Charged by the US Constitution. The federal govt. was set up to be a weak one..its ONLY powers granted specifically by the US constitution. Most power is supposed to reside with the states. We've lost a good deal of this...but there seems to be some small glimmer of hope that people are starting to realize this before too late.
But specific to your question...the US federal govt is supposed to only have the limited, specifically enumerated powers granted to it by the US constitution. If more is needed, it should be by Constitutional amendment. And currently, there is no basis for the US federal govt. to enact this sweeping 'reform'.
"US citizens already pay more in tax per head for Medicare/Medicaid than Aussies pay for a full blown UHC."
THAT is one of my main concerns. If the US federal govt. can't do Medicare/Medicaid right (corruption, cost overruns, bureaucracy...) why would I even consider the possibility that they would do nationwide medical programs any better?
I just see it as one more large cluster fuck coming to the US tax payer if it passes. Not something that will help me in the long run.
"Promote the general welfare. Its one of the 6 main goals. Try reading the constitution sometime."
Try looking at things like the Federalist Papers and the like for what the framers of the constitution meant by such things as that phrase. It certainly did NOT mean welfare in the sense that we think of welfare today. It was not their idea to have the government provide things like welfare and other entitlements to the general public.
"Taxes don't have to go up, it can be taken from elsewhere - e.g., maybe you could spend slightly less on that socialised military you have."
Thing is...defense IS one of the few limited enumerated jobs the federal govt is charged to perform.
I've not seen anything regarding the govt. forcing everyone to have some type of medical insurance (which if they pass it will likely be struck down by the SCOTUS)...nor are they charged with managing healthcare or otherwise interfering in the citizens' private lives.
The one thing that they actually might could do, is force medical insurance to be able to be sold across state lines, you know, interstate commerce.
Strange thing is..for some reason they don't seem keen to even bring that up at all.
"UK health insurance is much, much cheaper than US health insurance. If you have it, you may well not use it (or forget to use it) if you're in an accident -- you'll get to hospital no faster, and be seen no quicker, for having the insurance."
And how much is taken by the govt. out of your paycheck to pay for this healthcare...that you also purchase additional insurance for? What % of your salary do you pay in payroll taxes..or however you do it over there in the UK?
"Well, frankly, I don't want socialized medicine..I don't want the govt. telling me what Dr. I can see, or what tests meds the Dr can give me (possibly based on my age, etc).
That's not how it works. "Socialized medicine" means government funded. "
And the govt. WILL have to figure out ways to save money...meaning they will at some point start deciding what is and what is not required to for you based on your worth to the govt. If there is another way, please, tell me how it will be done?
It will be much too expensive to give everyone everything they need for healthcare throughout their lifespan. It will have to be regulated. If not how I fear it will be...then explain to me other methods this will take place.
"I agree that the US health insurance system seems to be set up to discourage entrepreneurs. While I have no proof, I postulate that this condition (e.g., health insurance almost impossible to get outside corporate works)"
It is NOT that hard to get private insurance. The only time it gets hard..is if you go for a period of time without ANY coverage. I found that out when I lapsed between gigs...started working through my own company, and they gave me a hard time about it. But it can be gotten with a little perseverience. I also have a pretty high factor for pre-existing conditions, however, that didn't keep me out of insurance. I had good insurance from BCBS. I got a high deductible rate of like $1200, I only use insurance for catastrophic needs. For routine medical spending, I used the money I put in my Health Savings Account (HSA) pre-tax. This worked out great for me, and often Dr.'s would cut my bill by 15% right off the top when I told them I was paying rather than insurance.
I wish they'd make the HSA's more easily accessible by the common person...not requiring a high deductible policy. I like to put my money away in there pre-tax...I can even invest that money, and what is in there by retirement can be coverted to retirement funds.
It is much better than the FSA's which are use it or lose it each year.
"I tend to think government (at least a good part of it) should be to ensure the well being of its people, and that includes equitable health care."
Trouble is with that thinking...that responsibility of the Federal government is not seen anywhere in the limited enumerated powers that the US Constitution grants to the Federal Government. Defense is specifically listed...but sorry, I don't see 'equitable health care' in there.
"Also the UK can offer anything the US has simply by going the "US route" and getting private healthcare yourself or through your employer..."
So, you're saying that in the UK, if you aren't satisfied with the state healthcare, and want the 'best' you can get, you now have to pay taxes through the nose AND also pay out for private healthcare too?!?!
Frankly, I'm very scared that that is what will happen to the US if we go socialized health care (in addition to other problems)...it will just have us paying more in taxes, and then have to pay again to private institutions for anything other than minimal treatment.
Well, frankly, I don't want socialized medicine..I don't want the govt. telling me what Dr. I can see, or what tests meds the Dr can give me (possibly based on my age, etc).
I do wish we could go back to how medicine was a few years back...where you didn't depend on insurance for EVERYTHING, it was for emergencies (something catastrophic like a heart attack or car wreck). In those days, costs weren't too outrageous, you paid for your routine care, usually with a family physician you had for most of your life. That indie GP doctor could and often would charge based on a person's ability to pay.
The HMO's and bean counters with insurance co's kind fscked that up. I think we could go a long way to having the best of all worlds if we could first allow medical insurance to be sold across state lines. I'd like to see the Geico gecko pitching medical insurance just like he does motorcycle insurance. That competition alone would help drop prices. Make it easier for private individuals to band together to get group rate insurance.
And lastly...make it MUCH easier than it currently is, for everyone to be able to open and fund a Health Savings Account (HSA) pre-tax. Make the requirement to have a high deductible go away...that way, people can save year after year (with savings rolling over) for their routine medical care. I love the HSA...and I've often used that with doctors, when telling them I'm paying for the procedure or office visit rather than insurance, they usually cut me a 15% break on the price right on the spot.
The part about pre-existing conditions...that I'm not sure how best to handle. If we *did* have to have a govt. sponsored thing to take care of those that were uninsurable, that might work..lump them in with the Medicaid people maybe. I really don't want a public option because of what it can turn into.
The current nightmare of corruption and inability to contain costs that are Medicare and Medicaid right now, are perfect examples of how the govt. can fsck health care up.
Frankly before they can even start looking at socialized healthcare here in the US, I'd like to see them clean up the Medicare/Medicaid mess they currently have.
"Most of us pay our 1040s and that's that. Many of us can't understand why paying taxes is complicated, because we file a 1040 take the standard deduction and move on with life. Obviously if you're a contractor, self-employed or a small business owner, you know better.
With that said I don't agree completely that avoiding taxes should be encouraged and is perfectly acceptable. The courts have decreed that avoiding taxes is not illegal, not that its should become a national past-time. Firstly, on principle, anything that is not illegal is not necessarily OK. "
Hmm..so your saying most everyone fills out the 1040EZ form...and doesn't take any deductions? You seem to lean towards taking advantage of any tax breaks (loopholes, etc) are wrong.
So, people writing off the interest on their houses == bad?
People taking deductions for dependents (kids, elderly, disabled, etc) == bad?
I mean...if there are legitimate write offs.....what is the problem with using them? A single person corporation, is doing the same thing...they aren't a big company that is funneling money all around the world to save billions of dollars, they are writing off equipment, gas milage, CPA fees, cell phones, etc.
If it isn't paying your 'fair share' then why did congress make this deduction or exception? You're a fool not to take advantage of every opportunity you can. I'd dare say I'm much better at spending my money than a federal bureaucracy is. At the very least, I'd rather pay the taxes to my local and state governments, at least they are more directly addressing my needs (police, fire, streets, etc).
"And from harsh experience, I'd like to point out that that "possibily in tome to earn more" is bait on the hook to actually work for _less_. Health insurance, travel allowances, life insurance, 401K matching funds, vacation time, and unemployment can all add up to quite a lot of money a contractor won't get, especially since the time in between contracts can be very awkward fiscally. So unless you're earning something like 150% in that contracting work compared to full-time work, it's not much of a fiscal benefit."
Err...well, that is why you have to know what rate to bill yourself at in order to make up for what you say your are losing.
When I negotiate a bill rate, I take into consideration how much vacation/sick time I want to factor it (usually 3-4 weeks worth), how much money I want to be able to fund my HSA (Health Savings Account) pre-tax, money to put into my retirement investments...etc.
It isn't that you lose these benefits, it is just that you pay for them yourself, and you have to take that into consideration. You don't bill yourself out at what you make as a salaried employee. Heck, that's why you see contractors getting $70/hr - $120/hr pretty commonly.
What you do get in benefit of being an indie contractor (aside from independence) is an incredible amount of tax write-offs which help you keep more of your hard earned dollars. Sure it takes jumping through hoops and paperwork, and you have to be responsible enough to pay your retirement, medical savings, etc....but it can be a great way to go.
I'm currently back in a W2 job, and I swear, I cannot stand having to "earn" vacation hours per paycheck. Screw that. I prefer working as a sub, so when I want to take off....I take off.
"I happen to like petites. A lot. Plenty of them are also very, very nice girls-- which is extremely nice, since they're cute and very fun to work with. Girls like that can be self-conscious that they don't have huge boobs but they don't want to get fat either; but that's pretty silly, a lot of them are major knock-outs."
One nice thing about girls w/o big boobs...they don't soon have big saggy boobs with a little age or after having kids, whichever comes first.
Ugh..I can't stand having saggy floppy boobs hitting me in the face when she's on top...or seeing them roll under her arms when she's on bottom.
"Oh, that explains it.:) Thanks anyway. I've installed a separate chat client and this old-mode thing is really fast and all (I've forgotten how Gmail used to be fast and all)."
What chat client did you end up getting and using?
"ou obviously don't read the Op-Ed page of the Times, specifically writers Paul Krugman, Roger Cohen, Nicholas Kristof, Frank Rich, (even "the earth is flat" guy) Tom Friedman and Maureen Dowd. They do what you are saying they don't on an almost daily basis.
I've clipped dozens of articles from those writers particularly since the Wall Street meltdown in 2008 that are indeed "ripping into Wall Street and corporate America" and Obama who they largely support."
Yep...a good laundry list of the left you have there.
I am a little surprised that they have been ripping into the 'chosen one' myself. Then, I read it and realize they're only bad because Obama and company haven't moved us even further into the leftist, govt. runs everything category by now. By and large I think they completely agreen with what Obama and Dem's have done so far...they just want even more of it.
Oops....sorry, this phrase was brought to you by the good people of the NFL, all rights reserved (as soon as they heard it was a popular saying down here).
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Are there any topless or even nude beaches IN the US?
Charged? Charged by who?"
Charged by the US Constitution. The federal govt. was set up to be a weak one..its ONLY powers granted specifically by the US constitution. Most power is supposed to reside with the states. We've lost a good deal of this...but there seems to be some small glimmer of hope that people are starting to realize this before too late.
But specific to your question...the US federal govt is supposed to only have the limited, specifically enumerated powers granted to it by the US constitution. If more is needed, it should be by Constitutional amendment. And currently, there is no basis for the US federal govt. to enact this sweeping 'reform'.
THAT is one of my main concerns. If the US federal govt. can't do Medicare/Medicaid right (corruption, cost overruns, bureaucracy...) why would I even consider the possibility that they would do nationwide medical programs any better?
I just see it as one more large cluster fuck coming to the US tax payer if it passes. Not something that will help me in the long run.
Try looking at things like the Federalist Papers and the like for what the framers of the constitution meant by such things as that phrase. It certainly did NOT mean welfare in the sense that we think of welfare today. It was not their idea to have the government provide things like welfare and other entitlements to the general public.
Thing is...defense IS one of the few limited enumerated jobs the federal govt is charged to perform.
I've not seen anything regarding the govt. forcing everyone to have some type of medical insurance (which if they pass it will likely be struck down by the SCOTUS)...nor are they charged with managing healthcare or otherwise interfering in the citizens' private lives.
The one thing that they actually might could do, is force medical insurance to be able to be sold across state lines, you know, interstate commerce.
Strange thing is..for some reason they don't seem keen to even bring that up at all.
And how much is taken by the govt. out of your paycheck to pay for this healthcare...that you also purchase additional insurance for? What % of your salary do you pay in payroll taxes..or however you do it over there in the UK?
That's not how it works. "Socialized medicine" means government funded. "
And the govt. WILL have to figure out ways to save money...meaning they will at some point start deciding what is and what is not required to for you based on your worth to the govt. If there is another way, please, tell me how it will be done?
It will be much too expensive to give everyone everything they need for healthcare throughout their lifespan. It will have to be regulated. If not how I fear it will be...then explain to me other methods this will take place.
Can you think of another reason they're going through all the shit and lies that the conservative mob is throwing at them?"
More govt. intrusion and control over the individual citizens' lives maybe? Bigger govt.?
It is NOT that hard to get private insurance. The only time it gets hard..is if you go for a period of time without ANY coverage. I found that out when I lapsed between gigs...started working through my own company, and they gave me a hard time about it. But it can be gotten with a little perseverience. I also have a pretty high factor for pre-existing conditions, however, that didn't keep me out of insurance. I had good insurance from BCBS. I got a high deductible rate of like $1200, I only use insurance for catastrophic needs. For routine medical spending, I used the money I put in my Health Savings Account (HSA) pre-tax. This worked out great for me, and often Dr.'s would cut my bill by 15% right off the top when I told them I was paying rather than insurance.
I wish they'd make the HSA's more easily accessible by the common person...not requiring a high deductible policy. I like to put my money away in there pre-tax...I can even invest that money, and what is in there by retirement can be coverted to retirement funds.
It is much better than the FSA's which are use it or lose it each year.
Trouble is with that thinking...that responsibility of the Federal government is not seen anywhere in the limited enumerated powers that the US Constitution grants to the Federal Government. Defense is specifically listed...but sorry, I don't see 'equitable health care' in there.
Wow..where were you that you had to pay THAT much for drug co-pays?
When doing W2 gigs with insurance, I never have had to pay more than like $10-$20 for drug co-pays.
So, you're saying that in the UK, if you aren't satisfied with the state healthcare, and want the 'best' you can get, you now have to pay taxes through the nose AND also pay out for private healthcare too?!?!
Frankly, I'm very scared that that is what will happen to the US if we go socialized health care (in addition to other problems)...it will just have us paying more in taxes, and then have to pay again to private institutions for anything other than minimal treatment.
I do wish we could go back to how medicine was a few years back...where you didn't depend on insurance for EVERYTHING, it was for emergencies (something catastrophic like a heart attack or car wreck). In those days, costs weren't too outrageous, you paid for your routine care, usually with a family physician you had for most of your life. That indie GP doctor could and often would charge based on a person's ability to pay.
The HMO's and bean counters with insurance co's kind fscked that up. I think we could go a long way to having the best of all worlds if we could first allow medical insurance to be sold across state lines. I'd like to see the Geico gecko pitching medical insurance just like he does motorcycle insurance. That competition alone would help drop prices. Make it easier for private individuals to band together to get group rate insurance.
And lastly...make it MUCH easier than it currently is, for everyone to be able to open and fund a Health Savings Account (HSA) pre-tax. Make the requirement to have a high deductible go away...that way, people can save year after year (with savings rolling over) for their routine medical care. I love the HSA...and I've often used that with doctors, when telling them I'm paying for the procedure or office visit rather than insurance, they usually cut me a 15% break on the price right on the spot.
The part about pre-existing conditions...that I'm not sure how best to handle. If we *did* have to have a govt. sponsored thing to take care of those that were uninsurable, that might work..lump them in with the Medicaid people maybe. I really don't want a public option because of what it can turn into.
The current nightmare of corruption and inability to contain costs that are Medicare and Medicaid right now, are perfect examples of how the govt. can fsck health care up.
Frankly before they can even start looking at socialized healthcare here in the US, I'd like to see them clean up the Medicare/Medicaid mess they currently have.
With that said I don't agree completely that avoiding taxes should be encouraged and is perfectly acceptable. The courts have decreed that avoiding taxes is not illegal, not that its should become a national past-time. Firstly, on principle, anything that is not illegal is not necessarily OK. "
Hmm..so your saying most everyone fills out the 1040EZ form...and doesn't take any deductions? You seem to lean towards taking advantage of any tax breaks (loopholes, etc) are wrong.
So, people writing off the interest on their houses == bad?
People taking deductions for dependents (kids, elderly, disabled, etc) == bad?
I mean...if there are legitimate write offs.....what is the problem with using them? A single person corporation, is doing the same thing...they aren't a big company that is funneling money all around the world to save billions of dollars, they are writing off equipment, gas milage, CPA fees, cell phones, etc.
If it isn't paying your 'fair share' then why did congress make this deduction or exception? You're a fool not to take advantage of every opportunity you can. I'd dare say I'm much better at spending my money than a federal bureaucracy is. At the very least, I'd rather pay the taxes to my local and state governments, at least they are more directly addressing my needs (police, fire, streets, etc).
Err...well, that is why you have to know what rate to bill yourself at in order to make up for what you say your are losing.
When I negotiate a bill rate, I take into consideration how much vacation/sick time I want to factor it (usually 3-4 weeks worth), how much money I want to be able to fund my HSA (Health Savings Account) pre-tax, money to put into my retirement investments...etc.
It isn't that you lose these benefits, it is just that you pay for them yourself, and you have to take that into consideration. You don't bill yourself out at what you make as a salaried employee. Heck, that's why you see contractors getting $70/hr - $120/hr pretty commonly.
What you do get in benefit of being an indie contractor (aside from independence) is an incredible amount of tax write-offs which help you keep more of your hard earned dollars. Sure it takes jumping through hoops and paperwork, and you have to be responsible enough to pay your retirement, medical savings, etc....but it can be a great way to go.
I'm currently back in a W2 job, and I swear, I cannot stand having to "earn" vacation hours per paycheck. Screw that. I prefer working as a sub, so when I want to take off....I take off.
Hell, if the buyout was for enough money...why bother to work any more?
Being able to go on a permanent vacation would leave a permanent smile on my face!!
One nice thing about girls w/o big boobs...they don't soon have big saggy boobs with a little age or after having kids, whichever comes first.
Ugh..I can't stand having saggy floppy boobs hitting me in the face when she's on top...or seeing them roll under her arms when she's on bottom.
What chat client did you end up getting and using?
I've clipped dozens of articles from those writers particularly since the Wall Street meltdown in 2008 that are indeed "ripping into Wall Street and corporate America" and Obama who they largely support."
Yep...a good laundry list of the left you have there.
I am a little surprised that they have been ripping into the 'chosen one' myself. Then, I read it and realize they're only bad because Obama and company haven't moved us even further into the leftist, govt. runs everything category by now. By and large I think they completely agreen with what Obama and Dem's have done so far...they just want even more of it.
Hmm..isn't that the "game of life"?
Seriously...isn't THAT one of lifes goals? You want to diss that?
Hmm...I've never actually seen a contact list/chat window I guess.
Compose
Inbox
Starred
Chats
Make sure you are using the 'Older Version'..not the HTML only version.
Oops....sorry, this phrase was brought to you by the good people of the NFL, all rights reserved (as soon as they heard it was a popular saying down here).
Actually, I do have a link for Chat even with using the 'older version' option.
And if you have any left over...you can use the cat5 to make some nifty DIY speaker cables.