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glennPattonWork310-Oct-13 4:11

10-Oct-13 4:11

Woah!, slow down, didn't mean cause offense to any one! It's just as the super-power of the 20th Century standing, I would have thought it would be in there own interest Unsure | :~

charlieg10-Oct-13 4:34

10-Oct-13 4:34

No offense taken, your comment just surprised me. Yes, we're the last remaining superpower (for the time being). Power derives from economic production. We spent the USSR into oblivion, and now we cannot get our spending under control. Draw your conclusion.

I mean, do you REALLY want a US President that voted Present most of the time in the Senate? It's bad enough we inflict idiots upon ourselves, why would the world want it? lol

Charlie Gilley
<italic>You're going to tell me what I want to know, or I'm going to beat you to death in your own house.

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." B. Franklin, 1783
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759

glennPattonWork310-Oct-13 4:51

10-Oct-13 4:51

I do think I really need to find out more about the US system of government (my company does a lot of business there, the boss is an AGM this week). The UK we have one tool as PM, to be replace by another on a regular basis. The opposition does not seem to offer a difference, as soon as they get in it seems to be more of the same Hmmm | :|

. I mean the Badger cull, supposed to kill 2000 locally we got 500 ("as the badgers moved the goal posts"?WTF), which can't be tested for bovine TB, which why they were shot. Or was it to keep farmers happy? One sterling example of why I don't trust those in power.
Glenn.

charlieg10-Oct-13 4:55

10-Oct-13 4:55

"Why I don't trust those in power..."

That Sir, will get my to buy you a beer or three. We agree.

glennPattonWork310-Oct-13 4:57

10-Oct-13 4:57

Matter of interest did you hear of the Badger cull your side of the pond?

charlieg10-Oct-13 4:59

10-Oct-13 4:59

Actually I vaguely recall seeing some headline somewhere..... Didn't read it though

glennPattonWork310-Oct-13 5:03

10-Oct-13 5:03

Lucky you, that's all you seem to get in this part of the country!

chriselst10-Oct-13 4:58

10-Oct-13 4:58

The main flaw with democracy is that those in power have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo, when in power the only objective is to remain in power, when not in power the only objective is to get in power.

There is nothing to be gained by doing the right thing.

Whoever is in charge, therefore, is irrelevant.

Revolution is the only way to get any sort of change.

“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

Nicholas Marty10-Oct-13 5:14

Nicholas Marty

10-Oct-13 5:14

ChrisElston wrote:
Revolution is the only way to get any sort of change.

ChrisElston wrote:
when not in power the only objective is to get in power.

Revolution: Someone not in power, wants to get in power and therefore to stay in power, having replaced one sunshine with another one? Poke tongue | ;-P

Nagy Vilmos10-Oct-13 3:37

Nagy Vilmos

10-Oct-13 3:37

And another thing...

When the NHS was introduced, the big selling point was that instead of 10% of the population paying for health care and the rest going unaided, 100% would be paying so the COST would be REDUCED.

It works.

speramus in juniperus

charlieg10-Oct-13 3:42

10-Oct-13 3:42

Last I heard, the NHS's expenses were exploding... true or false? Not arguing, just comparing perspectives...

glennPattonWork310-Oct-13 4:12

10-Oct-13 4:12

True, too many old people, not enough youngster paying in!

chriselst10-Oct-13 4:17

10-Oct-13 4:17

NHS Going Open Source[^]

“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

chriselst10-Oct-13 4:29

10-Oct-13 4:29

Government expenditure on NHS has remained roughly the same for the last 4 years or so (around 105 of your American billions for England), since it was started in 1948 expenditure has risen about 10 fold.

“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

charlieg10-Oct-13 4:37

10-Oct-13 4:37

Question - where do your government elites go for healthcare?

chriselst10-Oct-13 4:42

10-Oct-13 4:42

charlieg wrote:
Question - where do your government elites go for healthcare?

Well as those currently at the top of the government are lizard people, they have their own fleet of space vets to keep them healthy.

“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

Nagy Vilmos10-Oct-13 4:44

Nagy Vilmos

10-Oct-13 4:44

speramus in juniperus

Nagy Vilmos10-Oct-13 4:45

Nagy Vilmos

10-Oct-13 4:45

If you can, you go private. Even with private it is often more expedient to use the NHS; as my brother did when his brain started rotting.

speramus in juniperus

chriselst10-Oct-13 4:52

10-Oct-13 4:52

I get private healthcare (BUPA) through work, but I have no idea how to use it, so I've kept with the NHS for the 4 or 5 years I've had it.

Been in hospital for treatment probably about a dozen times in that time, a couple of operations, numerous physio sessions.

“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks

Mark_Wallace10-Oct-13 8:23

Mark_Wallace

10-Oct-13 8:23

I admit to having no idea what went on over there (except that so much misinformation was given by all sides that it's doubtful that even God knows what the truth is), but all they had to do is say: "This is how they do it in England/France/[pick a European country], and it works there, so let's do it like that".

I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

charlieg10-Oct-13 9:38

10-Oct-13 9:38

Remember, there are certain lightning rods in the US that will absolutely fry a politician. Going European would be one of them Smile | :)

No offense.

Just listening to this discussion reminds me that the entire debate has been mis-categorized completely. Yes, we have issues in our healthcare system, but Obamacare seizes private property and moves it around to other people. And yes, I am being consistent. I don't support Medicaire, Medicaid, food stamps or anything else.

Ask a 30 something who has been paying $120 month for health care. It's going to double if he's lucky. Why is his cost going up? Because someone has to pay for old farts like me. This is nothing more than theft.

Colin Rae10-Oct-13 10:06

Colin Rae

10-Oct-13 10:06

Most people seem to forget that the 30 something pays $120/month only because his employer has heavily subsidized his healthcare. The employer usually picks up the lion's share of the insurance cost. This is why it is called an employee benefit.

The amount the employee has to pay is basically decided by the employer...

(BTW I've seen a lot of complaints about how the healthcare exchange insurance is "more expensive and less coverage than I get now". Well, no wonder! There's no employer paying for most of it. People with employer-subsidized insurance would be crazy to think they could get a better deal in the exchanges.)

charlieg10-Oct-13 10:11

10-Oct-13 10:11

Valid point, so I should clarify. The increases people are seeing are for those who buy their own insurance - not paid for by employers. Basically, what you used to be able to get from E-Insurance and other online places has radical price increases. Yes, if you have employer provided coverage, you'll see a fraction of the cost increase.

The new system rolling out favors larger employers. Unless of course you work for a company that cannot handle the cost increases.

Colin Rae10-Oct-13 10:33

Colin Rae

10-Oct-13 10:33

Yes, fortunately I have insurance through my employer. The full cost of insurance is downright scary, even before any potential increases. It all seems very inefficient... Smile | :)