Good thing we don’t ration health care in the USA

From the Dayton Daily News:

OXFORD — Friends say the Miami University graduate who died this week after reportedly suffering from swine flu delayed getting medical treatment because she did not have health insurance.

Kimberly Young

Kimberly Young

News of Kimberly Young’s death Wednesday, Sept. 23, came as a shock to those who knew the vibrant 22-year-old who was working at least two jobs in Oxford after graduating with a double major in December 2008.

Young became ill about two weeks ago, but didn’t seek care initially because she didn’t have health insurance and was worried about the cost, according to Brent Mowery, her friend and former roommate.

Later stories suggest Young died of viral pneumonia, rather than swine flu.

403 comments Add your comment

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:38 pm

@PODS is not an MD

Sounds like you are making a case for health care rationing.

thomas

September 27th, 2009
10:40 pm

Jackie,

I have never ever said that HC did not need to be tinkered with.

So why do you keep giving me these examples of how bad HC here is?

All I’m saying is that this example given by Jay has nothing to do with rationing.

If you would like though I have provided a link to horror stories of HC in other countries as well.

But I am sure you believe there is a perfect Health Care System out there were none ever die or get sick?

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:41 pm

@thomas

Your first statement invalidates your argument.
How did the hospital know the patient was homeless?
Since I am not trying to make you believe that the public option is in all our best interest, present information that is verifiable gives one the opportunity to comprehend, digest and decide what they need for their life.

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
10:41 pm

The irony that he is still deified still ceases to amaze me.

I think that’s who they really pray to in church as well. Give us this day our daily rayguns and give us a commie to shot with them. I would like to know why they seem to congregate more in the south though. Was it because my native American ancestors that settled in these parts were just too trusting of these forked tongued conservatives.

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:43 pm

@thomas

Any example used is for the purpose of provoking discussion relative to the topic. What has other countries to do with what is an absolute conundrum in the USA?

tiPublic Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
10:43 pm

And the couple who had the kid with the hot appendix I mentioned had insurance. But they were having trouble finding a match with it and a hospital that took it. Things are better now than they were that night, but I have a million and one stories I could fill a book with and so does every other MD particularly ones that worked ERs steadly or partime for a while.

You ought to read Doc Hollywood the book by Neil Schulman or some of Neil’s other ER books. He has it down.

thomas

September 27th, 2009
10:45 pm

Jackie,

Just check out some of these stories. Especially the one about the man who was given a date of surgery for a double by-pass I believe. Funny thing is that he was given a surgery date a full year after he had DIED from….. wait for it……. a heart attack.

Wow they knew for over a year he needed a surgery, then waited til he died. Talk about your rationing.

http://www.riograndefoundation.org/new/articles/?EC=ReadArticle&ArticleID=277

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
10:46 pm

The last post by PODS, again, trying to let everyone know that he is the only qualified person to discuss.

Let you in on a little nugget, you educated idiot. The more you beg us all to believe that you’re an MD, the more we call you a fool. Did mommy not give you enough hugs and smooches as a child?

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
10:46 pm

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
10:36 pm
Jackie – that’s life. Sometimes the deck is stacked against you. Not EVERYONE can be saved. There will be many that die. We are not meant to live forever. Our days our numbered from the day we are born. Some go quicker than others… that’s life.

Sounds more like death panel talk and rationing and death that you speak of. A follower of the words of Isakson, no doubt. He proposed the original death panel into the healthcare legislation, dontcha know. Of course, it was not an original thought since the insurance companies had been doing it all along — deciding who lives and who dies.

Tom

September 27th, 2009
10:48 pm

The good ol’ USA! BushDrunk World again.

thomas

September 27th, 2009
10:48 pm

The reason other countries have anything to do with the argument is because 1 of the main reason for reform I have heard is the amount of uninsured in our country as oppossed to others. And because I have heard many argument that we are behind other countries in medicine.

BTW, if not our country’s HC system, and you don’t want to discuss other countries systems, would you mind telling us exactly what type of system you think will be put in place?

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:48 pm

@thomas

You make my point.
Rationing is done all the time. Have you ever seen or heard of someone who needed an organ transplant that died? Is that not rationing?

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
10:49 pm

Let you in on a little nugget, you educated idiot. The more you beg us all to believe that you’re an MD, the more we call you a fool. Did mommy not give you enough hugs and smooches as a child?

I think it is you that is calling someone the fool. Try to accept credit for your work there and don’t try to pawn it off on others.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
10:51 pm

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
10:46 pm

The time of your death is out of your hands.

Dusty

September 27th, 2009
10:51 pm

Jackie, 10:10

Now bark. The top dog is already pushing all of us over the cliff that is $7 trillion deep. SEVEN TRILLION! Soooo.. what’s a few trillion MORE $$$ for healthcare ?. Keep pushing for those trillion $$$, Jackie. That’s a good liberal. You can do it!!!!

G’nite.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
10:52 pm

Humans have never controlled the time of death – EVER.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
10:53 pm

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:48 pm
@thomas

You make my point.
Rationing is done all the time. Have you ever seen or heard of someone who needed an organ transplant that died? Is that not rationing?

It’s called, LACK OF ORGANS.

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:53 pm

@thomas

There are many examples that could be used including Japan, Australia, Britian, Germany and Canada.

Insurance in those countries DO HAVE private companies, but they have the public option in which the citizens pay a small percentage of their income in taxes. I think Australia has the highest in that they pay 7.2% income tax for which everything is free.

In most cases, everyone can go to a General Practitioner at anytime. The General Practitioner determines if the patient needs specialized care and refers that individual for those services. This includes all medical, dental and mental conditions with no caps.

In Japan, they have developed a world class MRI system that is better and cheaper than those machines used in this country. They even have cell-phones acting as medical devices.

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:55 pm

@Dusty

As is typical of you, have nothing to back up your claim.

Jackie

September 27th, 2009
10:56 pm

@PODS is not an MD

Is that rationing?

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
10:58 pm

PODS insistence that he is an MD, reminds me of a person that constantly has to use the phrase, “Trust me”. When they say it once… that’s fine. When they say it multiples times… the trust is long gone.

Kamchak

September 27th, 2009
10:59 pm

Taxpayer

The South has always been re-reactionary. Maybe it’s the heat. The Southern Baptist denomination was a reaction to Reconstruction.

I remember the Convention that was held that installed Charles Stanley at it’s head–my parents were “messengers” from their church. He was elected with a vote count that exceeded the number of messengers eligible to vote.

The idea that “the ends justifies the means” is what split the SBC.

Evangelicalism installed RWR. Evangelicalism has driven electoral politics in the late 20th-century. Evangelicalism has driven supply-side economics. Evangelicalism has made us what we are today.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:00 pm

How is a lack of organs, rationing? Should we just go in and grab that extra kidney out of everyone – no questions asked? Shoot, you don’t need both of them. You can live with just one. Let’s just take it out. Hey! You’ve got two eyes, you only need one to see. Let me have that extra one, because someone else needs it more for you. Don’t be such a hoarder with your extra organs!

Cherokee

September 27th, 2009
11:01 pm

thomas I’m glad your gall bladder problem worked out.

But if you think you the average person can walk into a medical clinic and get care on the promise that you’ll pay the bill later, you’re nuts. I have kids who have tried that – it simply doesn’t work.

In fact that’s one reason I am so in favor of a public option – so that I don’t have to argue with the ninnies behind the counter at the doctor’s office about whether or not I have insurance.

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
11:01 pm

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
10:51 pm
Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
10:46 pm

The time of your death is out of your hands.

You have the freedom to believe whatever you want. As do we all.

Cherokee

September 27th, 2009
11:04 pm

“When they say it once… that’s fine. When they say it multiples times… the trust is long gone.”

He’s been attacked multiple times; why wouldn’t he defend himself?

I’m glad to hear him speak – it’s always amazed me that GA has three physicians in Congress -Price, Braun, and Gingrey – who have to be three of the dumbest people up there…

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
11:05 pm

In fact that’s one reason I am so in favor of a public option – so that I don’t have to argue with the ninnies behind the counter at the doctor’s office about whether or not I have insurance.

Cherokee, good point. I wonder how many doctors out there treat first and ask for method of payment later or, better yet, just say something like “pay me when you can, what you can”. Right. Even the emergency rooms ask for insurance first. They don’t take you straight in because you look like you are about to die.

TnGelding

September 27th, 2009
11:07 pm

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

September 27th, 2009
9:43 pm

If only he hadn’t stained that blue dress!

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:09 pm

Cherokee

September 27th, 2009
11:01 pm

I agree to a certain extent. There are always going to be someone that won’t take you, but on the flip, there is always going to be someone that will. When I had no insurance, I was treated and had a payment plan later. When our son was born, the bill after insurance was fairly significant and we planned on it before hand. We had saved a little, so we used those funds and then had a payment plan for the rest. We were given that option with no grief and that was just 3 years ago at North Fulton Hospital.

tiPublic Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:12 pm

I’ve given a lot of free care and a lot of free phone advice, etc. but no doctors and no clinics treat on the promise of pay and haven’t for years. This blog draws the epicenter of some of the dumbest people who use a keyboard and mouse.

Cherokee

September 27th, 2009
11:14 pm

Seriously, I’m glad that worked for you PODS. As Taxpayer says, there probably are docs who will treat first and worry about the money later. I just don’t think it’s wise to base policy on that.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:15 pm

When you have something emergent, that BS that there is always someone that will is more stupidity. There are charity hospitals for which you might qualify, but a lot of people aren’t that mobile and when they’re sick they aren’t in the mode of searching. This idiot just gets dumber and dumber who claims to know what people do for a living.

And what you’ll never see this ahole do is try to prove I’m not an MD by taking me on medically. It also won’t take me on legally.

Georgia is a state with the poorest education and the biggest proliferation of hick white trash, and we really get them in here.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:17 pm

Bull$hit POD.

As you have shown us all – you don’t know everything.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:18 pm

It is not STUPIDITY. It is a fact you ignoramous.

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
11:18 pm

Evangelicalism has made us what we are today

Sadly, that is too true. And, I’ll never get that image of folks like the Bakkers out of my mind. ewwwww.

RW-(the original)

September 27th, 2009
11:19 pm

Enter your comments here–

Let’s for giggles go with the assumption that Chadly is a licensed physician. Do you really want a government that would turn him loose on you to run the whole thing?

Andy,

A mutual friend of ours said she was going to kick your backside if you didn’t back off on Benjolina and the Steel Drapes.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:19 pm

Georgia is a state with the poorest education and the biggest proliferation of hick white trash, and we really get them in here.

Look in the mirror.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:19 pm

We treat a certain number of people for free under certain circumstances, but given the huge delay in every inurance claim–I don’t take Medicaid and see few medicare, but givent he kabuki that insurance companies pay in claim delays we can’t afford to treat many patients for free. Things are getting tighter for hospitals in the past couple years, because the Bush economy has caused a reduction in elective surgeries, and they sure as hell aren’t treating for free without insuranced .

The situation where someone is in life-threatening mode is a whole other thing.

And a lot of private hospitals patient dump. U Chicago was caught doing it in a notable set of cases, and there is a lot of literature on it.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:20 pm

I didn’t get my education here and I’m proud of that.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:21 pm

RW–

Hopefully you’ll end up critical in a room where the only one is you and you’ll be turned lose on your insipid self.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:22 pm

Let’s for giggles assume that RW may not be competent at anyce.thing except reaching in and flinging his own fecal material in a hybrid of arrogance and ignorance.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:23 pm

but given the huge delay in every inurance claim–I don’t take Medicaid and see few medicare,

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! LOL!!!!!! And you want the government run healthcare for all?!?!?! You just bit yourself in the a$$, numbnuts. Some “MD” you are.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:24 pm

I forget more in a nanosecond than you’ve learned in years hick.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:25 pm

The bills we have now would fix medicare. Repubozotards like First broke it, but you wouldn’t understand Medicare Part D if it bit you in that fat arse.

And I have a population that is largely not on medicare, and I’m plenty happy with that.

The public option would be totally different, and fortunatley you’ll have nothing to say about it or much of anything else.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:26 pm

but given the huge delay in every inurance claim–I don’t take Medicaid and see few medicare,

I guess you’re going to be a cash poor “MD” with a government run system.

I hope you’ve paid back all of your student loans.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:29 pm

Not one of these right wing whackjobs has brains enough to discuss an issue. It’s all about flinging fecal material at other people. And there’s a compelling reason for that. The vocabulary is default 6th grade level as well.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:30 pm

The public option would be totally different

Oh Boy! This keeps getting this better.

You know, correspondence courses, no matter how many you took don’t make you a DOCTOR.

Isn’t it about time for your shift? Go clean out some bedpans.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:32 pm

The kid who was the subject of this blog couldn’t afford care early enough to save her life, and all these arseholes are alive. It’s a shame things aren’t the other way around.

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
11:32 pm

Countdown to reconciliation day, October 15. If that is what it take. That’s what the Republicans did under Bush to get their tax cuts, the cuts that end next year because someone has to pay for them. Welcome to reality, Republicans.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:33 pm

Seems ole Andy and Mike aren’t around whenever the hallucination that you can read people’s lives starts. Funny you can’t do that with the lottery.

RW-(the original)

September 27th, 2009
11:35 pm

Enter your comments here–

Let’s for giggles assume that RW may not be competent at anyce.thing

Like typing? Put down the crack pipe Chadly, Nurse Rached may be calling you to the “ER” any second.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:37 pm

Nurse Latrina is calling him in to clean the $hitters.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:41 pm

The typing will be remedied by a blue tooth keyboard not in stores yet. My typing is fine but I have movie stuff going on on the other boxes with the user friendly keyboards and this baby is fast. Apprarently you’re not that heavy in the IT sector, if you don’t understand that some notebook have problematic keyboards.

Besides sling fecal material and slurs on other peoples’ professions that you’d never do to the face of a stranger, what the hell do you do RW?

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:42 pm

PODS couldn ‘t get admitted to med school in any country including 3rd world and it resents that.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:43 pm

Could ya PODS Not? So far I haven’t seen any vocabulary that puts you above sixth grade level.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:43 pm

RW does a past or current drug problem like Rush’s account for your obsession with fecal smearing that includes delusions about drug use in other people?

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 27th, 2009
11:44 pm

When you ready to take me on medical or legal issue RW? Nothing’s stopping you from using that keyboard. Take the plunge.

Taxpayer

September 27th, 2009
11:47 pm

Cherokee

September 27th, 2009
11:14 pm
Seriously, I’m glad that worked for you PODS. As Taxpayer says, there probably are docs who will treat first and worry about the money later. I just don’t think it’s wise to base policy on that.

And, I would not want to go door to door looking when I’m really sick either. Or, shopping for the lowest price on a vasectomy or prostate surgery or any number of other things. Then again, if that is the sort of approach that Republicans want to take with their own bodies, who should we be to stop them. In fact, I suspect folks like the wife of that Sanford fella might find such an approach to be to her liking. Maybe we would be better off to get the Democrats to pass a public option that is just for Democrats. Too bad we could not do that with the Republican legislation that we all got stuck with over the years.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:49 pm

Oh ma GOD! Ma darn kayboard is done messed up on ma! It wuz all ma kayboards falt.

PODS is not an MD

September 27th, 2009
11:52 pm

PODS couldn ‘t get admitted to med school in any country including 3rd world and it resents that.

Well PODS, the first step is admittance. Thanks for finally coming out with whats ailing you.

RW-(the original)

September 27th, 2009
11:53 pm

Enter your comments here–

finch used to blame all the woes of the world on his keyboard too. Surely to God finch hasn’t gone so far off the deep end that he quit impersonating a journalist and took up “doctoring”

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 28th, 2009
12:08 am

It’s a well known problem RW when there is no adjustment on the keyboard. Great notebook but the keyboard skips if you type fast. Happens to any of my friends who use it.

I’m so sorry I’ve inconvenienced you, but you wouldn’t understand half the words if there weren’t typos.

The bluetooth should solve the problem –it’s been announced but not in stores and I don’t want to USB plug in a big clunker that I don’t have room for on my laptop.

I’m sorry about your chronic drug problem, but we know you can’t fix it. I’ll let you know when I get the keyboard fixed.

It seems to me though you have a bigger problem. Drugs and the fact that you’re too dumb to discuss an issue. I see you discuss rock and roll on Friday’s but nothing else.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 28th, 2009
12:09 am

Maybe you should hook up with “finch” then. Maybe you can swap drugs. Rush still does ‘em. That’s another source for you.

RW-(the original)

September 28th, 2009
12:09 am

Enter your comments here–

Say goodnight, Chadly.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 28th, 2009
12:13 am

You weren’t too keen on taking me on with a medical or legal issue were you RW? So you’re great at saying someone’s a fake as long as that’s all that’s required of you, because they disagree with you politically. but not much when it comes to putting up or shutting up.

People who disagree with you potlitically fake their profession is that it? But limited to saying their fake, you don’t have the b_lls to actually call them on it by trying to prove it. I opened up the fields of law and medicine. Should be damn easy for a sophisticate like you. You let me know when you think you have the nerve. This I hallucinate that someone has had “x” life experience and training wouldn’t fly with many people. You seem to have yourself convinced so why not show everyone how fast you can prove ole Chad is a fake doctor. Go for it. Make our day.

Public Option's Doing Swell

September 28th, 2009
12:17 am

I don’t understand why people here can’t simply come at an issue with their best argument instead of flinging personal fecal material. That acutally happens in some venues. The black guy in the white house pissed you off that much huh? He’s not making liberals happy in court issues and his wishy washy health stance has lost him a lot of campaign contributions next time around. It’s the only answer to his campaign or whatever the hells incessant emails saying “rah rah” health care when he hasn’t defined a damn thing.

But that doesn’t mean we’re dumb enough to support your whackjob candidates. It just means that we take out ads that really tick off and hurt the blue dogs. Fine. We couldn’t do any worse with the Repubozos that will beat them.

It means that we won’t be beating the bushes in cold weather for Obama or contributing. But we won’t vote for the whackjob self centered aholes you put up who are the purest form of hookers for corporate.

RollerGirl

September 28th, 2009
1:59 am

PODS comment “Georgia is a state with the poorest education and the biggest proliferation of hick white trash, and we really get them in here.”

My response: Compare the SAT scores of Forsyth and cherokee counties(white hicks like me) with those of the city of Atlanta and clayton county (non-white majority) and get back to me

Crush the pubt's

September 28th, 2009
2:11 am

I know two things “Vandy girl.” You comment at the level of a 5th grader, and you are never on point to an issue. Georgia was 47th this year, and that represents your vocabulary appropriately.

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

September 28th, 2009
5:27 am

Go Steelers! Hi Honu!

~~~~~

Liberals seek health-care access for illegals, Fearful that they’re losing ground on immigration and health care, a group of House Democrats is pushing back and arguing that any health care bill should extend to all legal immigrants and allow illegal immigrants some access.-Washington Times

We’ll call it the “world option.”

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

September 28th, 2009
5:42 am

Morning church services took on new meaning in Cobb County Sunday.

Volunteers from local churches and some from other states showed up to help hundreds of families affected by last week’s flood as the sun finally showed up to begin drying things out.

“They’ve been coming out of the woodwork,” said Karen Hurst, who lives on Glory Drive in Austell. “I don’t know what I would have done without them. We don’t have any family here,” she said.

Along hard-hit Clay Road, the cars of hundreds of volunteers packed cul-de-sacs and crowded roadside parking. Workers tore out rotting and wet drywall, shoveled up sopping, yellow fiberglass insulation and carried ruined furniture to huge debris bins that dotted the lawns. Volunteers brought food, water and shoulders to lean on.-AJC

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator :-) You Whine :-(

September 28th, 2009
6:35 am

The leisure class is in great measure sheltered from the stress of those economic exigencies which prevail in any modern, highly organized industrial community.… and as a consequence of this privileged position we should expect to find it one of the least responsive of the classes of society to the demands which the situation makes for a further growth of institutions and a readjustment to an altered industrial situation.… [B]y precept and prescriptive example, [the leisure class] makes for the perpetuation of the existing maladjustment of institution, and even favors a reversion to a somewhat more archaic scheme of life.

There could not be a better explanation of why, at a time when China is currently planning to build 132 nuclear reactors in the next 20 years, America is absorbed in the fantasy that we can run an industrial nation on windmills and solar collectors.-AmSpec

Back to the caves with us.

Doggone/GA

September 28th, 2009
6:48 am

“If you’re going to use that overused response, at least spell it correctly.”

What? You can’t read tyop? Maybe you need Engrish lessons from Georgie.

Taxpayer

September 28th, 2009
7:06 am

Solar enery — the gift that keeps on giving. And, it’s there all day long. It’s even available, free of charge, to anyone. It’s even tax-free and it will not run out for as long as we shall live on this planet. We could not have a better source of energy even if it had come from a god.

USinUK

September 28th, 2009
7:06 am

“You can’t read tyop?”

are you being ironic?

USinUK

September 28th, 2009
7:07 am

Tax –

I agree – I just wish that engineers would get a wiggle in it an find a better way of converting it to electricity …

Normal

September 28th, 2009
7:07 am

MR. PRESIDENT, BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW!
————–
Happy Monday to y’all! :)

Say What??

September 28th, 2009
7:08 am

Jay,

I just read of a local teenager who died over the weekend. Seems he was driving drunk at a high rate of speed, ran off the road and hit a tree, and was ejected from the car because he wasn’t wearing a seat belt. I guess Obama has a “program” he will soon sponsor that will prevent something like that from ever happening again, right?

Doggone/GA

September 28th, 2009
7:15 am

“are you being ironic?”

yep!

Taxpayer

September 28th, 2009
7:16 am

Say what?? Doesn’t Georgia still allow you to drive a pickup on the public roads without a seatbelt.

Say What??

September 28th, 2009
7:21 am

Taxpayer,

I do believe you’re right. Rather ridiculous, don’t you think?

The point of my original post is that the young man (who was driving a car) made a bad choice. It happens all the time. Heck, I’ve read about, and even know, some people who die from not going to a doctor and they HAVE medical insurance.

This young lady’s death is tragic, but it was NOT caused by insensitive people who oppose socialized healthcare. Very sad that Jay wants to use this person is his argument.

Taxpayer

September 28th, 2009
7:30 am

This young lady’s death is tragic, but it was NOT caused by insensitive people who oppose socialized healthcare. Very sad that Jay wants to use this person is his argument.

One could readily argue that such a mindset is developed in a society over time. A Pavlovian response due to years of conditioning. In other countries, when people get sick, they just go to the doctor. They don’t ask themselves first whether their insurance will cover the visit, for example.

USinUK

September 28th, 2009
7:40 am

Say what?

you seem to forget 2 things: driving while intoxicated is illegal and carries heavy fines, penalties on your license and possible jail time if it’s a repeated offense.

additionally, as noted above, driving without a seatbelt is also an offense.

so, to answer your question, there already are “programs” to address this tragedy … and, while they don’t address every numpty that wants to press their luck, they HAVE reduced the number of traffic fatalities since they’ve been enacted.

stands for decibels

September 28th, 2009
7:42 am

Best thing in the article linked by Jay:

User comments are not being accepted on this article.

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

September 28th, 2009
7:43 am

About 59 million people are on Medicaid today—which means that a decade from now about a quarter of the total population would be on a program originally sold as help for low-income women, children and the disabled. State budgets would explode—by $37 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office—because they would no longer be allowed to set eligibility in line with their own decisions about taxes and spending. This is the mother—and father and crazy uncle—of unfunded mandates.-WallStreetJournal

It’s also a covert and seditious attempt to undermine the economic well being of the United States.

Cannibalism by internal parasites, what a great way for our country to die.

Should be fun.

TnGelding

September 28th, 2009
7:45 am

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator :-) You Whine :-(

September 28th, 2009
6:35 am

…and nuclear reactors:

“In the past two years, we have received applications to build and operate 28 new nuclear power plants in the U.S.,” NRC spokesman Scott Burnell says. The agency has recently received several letters of intent, according to Burnell, indicating that in the next two to three years, utility companies will be seeking permission to build additional nuclear power plants.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/new-nuclear-renaissance.php

TnGelding

September 28th, 2009
7:49 am

Taxpayer

September 28th, 2009
7:06 am

Just think how much energy could be saved if everyone hung their clothes out to dry like we do? Or dried their hair with a towel like we do?

stands for decibels

September 28th, 2009
7:52 am

you seem to forget 2 things: driving while intoxicated is illegal and carries heavy fines, penalties on your license and possible jail time if it’s a repeated offense.

also item 3–intelligent people are not distracted by cheap, shiny baubles.

USinUK, I’ll just say this about HCR for now: I understand that some conservatives take an intellectually honest position in opposition to the heavy hand of government control. They are genuinely worried about the downside. Given our high unemployment and an economy that is barely chugging along I can understand their caution.

Thing is, their side set the screwup bar pretty high with Iraq. So I have to temper their concerns with the still-fresh memory of “I doubt six months” and the notion that oil revenues were going to more than cover the costs of invasion.

So you’ll excuse me if I don’t take their objections all that seriously.

TnGelding

September 28th, 2009
7:55 am

I Report/ Vast White Wing Conspirator (-: You Whine )-:

September 28th, 2009
7:43 am

Keeping the currency circulating, essential in capitalism.

USinUK

September 28th, 2009
7:55 am

TnG –

“Just think how much energy could be saved if everyone hung their clothes out to dry like we do? ”

THANKS for that! I totally forgot that I do that every week on laundry day (well, laundry weekend) … I can’t remember who was asking me on Fri what I do to reduce my carbon footprint, that’s one of the biggest

(and, yes, my hair air-dries, as well … which is why I love short hair)

USinUK

September 28th, 2009
7:57 am

dB –

“So you’ll excuse me if I don’t take their objections all that seriously”

like you need to ask my pardon for that??? criminey, they lost me at death panels …

Taxpayer

September 28th, 2009
8:06 am

TnGelding

September 28th, 2009
7:49 am
Taxpayer

September 28th, 2009
7:06 am

Just think how much energy could be saved if everyone hung their clothes out to dry like we do? Or dried their hair with a towel like we do?

We do those things too! We turn off the lights in the house when we are not using them and most of the lights are not needed at all during the day because I designed the house to take advantage of available sunlight while using high efficiency windows to minimize heat transfer. I worked with the power coop during the construction to make sure that everything met or exceeded their requirements for their energy star rating and I even got a cash rebate check from them and a lower charge per kwh. We actually have more heated space now than in our last home but use less power.

PODS is not an MD

September 28th, 2009
8:08 am

Can you even imagine PODS being an MD? That certainly would give the medical profession a bad name.

stands for decibels

September 28th, 2009
8:09 am

like you need to ask my pardon for that??? criminey, they lost me at death panels …

Yeah, I know, and you know I know you know.

I’m having one of those “why don’t the good rational people here make a concerted effort to abandon the crazies and work instead to effect actual change by harassing their representatives” moments. I’m sure it’ll pass.

USinUK

September 28th, 2009
8:18 am

dB –

“I’m having one of those “why don’t the good rational people here make a concerted effort to abandon the crazies and work instead to effect actual change by harassing their representatives” moments. I’m sure it’ll pass.”

would you like a pony, while we’re at it?

Say What??

September 28th, 2009
8:19 am

Taxpayer, you said “One could readily argue that such a mindset is developed in a society over time. A Pavlovian response due to years of conditioning. In other countries, when people get sick, they just go to the doctor. They don’t ask themselves first whether their insurance will cover the visit, for example”

Yes, one could argue ANYTHING. Hopefully you’ve crafted your skill while looking at yourself in a mirror.

People just go to the doctor? Happens here as well. That’s why Grady got in such deep financial trouble. It was reported last year that people would show up to the Grady emergency room with something like a sore throat (the common cold) or an ache in their elbow. Many of these people were not insured and could not pay their bill, however, they were afforded the care that was needed.

stands for decibels

September 28th, 2009
8:28 am

would you like a pony, while we’re at it?

While I get the Eschatonian reference, I admit to thinking of this.

Heading out for awhile.

Say What??

September 28th, 2009
8:29 am

Pat

September 28th, 2009
8:45 am

So – lemme see if I’ve gotten the gist of the right-wing feedback dispensed here -
a girl who wasted her short life getting an education in trying to make the world a better place, instead of useful business skills, and was too stupid to go to the ER to get some mythical “free” care died – and evil democrats are “using” her death for political purposes? Why not go further? It’s probably likely, in the diseased minds of the right, that she deliberately got sick and died to be a martyr for health care, isn’t it? After all, she was just some dumb “pinko” committed to “truth and justice” – all that commie stuff. No great loss, right?
How sickening.

mike

September 28th, 2009
11:06 am

Pat –

“a girl who wasted her short life getting an education in trying to make the world a better place, instead of useful business skills, and was too stupid to go to the ER to get some mythical “free” care died – and evil democrats are “using” her death for political purposes? Why not go further? It’s probably likely, in the diseased minds of the right, that she deliberately got sick and died to be a martyr for health care, isn’t it? After all, she was just some dumb “pinko” committed to “truth and justice” – all that commie stuff. No great loss, right?”

What nonsense. Nobody implied anything of the sort.

Your lying is pathetic.

Sarah

September 28th, 2009
12:07 pm

on the side issue – the test results are back and this woman did NOT die of swine flu, she didn’t have it. Maybe media should stop its own fear-mongering about this flu. Don’t blare headlines linking deaths with swine flu until you know what you are talking about.