About Us
Mission Statement
Rules of Conduct
 
Name:
Pswd:
Remember Me
Register
 

Latest Entries

Actions Menu

Blog Roll

Other Links

I Could Healthcare Less
Author: BobR    Date: 2014-07-23 11:51:28

Ever since Hillary Clinton dropped a fifty pound document describing a new health plan for America back when her husband was president, the Republicans have been dead-set against anything that comes between a patient and their insurance company. People like to say "America is #1", but the reality is that about the only things we're number one at are things not to be proud of, including bankruptcies because of medical bills.

That hasn't stopped the Republicans from trying to prevent any sort of healthcare reforms or health insurance regulations. When they couldn't stop the ACA from becoming law, they made it their life mission to destroy it. Over fifty votes later in the Republican-controlled House, they still haven't been able to repeal it.

What they haven't been able to accomplish via legislative means they might actually accomplish via the courts (or - in their words - "legislating from the bench", which they rail against until it goes their way). In two oddly conflicting court rulings yesterday, the court ruled that subsidizing Congress-members' insurance was ok, but insurance premium subsidies are not ok for states that did not implement the exchanges. So what does this mean?

The text of the latter lawsuit spells out the complaint fairly clearly. The subsidy was meant to encourage states to enact the exchanges. When many states did not, the federal government decided to provide them anyway. The lawsuit alleges that this "illegal" subsidy hurts those who would have been granted a hardship exemption from having to carry insurance, so they are essentially "forced" into paying for insurance that they can't afford, even with the subsidy.

How many people are upset that they are getting good insurance for a small premium? Not too many, I suspect, but those that would prefer to be uninsured (to their own detriment) have forced the issue, and the court sided with them.

For now, the Obama Administration is going to continue to provide the subsidies while this inevitably makes its way to the Supreme Court. Considering recent court rulings, I shudder to think what will end up happening. I can see the court ruling for the plaintiffs, and millions of Americans once again being forced to choose between food and medicine. It's hard to fathom we would regress to that, but there are those in this country that would consider that a step in the right direction.

America is certainly number one in stupid, vindictive, mean-spirited, selfish assholes. That's something to be proud of. Where can I get that on a T-shirt with an American flag?
 

38 comments (Latest Comment: 07/23/2014 22:12:46 by Scoopster)
   Perma Link

Share This!

Furl it!
Spurl
NewsVine
Reddit
Technorati

Add a Comment

Please login to add a comment...


Comments:

Order comments Newest to Oldest  Refresh Comments

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 12:33:56
good morning!

Weird Al final video in 8 day marathon is by far his best.

This one is for cube dwellers….

I present to you: Mission Statement (Graham Nash approved btw!)


I am totally in love with the style of this video.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/23/2014 12:35:49
Morning

I'm so tired of the selfishness, when did we get like this?

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 13:02:10
Sarah Palin gets a speeding ticket.

The former guv was stopped in her hometown of Wasilla last Wednesday for going 63 in a 45 MPH zone in her Toyota Tundra. The cop wrote her up and she was on her way.

Palin cops to the crime, telling us, "I wasn't speeding, I was qualifying." She didn't accept full blame, saying Sammy Hagar's, "I Can't Drive 55" on the oldies station contributed to her lead foot.
The real news here?

Queen of Amerka is driving a TOYOTA.

Comment by wickedpam on 07/23/2014 13:09:20
Quote by Raine:
Sarah Palin gets a speeding ticket.

The former guv was stopped in her hometown of Wasilla last Wednesday for going 63 in a 45 MPH zone in her Toyota Tundra. The cop wrote her up and she was on her way.

Palin cops to the crime, telling us, "I wasn't speeding, I was qualifying." She didn't accept full blame, saying Sammy Hagar's, "I Can't Drive 55" on the oldies station contributed to her lead foot.
The real news here?

Queen of Amerka is driving a TOYOTA.



har har har - real knee slapper

Comment by trojanrabbit on 07/23/2014 13:32:15
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Raine:
Sarah Palin gets a speeding ticket.

The former guv was stopped in her hometown of Wasilla last Wednesday for going 63 in a 45 MPH zone in her Toyota Tundra. The cop wrote her up and she was on her way.

Palin cops to the crime, telling us, "I wasn't speeding, I was qualifying." She didn't accept full blame, saying Sammy Hagar's, "I Can't Drive 55" on the oldies station contributed to her lead foot.
The real news here?

Queen of Amerka is driving a TOYOTA.



har har har - real knee slapper



I have a feeling the Tundra actually "belongs" to SarahPAC and they'll be the one "paying" the fine.......

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 13:53:57
Listening to the Ted Olsen interview, I was not aware how important the Virginia Marriage equality case was. I didn't know that he and David Boies were the lawyers.

Comment by Scoopster on 07/23/2014 14:26:55
Mornin' all..

Hey hey HEY! Cmon guys, you all know that Tundra is made right here in 'Murika. Probably in Tennessee.

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 14:46:19
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..

Hey hey HEY! Cmon guys, you all know that Tundra is made right here in 'Murika. Probably in Tennessee.
I actually forgot that.


Comment by TriSec on 07/23/2014 15:04:09
Hi all. In other news, we bought into a fish CSA for the summer- my first pickup is today!

(Cape Ann Fresh Catch)

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/23/2014 15:08:40
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..

Hey hey HEY! Cmon guys, you all know that Tundra is made right here in 'Murika. Probably in Tennessee.



San Antonio, Texas. Which is a blue dot in the sea of red that is Texas.

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 15:08:57
Quote by TriSec:
Hi all. In other news, we bought into a fish CSA for the summer- my first pickup is today!

(Cape Ann Fresh Catch)
ooOOoo That sounds great!

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 15:33:15
Comment by TriSec on 07/23/2014 15:55:57
Regarding the blog- i don't think it's selfishness. Xenophobia comes readily to mind. But I don't get that mindset. I look at a fellow hominid and can see a fellow-creature with all the same hopes, dreams, and worries as I. Our friends look at the same and perceive an enemy, opportunist, or worse.

Maybe it's because I was raised by musicians...my own father said he didn't care if somebody was white, brown, or purple-on the bandstand only one thing matters; can you play?

My fear is that we are already too far down the path to turn back. Not even Katrina or 9/11 unified us for more than a few weeks, and if events of that magnitude couldn't bring this country together, what is anyone in power going to do?

Comment by Scoopster on 07/23/2014 15:56:33
Well Andy Cuomo is toast.

So disappointing..

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 16:04:42
Quote by Scoopster:
Well Andy Cuomo is toast.

So disappointing..
That office has been a hot ness for how many years now?

Spitzer, PAtterson and now Cuomo.

and Andy (as we talked about when you were here, Scoop) is NOT his father, sadly.


Comment by Mondobubba on 07/23/2014 16:13:28



This article has the worst headline, ever (unless you are up on committee chairs).

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/23/2014 16:14:23
Comment by Scoopster on 07/23/2014 16:14:43
Okay folks.. let's test your journalism IQ! Interpret this:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--efrOeaDF--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/ausizooxkdb48iwh4vwn.png


Comment by TriSec on 07/23/2014 16:27:12
I see on my news feed that CT is planning on accepting and housing refugee children, like several other Northern states. There really are two Americas, aren't there?

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 16:34:42
Quote by Scoopster:
Okay folks.. let's test your journalism IQ! Interpret this:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--efrOeaDF--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/ausizooxkdb48iwh4vwn.png
Oh dear lawd.

If I may steal from Mondo: PHRASING!


Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 16:38:48
Quote by Mondobubba:



This article has the worst headline, ever (unless you are up on committee chairs).
You are correct. And, yes, I knew what the headline was saying.

That said it is Roll Call, did you expect something other than that?

Walks aways, :knowing I am a nerdy wonk:



Comment by Mondobubba on 07/23/2014 17:18:04
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:



This article has the worst headline, ever (unless you are up on committee chairs).
You are correct. And, yes, I knew what the headline was saying.

That said it is Roll Call, did you expect something other than that?

Walks aways, :knowing I am a nerdy wonk:




Roll Call is the wonkiest publication in all of Wonkland if you as me.

Comment by Mondobubba on 07/23/2014 17:18:51
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Okay folks.. let's test your journalism IQ! Interpret this:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--efrOeaDF--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/ausizooxkdb48iwh4vwn.png
Oh dear lawd.

If I may steal from Mondo: PHRASING!



Gammer counts for a lot AP.

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 17:26:33
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Okay folks.. let's test your journalism IQ! Interpret this:

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--efrOeaDF--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/ausizooxkdb48iwh4vwn.png
Oh dear lawd.

If I may steal from Mondo: PHRASING!



Gammer counts for a lot AP.
They put out an industry standard style guide every year. I know it is a tweet, but this is a colossal screw up for the AP.

Comment by Scoopster on 07/23/2014 17:32:39
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Okay folks.. let's test your journalism IQ! Interpret this:

big ol' tweetpic
Oh dear lawd.

If I may steal from Mondo: PHRASING!


Gammer counts for a lot AP.
They put out an industry standard style guide every year. I know it is a tweet, but this is a colossal screw up for the AP.

Actually, it's correct! Both according to grammar and AP's style guidelines.

"Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash" itself is a noun phrase. If it had indeed meant what we (and everyone else who freaked out) thought it meant it would read "...Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash-lands..."

That little hyphen makes all the difference.

Comment by livingonli on 07/23/2014 17:42:26
Good day, folks.

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 17:50:04
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Okay folks.. let's test your journalism IQ! Interpret this:

big ol' tweetpic
Oh dear lawd.

If I may steal from Mondo: PHRASING!


Gammer counts for a lot AP.
They put out an industry standard style guide every year. I know it is a tweet, but this is a colossal screw up for the AP.

Actually, it's correct! Both according to grammar and AP's style guidelines.

"Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash" itself is a noun phrase. If it had indeed meant what we (and everyone else who freaked out) thought it meant it would read "...Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash-lands..."

That little hyphen makes all the difference.
Hmm, I contend that overall, it was a badly worded tweet.

I see what you are saying, however, I can also see why it was misunderstood.

How about this:

BREAKING: Dutch miliatry plane carrying bodies from crashed Malaysian Flight 17 lands in Eindhoven
That still leaves 42 characters.

Comment by BobR on 07/23/2014 17:53:07
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Okay folks.. let's test your journalism IQ! Interpret this:

big ol' tweetpic
Oh dear lawd.

If I may steal from Mondo: PHRASING!


Gammer counts for a lot AP.
They put out an industry standard style guide every year. I know it is a tweet, but this is a colossal screw up for the AP.

Actually, it's correct! Both according to grammar and AP's style guidelines.

"Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash" itself is a noun phrase. If it had indeed meant what we (and everyone else who freaked out) thought it meant it would read "...Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 crash-lands..."

That little hyphen makes all the difference.
Hmm, I contend that overall, it was a badly worded tweet.

I see what you are saying, however, I can also see why it was misunderstood.

How about this:

BREAKING: Dutch miliatry plane carrying bodies from crashed Malaysian Flight 17 lands in Eindhoven
That still leaves 42 characters.

I wonder if they're hiring?

Comment by Scoopster on 07/23/2014 17:53:24
Ahhyup that definitely works better!

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 18:35:16
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks.
Hey liv. How are things on the island?


Comment by livingonli on 07/23/2014 18:41:27
Quote by Raine:
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks.
Hey liv. How are things on the island?

Hanging in there. Back to the late shifts this week. Damn Geico Sportsnite and there are only a few of us trained to do that show so I can't really get out of it that much.

Comment by Scoopster on 07/23/2014 19:15:33
Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 19:36:33
Hey Scoop, from the comments:


Kierra
Snowden's going to call the Russians out on this, right? Any minute now...

Helza Poppin (to) Kierra
he already has. Keep up.
Has he?

Cause I was wondering this myself. What a shitweasel he is.

Comment by Raine on 07/23/2014 19:41:57
From the NYT:

On Monday night, a strike hit an eight-story apartment building in downtown Gaza City — an area where Israeli officials had urged Gazans to take shelter. The building collapsed as rescue crews were inside, killing more people. The death toll, at least 13, was still being tallied.

Speaking in general, a senior Israeli military official said in a recent interview that not all civilian casualties come from strikes going astray; some take place when civilians are in places the military aims to hit.

“Not all the casualties are due to mistakes,” he said. “If Hamas are holding people inside the apartments while shooting from there, that’s one of the tragedies they are making.”

That did not appear to be the situation at the Abu Jameh home, where, survivors said, the family was gathered to break its daily Ramadan fast, a ceremonial meal, a time when Israeli military officials would have known that people were likely to be home.
I hate the title of the article. HATE IT.

This little nugget of shite is buried in the middle of the article.

I have been very reluctant to step into this debate, but I am going to say it here on this blog, two wrongs never make a right. This is a deep, deep overreach.

Comment by livingonli on 07/23/2014 21:06:43
Quote by Raine:
Hey Scoop, from the comments:


Kierra
Snowden's going to call the Russians out on this, right? Any minute now...

Helza Poppin (to) Kierra
he already has. Keep up.
Has he?

Cause I was wondering this myself. What a shitweasel he is.

I think he was defending it when W was president and only saw how bad it was when the black man became president.

Comment by Scoopster on 07/23/2014 22:12:46
Show All

Rev 3.7; Copyright � 2007-2017 by BobberBlogs�