"I thought you liked your insurance company? They're the ones placing restrictions, not the government."
I do, I've yet to have them tell me I can't see a Dr (any of them I want to see so far) when I want to. They have yet to say they won't let me go for any tx I want. Honestly, I've no complaints and have not run into any restrictions on my tx or Dr. I've chosen.
"I'd gladly have my taxes go up by a hundred dollars a month if I didn't have to pay that $200 insurance premium."
Why do you pay so much? With the current W2 gig, I pay like $40/mo at most for insurance. When I was doing 1099 and had my own private insurance, yet, it was about $200/mo for a high deductible policy, but, with that I got the benefit of being able to sock a TON of money back pre-tax into a HSA which is really what I did my non-emergency medical needs from.
I've worked with the govt (Fed/DoD) in the past...and seeing the red tape, infighting, waste...I cannot imagine at ALL that having them take over my medical care (politicians making my medical decisions?) will in any manner improve upon my current level of health care, in fact, I see it as likely dragging it down a notch or two.
"If you prefer not to contribute to the public good (for example, public education, which is not just a public good, it is more like a necessity if we hope to survive as a civilization), then please feel free to absent yourself from the benefits provided by that civilization."
As I've said in previous posts, I don't mind paying for public infrastructure which is for the public good.
I do mind, paying for you to have kids you can't afford, that become a drag on society since you can't raise them, feed them and pay for their needs.
"You're happy paying insurance companies whose first priority is to make as much profit as possible, and as a result avoid paying out to it's customers as much as they possibly can? Insurance companies that will only insure the people who statistically will not use even a fraction of what they put in? Personally, I'd rather pay extra in taxes to help some stranger receive the medical care that they need, a stranger I've never met and will never meet, than pay some insurance company that puts healthcare _secondary_ to their primary purpose of making money.
If you've found an insurance company that isn't like that then I retract my statement (and would love to know who you use). But I highly doubt there is a private insurance company out there who's first priority _isn't_ to make money, with paying its customers second (or third, or fourth, or fifth, or...)."
I'm currently back on a W2 gig, and the insurance is great on this one...I've been in a wreck recently, took care of that no cost to me so far...for normal meds, office visits, etc, $20 a pop.
When doing 1099 stuff, I have a HSA I stuff the max money into (pre-tax) annually...and I go with high deductible insurance, which is basically the system I believe in more.
I pay for my routine care and meds out of the HSA funds, and keep insurance ONLY for emergency situations (things requiring hostpitalization, etc).
I would put forth we should get the insurance business OUT of routine care, and each of us have the pre-tax method to save and pay for the routine stuff, just between you and the Dr, much like it was before the HMO's and bean counters took over everything. A Dr. hung out his shingle, and you went with him. My uncle was a Dr. in this time...and he often charged according to a person's means. Someone poor didn't have to pay as much as a person that could afford it.
But, hey, everything is for profit...I don't begrudge anyone making a living, and I don't mind paying someone trained for years in human health good money to help keep my body working as long as possible.
I'd rather interact directly with them...more than insurance..and MUCH more than the govt. which is way in D.C...and too far away to know my individual needs.
One last thing...it would cut insurance costs if we opened it up to competition across states (isn't THAT interstate commerces?!?!) like Geico does for cars and bikes.
"If you really believe that you shouldn't help fellow citizens less fortunate than you, then you have lost your humanity...please please tell me that America isn't this far gone?"
I don't think it is the Constitutionally mandated job of the Federal Govt. to tell me how I do it for myself, nor to stick its hand in my pocket and force the decisions on how I treat others in this respect.
I give plenty, I help friends....I don't mind giving voluntarily to charity.
But it is my choice...it should not be mandated by others.
"You may also please return your education, your highways..."
That is also mostly local taxes going to local infrastructure...something taxes were meant to be used for, and that pretty much everyone uses. It isn't some people working supplementing those that don't or can't afford something that should be personal responsibility.
Got kids you can't afford medical care for? That shows you couldn't afford kids!!
"And you are suggesting that the only way to have sex is to pay for it?"
As a guy, you find out that in some way, manner or fashion...you always pay for sex!!
You never get laid for free...with dates, you lay out $$ for dates, when you get married, you pay for it forever (unless you get divorced, they you pay half of what you own in order to get out of it).
The only ones that are up front about the price, are hookers....
"It's not just you, but it's almost just you. Most Americans, including me, are satisfied with their health care as it is."
I'm quite happy with my healthcare and insurance too.
I'm certainly not happy with the prospect of having it lessened, dictated to me, nor having it and other parts of my life increasingly taxed, in order to pay for others.
You may have a right to seek medical care, but, I don't think you have a RIGHT to have me pay for it.
"My take away from this is that it's just a press stunt to introduce new harsher behavior from the FBI agents, maybe backed by a new piece of legislation."
Well, as I understand it, within the new Medical Care Reform legislation they're trying to pass, there are provisions to let the govt. have full access to your banking accounts (without warrant, etc).
Perhaps if your are correct, this is another angle to try to get that element pushed forward: "The US govt NEEDS to monitor all checking/savings accounts, to monitor for phishing schemes, terrorist money laundering...and something about protecting children I'm sure.
"Makes you wonder. If the head of the FBI, the guy who knows all the secrets, that sees all the scams all the time almost falls for this, what can we expect from you average house folks? Scams are getting more and more elaborate this days. Not perfect, but getting there"
Makes me think there are many more gullible idiots out there waiting to be fleeced.
Hmm...I need to figure some way to make money off of them...hopefully just bit more legal though.
"This applies to the hardware as well as the software world, and I'll list the recent Peavey Vypyr Guitar amplifier as an example, because I bought one and taking it in to service fixed NOTHING. Posts like this [peavey.com], this [peavey.com], and this [peavey.com] only scratch the surface."
You might consider sticking with a good, old fashioned tube amp for the guitar...
I gotta say, it actually took me a minute to figure it out on the posts you listed, I'd never thought of updating 'firmware' on a guitar amp.
"Seriously: If you feel you must spend money to be involved with a woman, she is not your friend. Why try to get close to someone who is not your friend?"
Friends? Get close? What does that have to do with getting laid??
:)
Seriously...to get any kind of good looking woman (and who wants to get stuck with an ugly one), you gotta flash some cash. Hell, even less attractive ones, are gonna go for a guy who has confidence and means over a guy not so blessed in those areas 99% of the time.
"People repetitively quoting them is exactly what makes Monty Python so influential, great, and popular. The world is full of people who quote unoriginally -- that's what creates the value in originality. So while all the people quoting them aren't themselves originally funny, there is no other way it could be. Nothing wrong with that."
There is only ONE thing worse than being quoted....
"I enjoy both "Holy Grail" and "Brian" but neither is my favorite. **I** think "The Meaning of Life" was their masterpiece."
For the longest time, the Meaning of Life was my least favorite of the three. I was pretty young when I saw it in the movie theater, and I was expecting something along the lines of Grail or Brian, and was kinda disappointed.
However, as I've watched it over the years, I've seen more and more in Meaning...so much stuff going on in that movie, references to itself, and of course, with age, I'm starting to appreciate some of what they were saying about life, especially when you start to reach middle age.
I'd still have to say that Brian is still my favorite out of the three, but, by a small margin. I am eager to watch any of them if someone offers to throw them on. I may have to get the DVD's of mine out and watch them this week.
LOL...I've not see their Live and the Hollywood bowl in awhile, I may actually have to start with that one.
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I do, I've yet to have them tell me I can't see a Dr (any of them I want to see so far) when I want to. They have yet to say they won't let me go for any tx I want. Honestly, I've no complaints and have not run into any restrictions on my tx or Dr. I've chosen.
"I'd gladly have my taxes go up by a hundred dollars a month if I didn't have to pay that $200 insurance premium."
Why do you pay so much? With the current W2 gig, I pay like $40/mo at most for insurance. When I was doing 1099 and had my own private insurance, yet, it was about $200/mo for a high deductible policy, but, with that I got the benefit of being able to sock a TON of money back pre-tax into a HSA which is really what I did my non-emergency medical needs from.
I've worked with the govt (Fed/DoD) in the past...and seeing the red tape, infighting, waste...I cannot imagine at ALL that having them take over my medical care (politicians making my medical decisions?) will in any manner improve upon my current level of health care, in fact, I see it as likely dragging it down a notch or two.
Nah...I'm too good for that!
Not really...it is a fact as far as I can tell, from years of observation, not just of me, but, from most any guy I know.
Of course, we don't usually tell women this (not really afraid of that many of them on /.), I mean, that's not gonna help you to get laid.
As I've said in previous posts, I don't mind paying for public infrastructure which is for the public good.
I do mind, paying for you to have kids you can't afford, that become a drag on society since you can't raise them, feed them and pay for their needs.
If you've found an insurance company that isn't like that then I retract my statement (and would love to know who you use). But I highly doubt there is a private insurance company out there who's first priority _isn't_ to make money, with paying its customers second (or third, or fourth, or fifth, or...)."
I'm currently back on a W2 gig, and the insurance is great on this one...I've been in a wreck recently, took care of that no cost to me so far...for normal meds, office visits, etc, $20 a pop.
When doing 1099 stuff, I have a HSA I stuff the max money into (pre-tax) annually...and I go with high deductible insurance, which is basically the system I believe in more.
I pay for my routine care and meds out of the HSA funds, and keep insurance ONLY for emergency situations (things requiring hostpitalization, etc).
I would put forth we should get the insurance business OUT of routine care, and each of us have the pre-tax method to save and pay for the routine stuff, just between you and the Dr, much like it was before the HMO's and bean counters took over everything. A Dr. hung out his shingle, and you went with him. My uncle was a Dr. in this time...and he often charged according to a person's means. Someone poor didn't have to pay as much as a person that could afford it.
But, hey, everything is for profit...I don't begrudge anyone making a living, and I don't mind paying someone trained for years in human health good money to help keep my body working as long as possible.
I'd rather interact directly with them...more than insurance..and MUCH more than the govt. which is way in D.C...and too far away to know my individual needs.
One last thing...it would cut insurance costs if we opened it up to competition across states (isn't THAT interstate commerces?!?!) like Geico does for cars and bikes.
I think that was the point...
If you can't afford to do something, if you aren't self sufficient enough to take care of yourself and kids, don't have kids!!
Again...sure, you have the right to have kids. You don't have the right to have me pay for them.
I don't think it is the Constitutionally mandated job of the Federal Govt. to tell me how I do it for myself, nor to stick its hand in my pocket and force the decisions on how I treat others in this respect.
I give plenty, I help friends....I don't mind giving voluntarily to charity.
But it is my choice...it should not be mandated by others.
That is also mostly local taxes going to local infrastructure...something taxes were meant to be used for, and that pretty much everyone uses. It isn't some people working supplementing those that don't or can't afford something that should be personal responsibility.
Got kids you can't afford medical care for? That shows you couldn't afford kids!!
As a guy, you find out that in some way, manner or fashion...you always pay for sex!!
You never get laid for free...with dates, you lay out $$ for dates, when you get married, you pay for it forever (unless you get divorced, they you pay half of what you own in order to get out of it).
The only ones that are up front about the price, are hookers....
I'm quite happy with my healthcare and insurance too.
I'm certainly not happy with the prospect of having it lessened, dictated to me, nor having it and other parts of my life increasingly taxed, in order to pay for others.
You may have a right to seek medical care, but, I don't think you have a RIGHT to have me pay for it.
Hey, can't blame them for trying to make a dollar...
And make sure and check the switch on the back...make sure it is not set to EVIL.
DANGER Will Robinson DANGER!!
What kind of parents give there kids fast food every day?
Answer: Unfortunately in the US, WAY too many of them.
I'm wondering what these jobs are at what companies, that have SO much time to play around on virtual worlds and twitter.....rather than work?
Nope, never heard of it before actually. I just log on with userid/password for my accounts.
What is a bank security 'token'?
Well, as I understand it, within the new Medical Care Reform legislation they're trying to pass, there are provisions to let the govt. have full access to your banking accounts (without warrant, etc).
Perhaps if your are correct, this is another angle to try to get that element pushed forward: "The US govt NEEDS to monitor all checking/savings accounts, to monitor for phishing schemes, terrorist money laundering...and something about protecting children I'm sure.
Makes me think there are many more gullible idiots out there waiting to be fleeced.
Hmm...I need to figure some way to make money off of them...hopefully just bit more legal though.
You might consider sticking with a good, old fashioned tube amp for the guitar...
I gotta say, it actually took me a minute to figure it out on the posts you listed, I'd never thought of updating 'firmware' on a guitar amp.
Friends? Get close? What does that have to do with getting laid??
Seriously...to get any kind of good looking woman (and who wants to get stuck with an ugly one), you gotta flash some cash. Hell, even less attractive ones, are gonna go for a guy who has confidence and means over a guy not so blessed in those areas 99% of the time.
Friends don't let friends join MySpace....
He installed a Perl script on a LIBRARY computer."
Hmm..I wonder if this action is specifically prohibited by the terms of use on said public library computer?
There is only ONE thing worse than being quoted....
Lighten up Francis...
Oops..sorry...wrong movie.
For the longest time, the Meaning of Life was my least favorite of the three. I was pretty young when I saw it in the movie theater, and I was expecting something along the lines of Grail or Brian, and was kinda disappointed.
However, as I've watched it over the years, I've seen more and more in Meaning...so much stuff going on in that movie, references to itself, and of course, with age, I'm starting to appreciate some of what they were saying about life, especially when you start to reach middle age.
I'd still have to say that Brian is still my favorite out of the three, but, by a small margin. I am eager to watch any of them if someone offers to throw them on. I may have to get the DVD's of mine out and watch them this week.
LOL...I've not see their Live and the Hollywood bowl in awhile, I may actually have to start with that one.
"Albatross.....!!"