Doug K from Allentown

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

Pretty decent post. I might add that, as a lowly shift manager at McDonald's, I was able to purchase health insurance as long as I was full time. This was and still is offered to crew as well. At the time, I made about $500 to $600 a week take home. My insurance premium was about $45 per pay (single coverage). I remember thinking that eight to ten percent of my pay was just too much. After all, I was young and healthy. I made a conscious decision to not purchase health insurance. I ended up needing my wisdom teeth extracted. I spent $1,200 of my own money to get it done. It took me two years to pay that doctor off. I enrolled in the plan shortly thereafter. Happy holidays.  (Thursday Dec 24 | post #979)

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

I'd certainly agree that healthcare is more of a long-term problem. I'd also agree that, for the kind of reform that is happening, now is indeed the time to act with the super-majorities. I'd also agree that the administration underestimated the complexity and difficulty of such reform. I just am not sa optimistic that this will lower costs and help the global competitiveness of our workforce. I would've much rather seen $850 billion-ish spent on improving our education system and providing more college access. Happy holidays by the way.  (Thursday Dec 24 | post #976)

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

Here are some numbers regarding the 45 million "persons " in American wihtout health insurance. - 9.7 million of the uninsured are not citizens of the United States. - About 14 million of the uninsured were eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP. - 17.6 million of them had annual incomes of more than $50,000. - 9.1 million earned more than $75,000. When all of these factors are put together, A 2003 BlueCross BlueShield study determined that 8.2 million Americans are actually without coverage for the long haul, because they are too poor to purchase health care but earn too much to qualify for government assistance. Even being without insurance still doesn't mean they won't have access to care, because federal law forbids hospitals from denying treatment to patients who show up at the emergency rooms. Now I am not saying that there aren't people out there who need a hand. Clearly there are, but is this REALLY a crisis? Of the 26.7 million Americans listed above with sufficient incomes who have no insurace, just how many do we think have cell phones, Tivo, HD digital cable, high speed Internet, etc? I am betting there are no stats on that. One more point... I am not necessarily against healthcare reform... even a single payer or nationalized plan. I just don't think this is as important as job creation, excessive government spending, the ever-shrinking dollar, and our woeful education system. Here is the article I cited. It quotes the aforementioned Blue Cross study as well as the infamous Census report that Libs always use as moral justification for reform. Granted, the American Spectator is a conservative bunch. http://spectator.o rg/archives/2009/0 3/20/the-myth-of-t he-46-million  (Thursday Dec 24 | post #961)

US Governors

Man arrested for throwing a tomato at Sarah Palin during Mall o...

I guess I clued in to your quote... "...Reality check: some folks are dense. It is a fact of life. Palin is a living, breathing example of one...." This level of certainty with which you state Palin is dense is what made me question whether or not you put any thought behind it. It was a spot judgement to be sure. There is a big difference between being dense and occasionally doing and/or saying dense things. Our civil dialog and your further elaboration have cleared it up for me though. Stick around Topix for awhile. Civil and rational discussions are indeed rare here. Have a good holiday.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #904)

Western Cape, South Africa

Israeli Occupation, Colonialism and Apartheid

Most of what you have listed here sounds like Capitalizm to me... stingy management practices and planned obsolescence are the American way. I suspect that there are a lot more than just Jews doing this.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #323)

Western Cape, South Africa

Israeli Occupation, Colonialism and Apartheid

No. Not really. I don't have any real "skin in the game" so to speak with respect to the West Bank/Palestine situation. I suppose they'll do what they feel is necessary to protect their land or lifestyle. I also guess the Palistinians, Muslims, or whoever else will keep blowing themselves up as well. My point in commenting was that, despite the peaceful sounding nature of the Koran, the devil is in the interpretation and practice of religion.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #320)

US Governors

Man arrested for throwing a tomato at Sarah Palin during Mall o...

A very methodical, logical response. Judging by what I have seen of you so far, I can tell you re more articulate and intelligent that the average (mediocre) American. Your understanging of the Topix markup may seeem like something simple, but it really does speak to your intelligence. I use the term Palinophope to refer to irrational fear of Sarah Palin. I call such fear irrational because she really is a pretty insignificant person. Even if McCain would've won the election, just how relevent is the VP anyway? Does Biden really matter? Perhaps to his wife and mommy. Much generalized hatred, rage, mania, or whatever has been thrown at Palin by many people. Not all of it is backed up by an apparently thought out rationale. For what it's worth, there is Obamaphobia as well on these boards. As with the Palinophobes, most of these individuals are reading some chain email sent out by one PAC or another.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #902)

Western Cape, South Africa

Israeli Occupation, Colonialism and Apartheid

Didn't read either one, but I was just SHOCKED at the hatred that Muslims express towards the West... just SHOCKED.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #316)

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

I really hope the bill does end up lowering the deficit. I unfortunately don't share your optimism. The lowering of the deficit is contingent on savings down the road. Soemhow, whenever the Government does things like this, we always end up getting the short term expenses and tax increases. The savings almost never materialize. I hope I'm wrong. As far as American spending 15 percent of GDP on healthcare, I am not so sure comparing that figure to other nations means much. Elective surgeries and cosmetic procedures make up a pretty good part of total healthcare expenditures. Do they do liposuction and gastric bypass in Europe? This is just informed speculation here. I am not morally against even a single payer, national system. I just lack of faith in the Governmetn (ours to clarify) to execute it properly.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #915)

US Governors

Man arrested for throwing a tomato at Sarah Palin during Mall o...

Out of sheer curiosity, why exactly do you think Palin is dense? Are you saying that you are more intelligent than she? Do you think she is less intelligent than the average American? She does have a Bachelor's degree. Sure it may have taken her five years, and she went to several schools. That could be said of many people. I am trying to determine whether or not your Paninophobia is based on logic, opinion, partisan babble, or just visceral hatred.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #900)

US Governors

Man arrested for throwing a tomato at Sarah Palin during Mall o...

He didn't dodge the draft. He used his family's considerable connections to end up with a stitn tin the Texas Air National Guard. If I were of age then, and more importantly of the same means, I probably would have done the same thing. In any event, he didn't take off to Canada like thousands did. Even these individuals were pardoned.  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #896)

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

No issue with rambling. Your points are valid ones. I admit that I am indeed jaded regarding politicians... perhaps more than is healthy. I don't doubt their intent mind you. I beleive their thoughts are good. It's the execution that lacks my confidence. I did indeed read the original post. People do indeed go crazy here, and it can cause even the most rational person to respond in kind. I completely understand. As far as chickenhawks are concerned, does your definition include anyone who hasn't served? Is it only those who actively used their unique circumstances to avoid service? Can Vietnam REALLY be counted? Many people dodged this... both legally and by fleeing. I have to say that, if I were of age in Vietnam nad able to do so, I would have joined the Air National Guard or something. If I became President and ordered troops into combat, would that make me a chickenhawk? Ronald Reagan had poor eyesight and did not physically qualify for combat. Was he one?  (Wednesday Dec 23 | post #907)

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

Very fascinating insight into your thought porcesses here. You really are a "middle of the road" in many ways. Glad to see one. I too agree with your stance on abortion. A nasty thing that, unfortunately for us, is TOO big of a door to close. Just out of curiosity, what about parental notification? I guess I see the Government as always asking for a little more... never getting smaller... never really turning the tide against poverty. In many ways, the war on poverty is just as futile as the war on drugs. Both have no real winner or even a way to accurately measure success. Both both treat symptoms rather than causes. Lstly, both are expensive. I see there being a fine line between helping my fellow man and subsidizing his/her mediocrity. Since there really is no good way of distinguishing the difference between the needy and the lazy, we must endeavor to help all I guess.  (Tuesday Dec 22 | post #838)

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

Interesting post... very well thought out. You state the following... "But if you think for one second that Christ wouldn't want you to CHOOSE policies that save lives, and elevate humanity, then you are no Christian." What about abortion? How exactly would Christ feel? That certainly is a policy choice that doesn't serve to elevate humanity. There's also a belief among many conservative Christians that the Government ought not to be the instrument of aid here. For instance, I donate to the United way. They fund a local rescue mission which helps homeless. Admin costs are extremely low and there's no politics involved. I am not "forced" to give. I do so freely. I'm not saying that there cannot be any Government social sarety nets. I am merely saying that many of us feel the non-Governmental ones do as good a job if not better and without the coercion.  (Tuesday Dec 22 | post #832)

US Politics

Obama's 47 Percent Approval Lowest of Any President Ever at Thi...

This kind of partisan-hack argumetn is totally useless. What exactly is your point in mentioning something like this? Are you trying to point out hypocracy with politicians? There's a shocker. To answer your question, John McCain served in Vietnam as did Tom Ridge, Chuck Hagel, and Duke Cunningham. Sure there are some privlieged ones that managed to end up in the National Guard. Sure there are those who avoided service. Do you thikn it was only Republicans who did so? Are you that blinded by partisan ideology? Hypocracy is what politicians (on both sides) do for a living. It is one of the key reasons that Conservatives like myself do not trust Government all that much.  (Tuesday Dec 22 | post #829)