Remember when Bush I was running for President and came out with that line about wishing the homosexuals would “just go away?” Was John Goodman for that bit of strategy, too? This of course raises a metaphysical problem: Which is worse, disinformation or no information?

When talking about the uninsured, let’s keep in mind that there are quite a few of the 44 million who have the option of getting insurance, but choose not to because they’d rather b_uy big ticket items like plasma tvs, vacations, etc. By the way Tim, nice way to trim that second to last line out of there. Journalism, huh?

i always thought the u.s. naval academy was a pretty solid instituion. mr. mccain appears intent on giving the place a bad rep. now should he tag citizen romney as his running mate, we’ll know he’s truly the manchurian candidate.

add to the fact that a large portion of those uninsured are illegal, between jobs (I myself was part of that 44 million for a while when I was changing from one job to another), and people who dont think they need the care

also, illegal aliens are not “Americans,” they’re illegal aliens who broke the law to get here and stay here (nothing against immigrants, but do it the right way), and shouldnt be getting free health care in the first place

in any case, well said Midman

John Goodman’s rationale for his comment has the same kind of argument as Phil Gramm’s comment about “Mental Recession”. It only skims the surface of a very complex topic. Then they jumps to the conclusion, that since the issue doesn’t effect them personally. So, it must not be a serious problem and it doesn’t deserve any serious attention to take care of it.

Interesting how easy it is to dismiss the problem of uninsured Americans with sweeping, utterly false claims that most of the uninsured aren’t really Americans anyway. What garbage, what stupidity! “I’ve got mine, to hell with you” seems to be the new American Way. You all should be ashamed of yourselves.

About “illegal aliens” and health care:

First of all, better to think of them as “economic refugees.” “Illegal aliens” is a right-wing frame used to divide us and promote class warfare. And the idea that they usurp health services is false, as you’ll see. Start thinking about “illegal employers,” the companies big and small who depend on their cheap labor.

Second, those economic refugees don’t use anywhwere near the amount of services you think. According to a study by the RAND Corporation, “just a small fraction of America’s health care spending is used to provide publicly supported care to the nation’s undocumented immigrants.”

The report states that “immigrants to the United States use relatively few health services, primarily because they are generally healthier than their American-born counterparts.”

The report – which appears in the November edition of the journal Health Affairs – estimates that in the United States about $1.1 billion in federal, state and local government funds are spent annually on health care for undocumented immigrants aged 18 to 64. That amounts to an average of $11 in taxes for each U.S. household.

In contrast, a total of $88 billion in government funds were spent on health care for all non-elderly adults in 2000.

In a separate study, a doctor in North Carolina spent 18 months studying North Carolina Medicaid records and concluded that undocumented immigrant care is not as heavy a financial burden as many think.

She found that in 2004, $53 million was used for emergency medical care for undocumented immigrants. It’s a huge bill, but it was less than 1 percent of North Carolina’s 7-billion-dollar Medicaid budget.

“I think there is misconception about the amount of money being spent towards this population. Our study helps dispel some of that myth,” she said.

Why go hatin’ on the immigrants on this? It’s the big pharmas, insurance companies and the neo-cons who have blocked universal health care. Has nothing to do with immigration.

Mid and Merk: Some people also choose not to be a part of stupid policy.

I haven’t been to the hospital in 10 years, and don’t work for a company that gives health insurance. So, over that time, health insurers would have made around 12 grand off of me for nothing. Nothing at all, whatsoever. Yes, if I need to go to the hospital it’s going to cost me. But, isn’t that what we’re doing anyway?

Insurance, top five scams in America.

What’s wrong with having single-payer AND private care? Blaming our economic problems on the ‘illegals’ is a complete joke. Period.

JJ,

Outstanding, young man, keep up the good work.

Jed Clampett

Here’s a little tale about a man named… let’s call him ‘JustAn AddersSon’. Justin works for a defense contractor, Level3 comunicaions. Recently, during a divorce, he received a cell phone trace of his wife with location pings every 15 minutes showing exactly where she was for a week. A felony and decidedly not the kind of use the system was intended for, or perhaps the ‘PATRIOT’ act gives them this right now.
Well, justin came to me sometime in July looking for help with his health and safe passage out of the country. Very misterious was he, and rightly so, having been thoroughly acquainted with the capabilities of our security system, particularly since he worked and perfected most of these for big brother.
Scared was he, because even though he’s been in an awesome insurance plan that anyone would envy, for the last 8 years his health has been getting worse and worse. Cancers are growing everywhere from his prostate to his neck. And has become totally disillutioned with the ‘health care’ system and his career.

Worse than that, he asked what I thought of the China earthquake and I explained to him how I thought it was nature’s way of preventing the chinese from joining in Mabus’ third world war. He wholeheartedly agreed. He told me he couldn’t tell me more because it would put him in great danger and it is considered ‘national security’, in my opinion, entity security for big brother.

Having worked on these data acquisition systems he’s been privy to information most of us would shudder to know. He is affraid of another war and to be here in the US, where we would become definate targets for forces from outside and within.

I made the mistake of telling him my ideas of advanced power systems and his greed took over. He forgot all about his health problems and his fear of big brother and got interested in my plans.
Being able to see his intent and remembering how he stole my idea for a senior project in college, I stopped sharing with him and he totally clammed up.
When I exposed him as a thief and liar, he decided to leave me in mexico to perish… in his opinion.
Supposedly, his grandmother was ill and dying and he had tried for hours to find me, yet this able engineer was unable to locate me, even though phone books and maps are readily available even in mexico. Upon my retun stateside, he would avoid my calls and emails, had to call him on a friends phone to actually get him to answer.
He never even apologized for having to leave me. A clear indication that his intent was not his concern for his grandmother, but getting rid of another ‘worthless’ person as he likes to refer to people.

Well, even though my revealing this to the world puts me and him in great danger, I must recognize that spirit brought him to me for a purpose. To understand that my intuition is correct and to explain to you the urgency of the situation.
Many of you like to ridicule me and ignore me because of my beliefs and how I express myself, let me assure you, this is no joke to me. I took the red pill for a reason and now it is coming to fruition.
Some of you may choose to believe and join me in protecting our homeworld, others will continue taking the blue pill and enjoy living in fearful oblivion.
So be it, perhaps you will reach your nirvana in that way.
For me, there is no going back and I understand that I place myself at great risk by exposing big brother and it’s plans to destroy this ‘more perfect union’ and the homeworld.
For you, this is time to act and take back your country and prevent another global conflicta.

Unless you prefer the ravages of ‘another war, another wasteland and another lost generation’.

Peace

I didnt blame anything on illegals…and without going into businesses hiring them (which is another issue entirely), I was simply correcting Tim in his misconception that those here illegally are American citizens, which they arent. I’m all for immigration, as long as its done legally (if anyone wants to chat up immigration reform, we can, but again, thats another issue)

James Jr– Interesting statistics, but the Federal Govt seems to contradict you. The govt estimates 11-20 million illegals of any stripe (not just from Mexico) in country, not paying taxes, yet reaping the benefits. I suppose its just a disagreement on numbers, but taxpayers should not have to foot a dime for those who are getting it for free. Also, your other source is from North Carolina. Living in the area, though I’m originally from the Southwest, the Mid Atlantic isnt exactly a hot spot for illegal immigrants and healthcare…when you have a report from Galveston, El Paso, San Diego, LA, Pheonix, Detroit, or Minneapolis-St. Paul (all areas of heavy illegal activity), come talk to me.

Coach– I heartily agree. Have both systems, but let those who want to opt out do so…if I, and many others, have that option, then I’ll sign on

uh oh, Jed’s finally lost it…perhaps you should have abstained from the red pill…must have been a hell of an acid trip though

Coach, I couldn’t agree with you more about the insurance. Insurance is very expensive and, as in your case, you might not need it for many many years. I am hardly ever sick and as an independent contractor, I have to pay my insurance premiums in their entirety with no assistance from an employer. I toyed with the idea of dropping it, but when I developed kidney stones, I was grateful to have it. I can think of any number of things I’d rather spend that money on, but I kept the insurance as Chris Rock once observed, “in case $hit.” If I had chosen not to keep my insurance and spent that money on an extra vacation or electronics and something had happened to me, I would have no right to expect other tax payers to cover my bills. If I choose not to get insurance, that’s my choice and I have to deal with the consequences.

Jed Clampett

Some folks need proof. I’m all about that. Proof coming up as soon as I can get systems back up. In the gulf coast now waiting on Mother nature to send Gustav wherever she will.
Acid trip huh? Your CIA unleashed LSD on the american public as a test and to discredit those ‘acid head’ hippies peace loving freaks who would rather expand their perception than go kill the asian man for the benefit of dow chemical, bell helicopter, etc. etc.
And I’m high? priceless. Keep swallowing their pill, eventually you’ll find yourself in a pod, providing energy for a soulless machine. Even the koran says so, but you wouldn’t understand that, because you can’t see intent.

Peace