them said Americans do not get that legal consumer protection, and 100% of them voted against it.

I'm sure they were very concerned with your doling out of credit when designing a strategy.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by gales0678

i 'll give you my two , but how can a bill go through with any legitmacy without tort reform , surely the democrats coffers aren't being filled by the tort lawyers in this country are they? why was it totally exclueded , to me it's as bad as no votes from the right on the bill . do harry and nancy just think everyone outsude of dc is stupid?? where is the tort refrom show it to me scuds and then i will believe that the dems aren't in it for the $$$ either

After seeing someone with Colon Cancer be pretty much ignored this last Summer, I think you're underestimating the amount of simple incompetence, and laziness going on in that profession (at least at the lower levels.) Even people that are supposed to have some actual radiological skills assumed the cancer was poop(in E.R.) That cost him about 2 months. He's lucky it wasn't that aggressive a cancer. As I said before, his family had the money to overcome these fools, but they deserve to get some of that money back. Too often, Doctors are quick to dismiss anything that isn't totally obvious n' easy. That's what took place here. His surgeons all said it's malpractice. They weren't happy about the Radiological misread made in the E.R., but the complete incompetence shown by his primary physician was amazing. As he was having surgery, this bitch was on vacation. The doc doing the 1st colonoscopy told everyone it's cancer. The cells came back negative. That's all she cared about. She had cover, and went on vacation. He had to go to some star surgical group. They figured out why the cells had come up clean. It was because it hadn't reached the inside wall surface yet. It had started on the outside wall, and was moving inward towards the inside of the colon. I really do think it could have taken until well past Halloween for that incompetent bitch to figure out wtf was going on. Gales, there simply are lazy Doctors. Period. Either that and/or they are being paid by insurance companies to wait forever to get things done. Either way, that's why they get sued. There's a basic lack of interest there, and fear of being sued didn't seem to be an issue. She was gunna delay. Period. Let it grow. Sauté. See how bad it got. I mean he was gunna have to be doubled over with a huge mass on radiology exams before she was gunna get her sht together. Like I said, it would have been Halloween.

[Riot]

The MA program has been used by the WH as an example of mandated insurance. (That would be considered a connection)

Yes, for costs/fines. But then go ahead explain how having mandatory insurance relates to MA's state treasury, and the inability to pay it's matching Medicare responsibilities? Is the state not having money directly due to having mandatory insurance? (could be, I don't know).

And is the mandatory program is funded with the same cost ratios and income as the Senate federal program (works the same, on the same scale) so is directly applicable?

To me the post sounded like a pretty broad, "government involvement in healthcare sucks, look at Canada" kind of thing to me. Too general, not directly applicable.

I think if you are trying to make the argument, "as MA goes, so will go the entire country" under either the House or Senate healthcare reform you'll need a little more detail.

So rather than some secret agenda that Antitrust suspects I have , I figured it was just a good point, what's to debate about it?

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

What degree do you hold that makes you an expert on Congressional procedures also?

Considering I've never remotely said I was an expert on Congressional procedures, I'd say the same degree that makes you an expert on the MA healthcare system.

You really have seen nothing in the news this past couple weeks about this proposal? I've seen it discussed in multiple places, every time the GOP obstruction was discussed. Here it is again today:

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12...y6006305.shtml

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I'm sure they were very concerned with your doling out of credit when designing a strategy.

Not in Kentucky voting booths, where the GOP majority will hold no matter what they do to their constituents.

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by witchdoctor

Interventional cardiology

docicu arch nemisis

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

Originally Posted by Riot

Not in Kentucky voting booths, where the GOP majority will hold no matter what they do to their constituents.

im pretty sure your dog cant vote in ky..though he may be smarter as a whole
..answer this question riot..would you still like him if you had to work for a small percentage of your income now.. so he can give it to those in more need according to him..

[hoovesupsideyourhead]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DlTgrMCxPg

[witchdoctor]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

docicu arch nemisis

Not sure what Docicu does. (I suspect he is a ICU specialist.) I try to get along with all docs as you never know when you may need them.


As for ER, I don't work in the ER directly but I sure get a lot of MIs from there that we take to the lab and open up the artery.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

The # needed to kill a filibuster needs to be set to about 55. There needs to be a balance, and that's it. If you look at the the controversial issues that society votes on, the minority is usually in that 45-48% area. For instance, Gay Marriage is an example where a legit Minority Rights view is usually voted down by a typical 53-47 majority vote. It is a case where a naturally biased majority gets to decide the rights of a minority. The Majority should be required to hit the 55% threshold. 60% is excessive, and it's resulted in opportunistic whores acting up in a horrible way. If it was 55 in the Senate, then this bill would be much better for everyone. It would have been done in a reasonable amount of time. Requiring a Presidential Candidate to get 60 votes in the Senate only results in making them look like liars (THEY CAN'T EVEN TRY TO DO WHAT THEY WANTED TO TRY.) They need to be able to try something, and be voted out if it fails. Right now, they get voted out because they can't get 60 votes to try their solutions out. Getting 55 Senators to pass something is a good enough check on the Majority. Hair Helmut Nelson says he's an independent-type person. Well, all whores are independent contractors.

[randallscott35]

What a disgrace this is? Buying off Neb vote by penalizing tax payers forEVER!!! Give me a break. Chicago politics.

[gales0678]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

What a disgrace this is? Buying off Neb vote by penalizing tax payers forEVER!!! Give me a break. Chicago politics.

what aobut Landreau in LA

300 big one's randall

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by gales0678

what aobut Landreau in LA

300 big one's randall

At least that's one time. How about an exception into eternity for Neb...Tit for tat

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

At least that's one time. How about an exception into eternity for Neb...Tit for tat

It's wrong, but requiring 60 makes it ripe territory for these parasites to withold their support for enrichment. Requiring just 55 would lessen their power. A good idea will get 55 Senators that support it for the right reasons. It doesn't help when you have a party that is lacking in differing views. The way the Republicans went lock step just made it easier for 4 or 5 crooks to hold out for ransom. This is simply an example of parasites taking advantage of a situation. These people (Lieberman, Nelson, Landrieu) are simply self-centered human parasites. They are in the direct center because that's where they've realized they can get the most money, and attention. They actually don't believe in much(except for Lieberman being a shill for Israel.) JOE cares about Israel, and not much else.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

What a disgrace this is? Buying off Neb vote by penalizing tax payers forEVER!!! Give me a break. Chicago politics.

here's a great article recently published


The elves of scandals past: Where are they all now?

Robert Sorich, Daley's convicted patronage boss from the 11th Ward, could get work release in May. (Tribune photo by Nancy Stone / July 7, 2006)


John Kass



December 17, 2009
'Tis the season to sip some hot cocoa and ask the two big questions:

What happened to all the elves who make politics so interesting around here? Where are they now?

For the elves of the Chicago Way, it's been a rough year. One by one, our old friends are gone.

But two of the most industrious elves, Don Tomczak, 74, and Robert Sorich, 46, are getting ready to walk out of federal prison.

Tomczak, the corrupt former city water boss, was convicted of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. He also ran an illegal patronage army for Mayor Richard Daley and helped former U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Tomczak, get elected. As White House chief of staff, Emanuel is now the most powerful elf in all the land.

Tomczak is scheduled for a July release. By next month, he could be in a federal halfway house near you. Surely Emanuel will host a banquet, with sweetmeats and sugarplums, to celebrate Tomczak's release.

Sorich, Daley's patronage boss from the 11th Ward, is scheduled to be released in November. He could be eligible for work release in May.

After a "Free Robert" fundraiser in a Bridgeport church basement, an 11th Ward priest told me that Sorich could be compared to Jesus Christ, because both were accused of felonies. Talk about your holiday spirit.

And all this time, Sorich kept his mouth shut. So, will the mayor stuff Sorich's stocking with a six-figure job?

Meanwhile, the mayor's senior elves are lying low. His political brains, Tim Degnan and Jeremiah Joyce. His favorite developers, Michael Marchese and Tommy DiPiazza. And his two favorite truckers, Mike Tadin and mayoral fashionista Fred Bruno Barbara.

Their stars once shined bright. Now they hide their light under a bushel. What, Freddy, no fruitcakes?

If you're looking for signs of hope, then look no further than the tale of former Chicago Fire Department Lt. Jeffrey "Matches" Boyle, sentenced to prison for arson.

In November, Cook County Judge LeRoy Martin Jr. gave Matches an early gift: Matches can keep his $50,000 yearly city pension, though he did admit setting almost 20 fires.

It makes you cry, like when Jimmy Stewart hears the bell in "It's a Wonderful Life" and all the precinct captains begin to sing.

Unfortunately, some elves have decided to hang up their pointy green shoes.

Former Ald. William Banks, 36th, was once the chairman of the Committee on Zoning. His nephew Jimmy is a successful zoning lawyer. The Tribune ran a series, "Neighborhoods for Sale." The FBI became interested.

Not that any of these things are connected, but a few months ago, Billy retired. Yet in true Chicago fashion, he transformed his driver, John Rice, into his successor.

Just picture Billy rushing home with a big fat goose under his arm, shouting, "Dearest John! I have made you this day! Merry Christmas every one!"

It reminds me of another heartwarming tale. A few years ago, one of the 36th Ward political hacks was staying in a $760 room at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, not bad for a low-level employee. The worker was arrested by Chicago police, in possession of marijuana and a revolver with the serial number filed off.

At the police station, the political worker spit in the face of a female sergeant, earning him the nickname "Spittles." Then Ald. Banks appeared and had a quiet chat with the commander.

The charges were reduced to a misdemeanor, and Banks and Spittles went home. I wonder if they're still together, caroling in front of the bungalows on Grand Avenue, noses pink as cherries as they fa-la-la.

With Billy's brother, Democratic Ward committeeman Sam Banks, said to be ill, the new boss of the 36th Ward is none other than that highly amusing elf himself, a funny guy, state Sen. James A. DeLeo, D-How You Doin?.

Jimmy had a hard year. For starters, his hairy ventriloquist's dummy, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was indicted on federal corruption charges. Jimmy's other buddy, Republican power broker William Cellini, also was indicted.

Now Jimmy is putting it out that he's thinking of retiring and hanging up his own little elf shoes, even though his elven boots are probably handmade. A while back, I told you that the FBI is interested in Jimmy's activities.

But he hasn't been charged with a thing. Decades ago, the feds made a big stink of $40,000 in frozen cash in his kitchen freezer. But all that frosty cash turned out to belong to Jimmy's friend, a car thief. So there.

Jimmy? At least send a card. Let me know how you doin? And that goes for all the little elves. Every single one. Taxpayers care about all of you.

Like they say around the Christmas tree when the presents are opened:

It's the thought that counts.

jskass@tribune.com

[Riot]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

im pretty sure your dog cant vote in ky..though he may be smarter as a whole
..answer this question riot..would you still like him if you had to work for a small percentage of your income now.. so he can give it to those in more need according to him..

Gotta love the rocket scientists on here, for whom the rude personal attack is the crowning glory of their intellectual contribution to the subject

Hey, you removed your "Obama and Rahm are the anti-christ" post, too.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by witchdoctor

As for ER, I don't work in the ER directly but I sure get a lot of MIs from there that we take to the lab and open up the artery.

Geesh, you have my dream job ... !

[Riot]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

What a disgrace this is? Buying off Neb vote by penalizing tax payers forEVER!!! Give me a break. Chicago politics.

Washington politics. Look to Louisiana and Florida, too. It ain't pretty.

That's why I agree with Scuds regarding changing the votes needed to end fillibuster. It's out of hand.