BritGuyTN

yes

seriously, I felt very gypped when I got my first pay packet

Steerpike

Fair enough - my biggest complaint (from a selfish perspective) with the system today is the lack of coverage 'at any price' if I don't qualify for group coverage and have a pre-existing condition. One strategy I've thought of is to take a job in teaching, or some other government job, one that MAY provide ongoing coverage AFTER I quit working. You say your lower paying job offers more security in your twilight years - good for you! Can you elaborate on how that works? Is it that you work for 'n' years and then qualify for healthcare 'for life' (or some variation thereof)

Steerpike

I presume you are joking ... do YOU wear a flag pin in YOUR suit?

hey, Obama went to school in Indonesia and (shock, horror!) attended school with some .... oh my God ... Muslims !!!!! He actually may have an understanding of these people we love to demonize. Wouldn't that be a novel idea !

BritGuyTN

you know he bows down to Mecca 4 times a day?
















(J/K)

Steerpike

Roland - My experience has been much like yours; I make more money, pay less tax, and the few encounters I've had with the US healthcare system have been good. So what's not to like? The future, that's what.

Imagine you are 50; still employed/insured, but you develop prostate cancer. Your cancer is taken care of, and the treatment is covered by your insurance and you are back at work. Now, fast forward to age 55; you are laid off and can't find another job. Once your Cobra runs out, you need to buy private medical insurance. Due to your prior encounter with prostate cancer, no insurance company will offer you insurance, not at any price. This is not a fantasy, this is how it goes under the current system.

Now imagine your prostate cancer returns (or some new disease; doesn't matter). You now have to pay for treatment out of your own pocket. Calculate how quickly your savings (accumulated due to your higher salary and lower taxes) are depleted by a few 100,000 medical bills. THAT's one of the big things being discussed here.

Now imagine, instead of lucky you (and me) and your high paying job, we are talking about a lower-paid shop assistant in the same scenario - with no big savings to draw on. THAT's the other big thing being discussed here. We are talking about voting for someone who will hopefully address these scenarios.

tamms_1965

I think teaching is a great job....and there is a shortage of many kinds of teachers all over the U.S. On paper I may seem overqualified to some people, but I don't think anyone could ever be overqualified to be a teacher.

another bloody yank

I dated a black girl once whose Mom was a white woman and she felt the same way as you do. I don't see any evidence of that myself.

I grew up in an area dominated by Italian Catholics and was always under narrow eyed suspicion because my last name doesn't end in a vowel. I would introduce myself then quickly add "But my Mother's maiden name is Ruffino..." which would cause them to relax as you would if a man came to your door and said he was from the IRS...... but you were not being audited, he just needed directions.

Are you saying you're going to get me a pint?

another bloody yank

Damn.

tamms_1965

No, not because I haven't had the opportunity. I do not want to live elsewhere. There are more pros than cons for ME. I don't care if others like it here. Frankly, I actually wish FEWER people liked it here. It may solve some of the problems that accompany the population crisis that some areas of the country are experiencing.

ugacrew

What population crisis? Educate me.

Sandra23

BRAVO! WHAT A PERFECT EXPLAINATION! THIS IS EXACTLY THE POINT. UNDER THIS SYSTEM THIS CASE COULD BE ANYONE OF US.

tamms_1965

Different institutions have different plans. But most of them have some form of years in the system equates to a % of your health care paid. For example, DH will get 25% of his healthcare paid in retirement after 10 years in the state employees' system. It goes all the way up to 100%. He will retire 12 years before me so he will still be on my health insurance, so he can actually save those 12 years of 25% until he needs to use them. He could have free healthcare for 3 years if that is the way he chooses to use them.

Mine is a little more complicated.

People do not realize that there are many occupations within civil service. You can work for a university hospital, university, police, park district, board of mental retardation, etc. as an Oracle specialist, programmer, janitor, doctor, lawyer, cafeteria worker, etc. Many universities also have the perk of your family members getting free/reduced tuition. (I did this.)

tamms_1965

Many areas are becoming very densely populated and there is a huge need for decent housing, educational services, WATER, garbage disposal, etc.....mainly in CA. I used to teach AP Environmental Science and population increase is the root cause of many problems that areas like CA face. More people means more resources are needed.

Almost half of the U.S. yearly population increase is due to immigration, mainly from our neighbors to the south. I do not blame them for wanting to come here....I would too if I lived in Mexico.

kingfisher241049

Both of them are going to be f....d in Florida, because they refuse to come and campaign here. If they boycot Florida, Florida is going to boycot them and the rest of the Democratic party. They can argue all they like between themselves, it won't make one bit of difference here, and they are giving Florida back to the Republicans without a real fight with the "enemy".

Mallory

I didn't think they were going to let Floridians vote this time, because of their hanging chads!!