Real world example that has been making the rounds: "If you vote, you will be required to serve jury duty. If your job does not provide vacation time, you should avoid voting or you will end up having to choose between losing your job to serve on a jury or going to jail for failure to show up for jury duty." Haha... who would fall for that? Turns out a not-insignificant percent of the population. It sounds plausible, and people don't always have the ability to fact check it. If it gets enough traction among your friends network, it becomes true.
You know, here's something "whacky" I've always done....I actually called and checked with places to verify "what someone told me" or "what someone heard".
I've gone to the state's website and it was pretty plain where my polling place was and the hours, etc.
As far as jury duty, well, they do in many states (mine included) get your name from registering to vote as well as drivers licenses, etc.
Again a quick call or look on the state/county (or parish in my case) website will let you know what happens if you get called in for jury duty.
Have people gotten today where they just blindly believe what friends tell them or what they read on "social media".....and why the heck are people putting so much faith in social media ?
Geez, this is not rocket surgery.
And it is sad that people are advocating that you cannot make a joke about most any subject.....that we must limit our humor, sarcasm, etc....in case someone might get hurt or misunderstand something....
Prices didn't skyrocket. You're either too stupid, too partisan, or too much of a fucking liar... to get that. It is clear, however, you don't have a fucking clue how insurance works in general.
I know my insurance, working as self employed contractor a few years back for better coverage than I have now (so called high deductible account that qualifies you for HSA), back then with deductible I think was about $1200 or so, give or take....was about $210.mo (and this was with pre-existing conditions and prior to obamacare rules about covering it, that was my high risk rate payment).
I'm about $780 a month and having less coverage than I used to have, and deductible is much higher.
Yes, individual insurance skyrocketed and coverage dropped when obamacare hit.
You did not put "JOKE" on this post. Without that, this is really not funny. We have serious problems with disinformation being circulated keeping people from the polls. This kind of borderline plausible post is exactly the kind of thing that other people are legitimately posting.
Oh come on....
If anyone is really stupid enough to fall for that and not know it is a joke, then I'm wondering if they are even smart enough to go vote without hurting themselves along the way to the polling place.
The amount of diagnostics offered is also staggering. I slipped on the ice and banged the back of my head on cement steps about 5 year ago. I felt a bit strange for 30 minutes, like the whole world was on about a 1 second delay and finally decided to go in to the ER just in case maybe there was something more serious wrong (concussions can be a problem).
The doc looked at me, asked some questions, told me I was almost certainly fine, but offered me a CT scan (but didn't really push it) just in case to rule out any possibility of hematoma. I declined since I though that was excessive, and CT scans have non-trivial amounts of radiation.
The problem is that we've turned Medicine into a product to satisfy consumers fears, rather than treat them. We give our expensive diagnostics like candy. Sometimes these diagnostics are actually necessary, but other times it's as if they've given to allay fears, or because the hospital just happens to have one.
Actually a LOT of the diagnostics, some that are repetitive are there just to CYA the doctors and the insurance companies....due to all the unreasonably litigious society we've become.
Sad thing is, insurance companies will often readily cover these types of diagnostics and tx based on them, but will deny something that the Dr., base on his opinion and training...that might be simpler and more effective.
Meanwhile the law made phony plans with no coverage illegal. So people who were paying $50+/mo for basically nothing suddenly had to have insurance for pay the fine.
I don't know it did much of that, possibly some...BUT, one thing I do know...it blew away really GOOD insurance variety of coverage that you could better tailor to your specific needs.
And with that..prices skyrocketed because Obamacare forced insurance companies to force you to accept coverage on everything.
I mean, a single guy in his 20-30's does not need maternity care for instance.
obamacare took away the ability to find a policy at the price you could afford that only covered what you needed and didn't include the kitchen sink by mandate.
People are advocating that the federal government pays for healthcare. They wouldn't have anything to do with actually delivering it. The doctors and caregivers make those decisions with universal guidelines which eliminates a ton of inconsistency caused by every organization doing it differently.
If you think the federal govt will operate in that fashion, of just paying only and not regulating the hell out of it, and making decisions rather than the doctors....you've either not dealt with the Feds much or are just deluded.
The federal govt does not work that way in any fashion to date and never will.
And to that last point, on universal guidelines...that IS a big problem, as that each person is different. Medicine is NOT an exact science and doctors need to have a very broad decision path on deciding your tx.
Part of the problems now with how it is regulated by HMO's and insurance is this same problem that you are advocating happen with federal single payer.
No thanks.
I say, take the bean counters out of it.
Give everyone in the US the capability to EASILY fund their own pre-tax HSA (health savings accounts), these roll over annually and are NOT use it or lose it.
You allow people to use this to pay for routine care, office visits colds, etc. This way, they can more readily shop for doctors.
Make insurance what it used to be, "Major Medical".
It was something only used for emergencies, like a heart attack or getting hit by a bus.
Also, let this insurance be sold across state lines.
These steps would take out a LOT of the waste we have today with middlemen....and allow most of what happens to be directly between the Dr. and the patient, where it should be/
They are not for the best. Basically these types of things just turn the electorate into a mob. We are not picking the next American idle here; this is serious. I think every citizen should be able to vote but those who don't want to take it seriously should do everyone a favor and butt out.
Voting is a right; however if you choose to exercise it you have responsibility to take it seriously. Frankly if election day rolls around you still need to be told, that it is election day, where to vote, and what the names of the candidates are - you have not done so. You have no business going to polls at this point IMHO.
Agreed.
We needs some laws on this quick, the privacy your political affilitation and if you vote is now just as important to keep private as it is on HOW you voted.
Things are getting so divisive that we may see things spill over into the workforce....were if your declared political affiliation is known, you may be let go from your job if it doesn't fit into those views carried by your immediate boss, or the company in general.
It is sad, but this is coming.
No one needs to know your leanings, unless YOU tell them, and if you vote or not, is no ones business.
This is supposed to be a free country and privacy on such personal believes and decisions, is a big part of that, to prevent you being coerced one way or another.
Medicine got fucked up when the bean counters and lawyers wormed their way into everything...but this has been a long time coming and only getting worse...
Started in the early HMO days, and now...well.....
The trouble is, NOW....people seriously want to have the federal govt more involved in it, which we all know will make it even MORE efficient and effective.
Exactly. Imagine if all that computational effort had been put into Folding@Home or similar computationally heavy problems. How many complex problems would have been solved by now?
Well, easy, just figure out a way for those tasks to become profitable by those who allow their computers to work on those projects, and you'll have people hooking into it.
While being altruistic can make a person feel good inside for a short time, it doesn't put food on the table.
I don't know where you got your hard on for "nobody is personally accountable these days and the problem is always that" but it's not emotionally healthy or mature and says a lot more about you than any supposed wisdom you think you might have.
I think you may have been missing things....these days EVERYONE is trying to lay claim to professional victim-hood.
Nothing is "your" fault....it is the fault of xyz, or this race or gender or society in general.
It is always someone else's fault and it is up to society, or government to fix things for you....
Are you overweight? Not your fault...no need to get off your ass and exercise nor change your diet, nope, it is the fault of society and company's advertising McBurgers to you with 64oz sugar filled sodas. Yep, they are forcing you to sit on your lazy ass and consume endless amounts of them.
We need govt. to regulate this. It isn't your fault.
It's also disrepectful to listen in on other people's conversations that have ZERO to do with you. Why the fuck do I care if the people at the next table in the restaurant are speaking Swahili or whatever? They're not talking to me.
Much of that reason also I think is that America was somewhat isolated for a very long time, and for a period was intentionally isolationist.
Well, another thing is...the United States of America, is so large, you really can very easily grow up here and never have any reason or cause to leave the country.
So, I'd venture to guess that the vast majority of US citizens don't have a passport and don't travel outside the US, and never run into any need to speak another language.
I know, it's great, I love hearing all the different languages spoken, it's like being in a modern country now.
It was even nicer only say, a few decades ago...when you could walk anywhere in public and understand what was being said around you....and you generally only heard Spanish spoken in public if you were visiting border towns.
It is much nicer when everyone speaks the 'common' language in public, which used to be English.
We should pass laws stating that English IS the official language in this country.....other countries have an official language.
We should too.
If we didn't print everything in other languages too, it would help people coming here to learn it faster.
That same type of immersion situation we use in language classes in college, where English is only spoken the first day and the rest of the time, it is the language of whatever class you are in.
If we did that with, say, government documents, etc....people would be forced to learn the common language of the land much quicker and therefore be able to integrate into the greater melting pot quicker.
Good. It's about time stupid Americans learn some more languages. I was incredibly embarrassed the first time I went to Europe,and all I knew was English and I was only semi-fluent in Spanish. I'm working on improving my own grasp of other languages now, but I wish I had more opportunities in school to learn more languages, and I wish its importance was stressed more.
I don't argue at all that learning more than one language is a GREAT thing!!
However, if you LIVE in the US, you should use English as your primary language, especially when out and about in public. You should not rely on having things printed not only in English but Spanish and other languages. (Have you lately had to really look all over a packaged product in the US lately to find English description/instructions? Didn't used to be that way.).
Tell us the risks of sharing your kids' Halloween pics with Aunt Helen?
Why would you want to let a myriad of faceless corporations, hackers or anyone other than family and close friends even KNOW you have kids or an Aunt Helen?
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That's a deal killer in the US.
Most people don't have passports, and we don't want a "national ID".
I wouldn't mind the vote/no-vote thing IF that information was anonymized.
I don't think it is the business of anyone whether a person votes or not....they have their reasons.
You know, here's something "whacky" I've always done....I actually called and checked with places to verify "what someone told me" or "what someone heard".
I've gone to the state's website and it was pretty plain where my polling place was and the hours, etc.
As far as jury duty, well, they do in many states (mine included) get your name from registering to vote as well as drivers licenses, etc.
Again a quick call or look on the state/county (or parish in my case) website will let you know what happens if you get called in for jury duty.
Have people gotten today where they just blindly believe what friends tell them or what they read on "social media".....and why the heck are people putting so much faith in social media ?
Geez, this is not rocket surgery.
And it is sad that people are advocating that you cannot make a joke about most any subject.....that we must limit our humor, sarcasm, etc....in case someone might get hurt or misunderstand something....
Yeah, who cares?
I mean, only drug dealers use and deal with kilos....it really isn't used for anything else useful.
I know my insurance, working as self employed contractor a few years back for better coverage than I have now (so called high deductible account that qualifies you for HSA), back then with deductible I think was about $1200 or so, give or take....was about $210.mo (and this was with pre-existing conditions and prior to obamacare rules about covering it, that was my high risk rate payment).
I'm about $780 a month and having less coverage than I used to have, and deductible is much higher.
Yes, individual insurance skyrocketed and coverage dropped when obamacare hit.
Oh come on....
If anyone is really stupid enough to fall for that and not know it is a joke, then I'm wondering if they are even smart enough to go vote without hurting themselves along the way to the polling place.
Actually a LOT of the diagnostics, some that are repetitive are there just to CYA the doctors and the insurance companies....due to all the unreasonably litigious society we've become.
Sad thing is, insurance companies will often readily cover these types of diagnostics and tx based on them, but will deny something that the Dr., base on his opinion and training...that might be simpler and more effective.
I don't know it did much of that, possibly some...BUT, one thing I do know...it blew away really GOOD insurance variety of coverage that you could better tailor to your specific needs.
And with that..prices skyrocketed because Obamacare forced insurance companies to force you to accept coverage on everything.
I mean, a single guy in his 20-30's does not need maternity care for instance.
obamacare took away the ability to find a policy at the price you could afford that only covered what you needed and didn't include the kitchen sink by mandate.
Just remember this year, that due to all the conflict and divisive nature of politics, that to ensure we keep things civil at the polls:
1. Republicans, vote today at your normal places.
2. Democrats, vote tomorrow at your normal places.
This way we can ensure that we keep things civil at the polling sites and lessen any chance of fights and/or riots.
Pass the word around so that everyone knows.
Lighten up Francis.....
Geez, learn to take a joke.
So, you're advocating replacing decision making by the HMO's to be made by the Federal govt single payer system, eh?
And really...are you trying to use Federal Govt. and "non-restrictive" in the same sentence?
If you think the federal govt will operate in that fashion, of just paying only and not regulating the hell out of it, and making decisions rather than the doctors....you've either not dealt with the Feds much or are just deluded.
The federal govt does not work that way in any fashion to date and never will.
And to that last point, on universal guidelines...that IS a big problem, as that each person is different. Medicine is NOT an exact science and doctors need to have a very broad decision path on deciding your tx.
Part of the problems now with how it is regulated by HMO's and insurance is this same problem that you are advocating happen with federal single payer.
No thanks.
I say, take the bean counters out of it.
Give everyone in the US the capability to EASILY fund their own pre-tax HSA (health savings accounts), these roll over annually and are NOT use it or lose it.
You allow people to use this to pay for routine care, office visits colds, etc. This way, they can more readily shop for doctors.
Make insurance what it used to be, "Major Medical".
It was something only used for emergencies, like a heart attack or getting hit by a bus.
Also, let this insurance be sold across state lines.
These steps would take out a LOT of the waste we have today with middlemen....and allow most of what happens to be directly between the Dr. and the patient, where it should be/
Agreed.
We needs some laws on this quick, the privacy your political affilitation and if you vote is now just as important to keep private as it is on HOW you voted.
Things are getting so divisive that we may see things spill over into the workforce....were if your declared political affiliation is known, you may be let go from your job if it doesn't fit into those views carried by your immediate boss, or the company in general.
It is sad, but this is coming.
No one needs to know your leanings, unless YOU tell them, and if you vote or not, is no ones business.
This is supposed to be a free country and privacy on such personal believes and decisions, is a big part of that, to prevent you being coerced one way or another.
Just remember this year, that due to all the conflict and divisive nature of politics, that to ensure we keep things civil at the polls:
1. Republicans, vote today at your normal places.
2. Democrats, vote tomorrow at your normal places.
This way we can ensure that we keep things civil at the polling sites and lessen any chance of fights and/or riots.
Pass the word around so that everyone knows.
Started in the early HMO days, and now...well.....
The trouble is, NOW....people seriously want to have the federal govt more involved in it, which we all know will make it even MORE efficient and effective.
[rolls eyes]
Well, easy, just figure out a way for those tasks to become profitable by those who allow their computers to work on those projects, and you'll have people hooking into it.
While being altruistic can make a person feel good inside for a short time, it doesn't put food on the table.
I think you may have been missing things....these days EVERYONE is trying to lay claim to professional victim-hood.
Nothing is "your" fault....it is the fault of xyz, or this race or gender or society in general.
It is always someone else's fault and it is up to society, or government to fix things for you....
Are you overweight? Not your fault...no need to get off your ass and exercise nor change your diet, nope, it is the fault of society and company's advertising McBurgers to you with 64oz sugar filled sodas. Yep, they are forcing you to sit on your lazy ass and consume endless amounts of them.
We need govt. to regulate this. It isn't your fault.
That is but one small example....amongst many.
Llamas are LARGER than frogs.....
It's nice to know if they are talking ABOUT you.
Well, another thing is...the United States of America, is so large, you really can very easily grow up here and never have any reason or cause to leave the country.
So, I'd venture to guess that the vast majority of US citizens don't have a passport and don't travel outside the US, and never run into any need to speak another language.
It was even nicer only say, a few decades ago...when you could walk anywhere in public and understand what was being said around you....and you generally only heard Spanish spoken in public if you were visiting border towns.
It is much nicer when everyone speaks the 'common' language in public, which used to be English.
And that is a problem.
We should pass laws stating that English IS the official language in this country.....other countries have an official language.
We should too.
If we didn't print everything in other languages too, it would help people coming here to learn it faster.
That same type of immersion situation we use in language classes in college, where English is only spoken the first day and the rest of the time, it is the language of whatever class you are in.
If we did that with, say, government documents, etc....people would be forced to learn the common language of the land much quicker and therefore be able to integrate into the greater melting pot quicker.
I don't argue at all that learning more than one language is a GREAT thing!!
However, if you LIVE in the US, you should use English as your primary language, especially when out and about in public. You should not rely on having things printed not only in English but Spanish and other languages. (Have you lately had to really look all over a packaged product in the US lately to find English description/instructions? Didn't used to be that way.).
Why would you want to let a myriad of faceless corporations, hackers or anyone other than family and close friends even KNOW you have kids or an Aunt Helen?
....you're hearing less and less English spoken in the US these days.