Anyone else think that Sarah Palin resembles....

[carres1973]

* New taxes to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level of medical care as other third-world countries.

I have to speak up on behalf of my husband on this one. He is from one of the apparent "third-world countries" you mention. Is socialized medicine all that deams a country "third-world?" My husband is English. They have socialized medicine, i.e. EVERYONE has health insurance. What a novel concept. Do they pay more in taxes? You bet. However, companies can afford to pay more because they don't have to cover the HUGE cost of health insurance. There are private insurance companies just as there are here but that is a choice a worker can make. What is the difference in the level of care? None. If you stay in the hospital and are privately insured, you may get a private, as opposed to semi-private, room. The same doctors are seeing you. You eat the same terrible hospital food, etc.

Here is another "horrible" example of socialized medicine. My husband is diabetic. In England, he would get his medication to treat his diabetes for free. He would get his testing strips, etc. FOR FREE. Here in the good ole US of A??? We pay through the nose for everything!

Bottom line is, I would much rather pay higher taxes if they were going towards something like free healthcare as opposed to some international space station or another rover to Mars!

Carrie

 

[JennieR]

Carrie, I'm asking you this question because I don't know the answer. Is it true that people that have socialized medicine have to wait months for a surgery they might need? I heard that from a girl at work.

 

[Travisli]

Huh. I kind of thought she resembled Satan.

 

[hiitdogs]

While I might not agree with the reason we went into Iraq, unfortunately, we are there now. How socially responsible would it be to leave the country that WE ruined? I think it is sickening that young men and women are dying over there for a cause that not many believe in (or even understand since we are now finding out we were lied to from the start).

After the Allied Forces defeated Hitler in WWII, what did they do? They poured millions of dollars into rebuilding Germany. We have men and women in the armed forces that to this day serve in Europe because of it.
Carrie

Many of the problems in Iraq are based on the fact the we have invaded and are occupying a sovereign country. The miscalculation of the Bush administration was that we would be greeted as liberators and we weren't. It is a very different culture than ours and as long as we are there Islamic extremists have their best recruiting tool right there.

Fact is, the Iraqi government doesn't want us there, the Iraqi people don't want us there, why do Bush, McCain and co insist we need to stay there. I am not saying drop everything and run but start a measured withdrawl. If the surge was as successful as the McCain says, we should be able to withdraw and put Iraqis in charge of their own country. If they can't take care of their own security and problems after 6 years of us being there, when the heck do we expect that they can???

The situation with WWII Germany really is a totally different story. Originally the US troops were there to protect West Germany against communist Russia, Germany has INVITED the US to have their bases their, it's not against the German people's will. After the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of the coldwar there was a significant drawdown in military personal though and we are not involved in active combat or military action.

 

[carres1973]

Carrie, I'm asking you this question because I don't know the answer. Is it true that people that have socialized medicine have to wait months for a surgery they might need? I heard that from a girl at work.

I had to get my DH's opinion on this since he has lived his whole life (46 years) with socialized medicine...well except for the last 4 since he has been here in the States. No, according to DH if you NEED a surgery, you will not have to wait. If you have, for example, a cancerous tumor or appendicitis, you are getting surgery. If you need a bunion surgery, you might have to wait. That is similar to how it was when I was in the military so I am used to that concept. Hurry up and wait is the military's moto. My DH added that he finds it highly amusing that at the ER's here in the States (we both work in a hospital), even when doubled over in pain, the patient is still asked for the insurance information BEFORE treatment starts.

Carrie

 

[JennieR]

I had to get my DH's opinion on this since he has lived his whole life (46 years) with socialized medicine...well except for the last 4 since he has been here in the States. No, according to DH if you NEED a surgery, you will not have to wait. If you have, for example, a cancerous tumor or appendicitis, you are getting surgery. If you need a bunion surgery, you might have to wait. That is similar to how it was when I was in the military so I am used to that concept. Hurry up and wait is the military's moto. My DH added that he finds it highly amusing that at the ER's here in the States (we both work in a hospital), even when doubled over in pain, the patient is still asked for the insurance information BEFORE treatment starts.

Carrie

Yeah that is pretty ridiculous. I remember when I had my gallbladder attack, I had to sit there and give them insurance information.

 

[carres1973]

Many of the problems in Iraq are based on the fact the we have invaded and are occupying a sovereign country. The miscalculation of the Bush administration was that we would be greeted as liberators and we weren't. It is a very different culture than ours and as long as we are there Islamic extremists have their best recruiting tool right there.

Fact is, the Iraqi government doesn't want us there, the Iraqi people don't want us there, why do Bush, McCain and co insist we need to stay there. I am not saying drop everything and run but start a measured withdrawl. If the surge was as successful as the McCain says, we should be able to withdraw and put Iraqis in charge of their own country. If they can't take care of their own security and problems after 6 years of us being there, when the heck do we expect that they can???

The situation with WWII Germany really is a totally different story. Originally the US troops were there to protect West Germany against communist Russia, Germany has INVITED the US to have their bases their, it's not against the German people's will. After the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of the coldwar there was a significant drawdown in military personal though and we are not involved in active combat or military action.

*Shudder* I do actually agree with most of this post. Am I going soft? I don't know when we can withdraw. I wish it was now. I think what needs to be decided and studied is the whole situation and a clear plan of action needs to be drawn up. That seems to be what was missing in the first place. I was hoping for the best when General Petraeus gave his speech a year ago about troop levels. I also held out hope with the Baker-Hamilton Iraq report before that. Alas, I was let down on both counts.

A large majority of the German people, especially the young people, don't want us there anymore. We mostly use the bases we have there as staging areas for combat in other regions. It is darn near impossible to fly a plane non-stop from the US to the Middle East.

Carrie

 

[hiitdogs]

Carrie, I'm asking you this question because I don't know the answer. Is it true that people that have socialized medicine have to wait months for a surgery they might need? I heard that from a girl at work.

I am from another third-world country as well - Germany . They do have what is considered "socialized health care". Members of the GKV (government health insurance) will join one of the 250 "Krankenkassen" in Germany (non-profit associations administrating the government health care). The health insurance funds adhere to established government regulations on what they offer It is mandatory insurance, if you are employeed the insurance premium is 15 % of your gross salary (but it caps at 540 Euro per month) and this will be split 50:50 by employer and employee.

It works like a PPO, you can chose your doctor as long as he/she is in the network. Doctors make the decision as to what treatment is necessary, not a paper shuffler at the insurance.

There are no waiting times worth mentioning. Depending on your condition there may be up to a couple of weeks waiting time for a specialist but that is just due to the scheduling of the physician. It happens in the US as well, I had to wait 6 weeks to get an appointment with my dermatologist. In Germany, if you need surgery for cancer or anything like that, you get scheduled right away.

Socialized healthcare is just a buzz word that some rightwingers are using to scare people. I think adequate and affordable health care should be as much of a right as police or the fire department availability. We won't be turning into a socialist country by making health care available to everyone.

But silly me, according to McCain advisor, John Goodman, Americans are insured. Quote John Goodman: "Emergency rooms are a last resort for healthcare for anyone because, by law, emergency rooms can't turn away a patient in need of immediate care. The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American -- even illegal aliens -- as uninsured."

I guess the president can also sign an executive order declaring that there are no unemployed people - they are just on vacation or leisure time. Problem solved.

 

[lovetostep]

Sarah Palin is amazing. This is a space that honors women with strength both inside and out. She is the epitome of this. I have cousins in Alaska who have been governed by her, and who have met and spoken with her. They say she is kind, compassionate, levelheaded, smart, committed, and strong. They did not use the exact word "class" when describing her but I got the feeling they feel she has a great deal of class. I could ask them if this is accurate though.
God Bless America.

 

[celestialtimes]

I had to get my DH's opinion on this since he has lived his whole life (46 years) with socialized medicine...well except for the last 4 since he has been here in the States. No, according to DH if you NEED a surgery, you will not have to wait. If you have, for example, a cancerous tumor or appendicitis, you are getting surgery. If you need a bunion surgery, you might have to wait. That is similar to how it was when I was in the military so I am used to that concept. Hurry up and wait is the military's moto. My DH added that he finds it highly amusing that at the ER's here in the States (we both work in a hospital), even when doubled over in pain, the patient is still asked for the insurance information BEFORE treatment starts.

Carrie

Crazy isn't it...I broke my leg and ankle on the same day...at least they were kind enough to give me a wheele chair to sit in while I sat in shock to fill out the necessary paper work...4 hours later they finally gave me something for the pain...LOVE the emergency room experience...

 

[carres1973]

I am from another third-world country as well - Germany . They do have what is considered "socialized health care". Members of the GKV (government health insurance) will join one of the 250 "Krankenkassen" in Germany (non-profit associations administrating the government health care). The health insurance funds adhere to established government regulations on what they offer It is mandatory insurance, if you are employeed the insurance premium is 15 % of your gross salary (but it caps at 540 Euro per month) and this will be split 50:50 by employer and employee.

It works like a PPO, you can chose your doctor as long as he/she is in the network. Doctors make the decision as to what treatment is necessary, not a paper shuffler at the insurance.

There are no waiting times worth mentioning. Depending on your condition there may be up to a couple of weeks waiting time for a specialist but that is just due to the scheduling of the physician. It happens in the US as well, I had to wait 6 weeks to get an appointment with my dermatologist. In Germany, if you need surgery for cancer or anything like that, you get scheduled right away.

Socialized healthcare is just a buzz word that some rightwingers are using to scare people. I think adequate and affordable health care should be as much of a right as police or the fire department availability. We won't be turning into a socialist country by making health care available to everyone.

But silly me, according to McCain advisor, John Goodman, Americans are insured. Quote John Goodman: "Emergency rooms are a last resort for healthcare for anyone because, by law, emergency rooms can't turn away a patient in need of immediate care. The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American -- even illegal aliens -- as uninsured."

I guess the next president can also sign an executive order declaring that there are no unemployed people - they are just on vacation or leisure time. Problem solved.

Oh Carola! I am really getting scared now! This is two posts of yours I pretty much agree with. I.....must....resist...

My DH said the same thing about socialized medicine being misunderstood and a "buzz word" that people use to make up stories. He also said that some Americans (one of his co-workers definitely) confuse socialism with communism. They are two VERY different things!

Carrie

 

[carres1973]

Crazy isn't it...I broke my leg and ankle on the same day...at least they were kind enough to give me a wheele chair to sit in while I sat in shock to fill out the necessary paper work...4 hours later they finally gave me something for the pain...LOVE the emergency room experience...

Don't I know it! Working in a hospital, I see people who genuinely need to be in the emergency room having to wait because someone comes in with the flu or a cold. Ummmm...hello! The last time I checked, there was no cure for the cold.

Carrie

 

[celestialtimes]

I guess the president can also sign an executive order declaring that there are no unemployed people - they are just on vacation or leisure time. Problem solved.

Personally, I feel we have vacation or leisure time now...according to some acquaintances of mine and my foster mom...its called Unemployment...it's not enough for me to live on, but I do know some people that do...

Then there's welfare...some people really need it...but then there are some that haven't finished school and refuse to work for minimum wage so they don't work and they get assistance.

Funny thing is on the health care front, because I had cancer I had a hard time getting insured...but couldn't qualify for assistance cuz I made too much money. But I had to struggle to make ends meet...Gotta love it...and forgot to add am still paying for blood work I had to have in order to insure that I'm still cancer free....which I am...Someone loves me...whether it be got or mother earth...someone is looking out for me...

 

[hiitdogs]

Oh Carola! I am really getting scared now! This is two posts of yours I pretty much agree with. I.....must....resist...

Carrie

ROTFL. That's really scary, Carrie, you are agreeing with a leftwing nut Psst, I won't tell anyone

 

[hiitdogs]

Personally, I feel we have vacation or leisure time now...according to some acquaintances of mine and my foster mom...its called Unemployment...it's not enough for me to live on, but I do know some people that do...

quote]

That may be, eternal optimist that I am though, I believe the majority of people who get unemployment would rather have a job.

 

[carres1973]

ROTFL. That's really scary, Carrie, you are agreeing with a leftwing nut Psst, I won't tell anyone

On that note, I am off to get some rest. Hopefully, I will be back to my middle of the road/slightly right leaning self by tomorrow. I have thoroughly enjoyed this thread. It has been both entertaining and educational. I can't wait to read all the new posts tomorrow.

Obviously, I have no outside social life.

Carrie

 

[athomedavina]

Katie, I can see where you are coming from, and, having never met either in person, I am sure that they both have a lot of class. I thought this was a forum to lift people up, not bring them down.

 

[nancy324]

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax

How does this affect you? Many families have lost businesses, farms and ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to loved ones will only lose them to these taxes.

As a trusts and estates attorney, I can assure you that this is false. First of all, Bush DID NOT repeal the estate tax. It is repealed for a single year only under the current law. This law is bad for everyone, because each year things change and no one can keep up. The law is one of the worst abominations in the history of legislation and many attorneys call it the Attorney Full Employment Act.

Secondly, "restoring" the estate tax DOES NOT affect you unless you're very wealthy. Only the top 1% or 2% of people in America are affected by the estate tax, and the rest of us are unaffected.

Thirdly, statistics prove that there are very few families with small businesses who have been affected by the estate tax. In reality, it is the wealthy lawmakers in Washington who save money when the estate tax is repealed, not you and me. For the statistically insignificant number of families with small businesses, the tax code allows the estate tax to be paid in installments over time so the business does not have to be sold.

Fourth, the more money raised by estate taxes paid by the wealthy, the less the government needs to tax the rest of us.

Fifth, many wealthy people, including Bill Gate's father, support the estate tax to keep the country from becoming unbalanced. If the top 2% own all of the assets, and keep passing them on to their progeny, the rest of us never stand a chance. By redistributing some of the wealth (the kids of wealthy parents still get plenty), the estate tax gives all kids a fair chance of becoming wealthy some day.

 

[kathryn]

I question any powerful public figure who stands before any audience and proclaims that war and killing others is the will of God.

It very much seems like using the name of God to further ones own agenda (or, at the extreme, putting oneself in the place of God).

 

[kathryn]

So now we have a ticket that can make history.

Someone else mentioned this.
Does no one remember Geraldine Ferrara? She was the democratic VP back a ways. So Palin is not the first.