One-fourth of Americans ‘underinsured.’
By on Aug 6th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
One-fourth of Americans ‘underinsured.’
“A new Consumer Reports study identifies the ‘underinsured’ — accounting for 24% of the U.S. population — living with skeletal health insurance that barely covers their medical needs and leaves them unprepared to pay for major medical expenses.” Sixteen percent of Americans have “no health plan at all,” according to the study.
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But it will embolden the terrorists if we have a healthy nation…
- a typical republican
August 6th, 2007 at 11:18 pmWon’t someone please think of Corporate America’s needs….for once?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:21 pmA few less six packs of Budweiser might give these folks the money they need to purchase adequate health care!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:21 pmPUBLIX GROCERY STORE TO OFFER FREE ANTIBIOTICS
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ sfl-0806publix,0,1726442.story
August 6th, 2007 at 11:23 pmIt’s more important to give the Iraqis health care then Americans. But all those Americans without health care better pay their fair share of taxes. Bush is doing his best to reduce the health care cost by letting minorities and poor people die during emergencies. The GOP said he did good during the Katrina Storm as hundreds begged for help and Bush watched it on TV. Yes that’s the GOP way of making sure the US reduces the cost of insurance and social security.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:25 pm“A few less six packs of Budweiser might give these folks the money they need to purchase adequate health care!”
My, aren’t you an a$$hole, Mikey.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:26 pmBush Caught COUNTERFEITING $$$
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/46786/
More on (the CIA’s?) counterfeit “Supernotes”
PS: A few commenters chided me for repeating what they called an “internet rumor” when I touched on this story last week. While thse story quotes un-named sources, the Frankfurter Allgemeine is roughly equivalent to the Wall Street Journal – highly respected and center-right. But more to the point, this is being reported and read in Europe and not covered here — that in itself makes it worthy of our readers’ attention. Speaking generally, those kinds of stories are important to share, which is why I read and link to so much foreign press coverage.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:26 pmPUBLIX GROCERY STORE TO OFFER FREE ANTIBIOTICS
Comment by Fan_of_Man — August 6, 2007 @ 11:23 pm
Fantastic! Thanks, Fan of Man.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:27 pm“My, aren’t you an a$$hole, Mikey.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
Why? Because I don’t want to pay for your kids health care so you and others like you can maintain your low life lifestyle?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:31 pmDo healthy college-aged Americans require health insurance?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:32 pm#9 - educate yourself. go see sicko.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:33 pmUm, Jake, yeah, what happens if they get leukemia. Moron.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:33 pmAh Yes, Michael and Jake D are here. I see the Morons are in full throat and War Paint.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 pm“PUBLIX GROCERY STORE TO OFFER FREE ANTIBIOTICS
Comment by Fan_of_Man — August 6, 2007″
The true liberal way. Look for free things that you should have the responsibility to provide for yourself. With liberals, it’s always something for nothing!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 pmNo, Mikey, because I won’t answer stupid questions. Maybe?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 pm“I see the Morons are in full throat and War Paint.
Comment by Jim Wolf359 — August 6, 2007″
What do you have against individual responsibility?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 pmThe true conservative way. Look to make sure nobody else can afford the crap you buy. With conservatives it is all for us!!!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:34 pm“what happens if they get leukemia. Moron.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
Well, if they demonstrated their responsibility, they would have the proper health care!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:36 pmMichael, f^ck your individual responsibility. You and you conservative government are sucking so much big business d!ck you don’t know WHAT responsibility is. You are screwing the average person AND the small businesses with your big business whoring.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:37 pmMikey, what??? Are you stupid? Never mind.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:37 pmAnd how do you define “Their Responsibility” Michael?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:37 pm#14 - do you have to write the fire department a check before they put out your house fire? do you have to write the cops a check before they help you out? get a clue chump.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:37 pmMikey hates kids. Especially ones with Lupus.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:38 pm“With conservatives it is all for us!!!
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
I see you still don’t get it. If you live in the ghetto, don’t expect me to pay your 6 kids health care while you sit at home trading your food stamps for cash to buy booze!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:38 pmMikey, I don’t live in the ghetto. That doesn’t mean I don’t think you are a pig.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:39 pm“Mikey hates kids. Especially ones with Lupus.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
No, I hate their mommies and daddies!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:39 pmBut but but butthead Bush can spend $500B in Iraq to line the pockets of his cronies
Americans who voted for this asshat who is the worst Pres in US history should be tarred and feathered !
August 6th, 2007 at 11:39 pmMikey, you don’t pay for sh!t. You whine and moan but you still get all your taxes back because you are a non-talented little wuss.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:40 pmI see, Mikey, so you would punish children for their parents?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:40 pm“You are screwing the average person AND the small businesses with your big business whoring.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
How? Explain?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:40 pmYou are scum Mikey.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:41 pmMikey, I don’t live in the ghetto. That doesn’t mean I don’t think you are a pig.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
I’ll second that. Jeebus….
August 6th, 2007 at 11:41 pmDoesn’t this get reported here every other day?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:41 pm“I see, Mikey, so you would punish children for their parents?
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
Yes! If you care so much about them, help them out yourself!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:41 pmyes mikey, let them put out their own fires, let them solve their own rape and homicide cases….
August 6th, 2007 at 11:42 pm“You are screwing the average person AND the small businesses with your big business whoring.”
Gee, moron, the SBA has been giving small business loans to f^cking WalMart for the last 7 years. Yeah, the Waltons need SBA loans.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:43 pmMikey, do you know the government is supposed to care for the people, not the already engorged corporatocracy? Or does the Constitution offend you?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:43 pm“Mikey, you don’t pay for sh!t. You whine and moan but you still get all your taxes back because you are a non-talented little wuss.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
Really? How much in payroll taxes did you pay last year? I paid $20,000! How much did you pay in state taxes last year? I paid another $7,000! How much did you pay in property taxes last year? I paid $12,000! How much did you pay last year? I PAID ENOUGH!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:44 pmI’m one of those 24%. It sucks. But its all that was offered and we therefore have no other choice.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:44 pmWow, Michael, you some serious issues with Hate, Bigotry, Elitism and a General Contempt for your fellow Humans. Get some help, you need it.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:44 pmMikey, you paid negative dollars. Someone who makes 3000 dollars cannot pay 20000 in taxes!!!!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:45 pmand what did you get for all that money you paid?
ROFLMAO!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:45 pm“Mikey, do you know the government is supposed to care for the people, not the already engorged corporatocracy? Or does the Constitution offend you?
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
NO THEY ARE NOT! They are supposed to provide for our defense and enforce contracts. Only because of freeloaders like you are we in this social mess!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:46 pmKeep up the good work, Michael. Watch out for Zooey though ; )
August 6th, 2007 at 11:46 pmMikey, you paid negative dollars. Someone who makes 3000 dollars cannot pay 20000 in taxes!!!!
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007 @ 11:45 pm
I think you touched a nerve, JPark. :-D
August 6th, 2007 at 11:46 pmIt was the Idea of the Founders of our Country that the Govertment also provide for the General Welfare of the People.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:47 pmMikey, tell me WHERE in the Consitution it says they are supposed to enforce contracts!!! I can tell you exactly were it says welfare, though.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:48 pm“Wow, Michael, you some serious issues with Hate, Bigotry, Elitism and a General Contempt for your fellow Humans. Get some help, you need it.
Comment by Jim Wolf359 — August 6, 2007″
I don’t hate anybody but people who try to milk the system. I have no contempt for anyone I just expect people to raise their families on their own and don’t look to me for help.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:48 pmMikey is as dumb as a box of maggots, Zooey. Maggots don’t have nerves.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:48 pm“Mikey, tell me WHERE in the Consitution it says they are supposed to enforce contracts!!! I can tell you exactly were it says welfare, though.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
Read it! I’m sorry that they eliminated that topic in the public school you attended!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:49 pmShut up, Mikey, you don’t hate oil companies, you don’t hate big pharma. Talk about milking the system. Der.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:49 pmA few less six packs of Budweiser might give these folks the money they need to purchase adequate health care!
Comment by Michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:21 pm
Irrational comment by someone who has no idea of what he’s talking about.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:49 pmseriously mike, you dont think health care is as important as the fire department or police?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:49 pmMikey, I am sorry you are really stupid. The constitution has the word welfare in it. It DOESN’t have the words robber barons.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pm“Mikey is as dumb as a box of maggots, Zooey. Maggots don’t have nerves.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
And you can explain that? zooey can’t!
August 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pmWe the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pmWhat if they need help? What about if they are the Victims of circumstances not of there own making or fault? Do we still throw them under the bus Michael? By your standards we do. And yes, you do have those issues. Get some help.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pmDuh that is one of the reasons Michael Moore made his movie Sicko. 1/4 of Americans have no health insurance and 1/2 of Americans have lousy insurance or HMO junk.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:50 pmNO THEY ARE NOT! They are supposed to provide for our defense and enforce contracts. Only because of freeloaders like you are we in this social mess!
Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:46 pm
Enforce contracts? WTF???
“freeloaders like you”??? Could this make any less sense???
August 6th, 2007 at 11:51 pm“Watch out for Zooey though ; )
Comment by Jake D. — August 6, 2007″
Why? She’s probably the most immature kid on this blog.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:52 pm“And you can explain that? zooey can’t!”
Fool. Zooey can explain it as well as I. You are an idiot. I think she knows that.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:52 pmMichael:
They think the Founding Fathers wanted public “welfare” instead of private “charity” just like they stole the word “gay” too . . .
August 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pm“Why? She’s probably the most immature kid on this blog.”
Yet, she has a larger penis than you. Poor bas!ard.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pmEnforce contracts? WTF???
“freeloaders like you�?? Could this make any less sense???
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 6, 2007 @ 11:51 pm
That’s some of the most stupid shit ever, don’t you agree?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pmI’ve never seen Zooey explain it at all.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:53 pmJake D. You know what they DIDN’T want? A standing army. Guess you guys f^cked that up.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:54 pmYou are an idiot. I think she knows that.
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007 @ 11:52 pm
Yup.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:54 pmFor the record, James Madison wanted a standing army. So did Alexander Hamilton
August 6th, 2007 at 11:56 pmJake, you tard. The founding fathers were adamantly against standing armies. Read a book, dolt.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:57 pmAnyone else NOT on the “Ignore List”?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:59 pmOh, and not Dick and Jane, Everybody Poos or Ann Coulter.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:00 amLOL, Buscemi, are you bringing your list up again? Nice lipstick.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:01 amO.K., then, good night everyone NOT on the “Ignore List” : )
August 7th, 2007 at 12:03 amJake, you are an incredible tool.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:05 amGoodnight, Jake, and good riddance.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:05 amI see you still don’t get it. If you live in the ghetto, don’t expect me to pay your 6 kids health care while you sit at home trading your food stamps for cash to buy booze!
Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
Those people get Medicaid, idiot. You’re paying for them whether you like it or not.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:06 amJake, you are an incredible tool.
Comment by JPark — August 7, 2007 @ 12:05 am
Those two morons wimped out quickly tonight.
Nice work!
August 7th, 2007 at 12:06 amJudicial, not Legislative Branch.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:07 amThose people get Medicaid, idiot. You’re paying for them whether you like it or not.
Comment by shane — August 7, 2007 @ 12:06 am
Awwww, I was saving that for his Christmas present. :D
August 7th, 2007 at 12:07 amyes mikey, let them put out their own fires, let them solve their own rape and homicide cases….
Comment by Fan_of_Man — August 6, 2007 @ 11:42 pm
And let them repair all the other bridges that are ready to collapse. Only homeschooled idiots like mikey think do-it-yourself government is working. Of course he never leaves the basement.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:10 am“Those people get Medicaid, idiot. You’re paying for them whether you like it or not.
Comment by shane — August 7, 2007″
First off do you liberals know how to debate without calling people names? It really reduces your credibility. I know they get Medicaid. The point I’m making is that they know how to work the system and I want to see it stopped. Medicaid, food stamps, welfare, AFDC! Why should they find a job? Why should they work 2 jobs to support their families?
August 7th, 2007 at 12:11 ammuch did you pay last year? I PAID ENOUGH!
Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
you got away cheap, chump. You should be paying for this war, not those of us who knew from the start it was a boondoggle for Bushco. they happily send fine young Americans to their deaths so Cheney can get out of paying his fair share. Saddam had higher morals than Bush or Cheney.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:12 ammichael, nobody works the system like rich, fat, white republican men. Nobody. You moan about medicaid for the poor, but let Cheney sell out the country for war profits, and Bush cuts his taxes even though he has millions. You’re a very sick, antiAmerican pig. The fact that you hate the Constitution proves it.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:14 am“And let them repair all the other bridges that are ready to collapse. Only homeschooled idiots like mikey think do-it-yourself government is working. Of course he never leaves the basement.
Comment by shane — August 7, 2007″
And the longer you lefties make excuses for these lowlifes the longer we will be stuck with them. Hey! I have an idea, let me know when one of you guilty liberals takes in one of these families and pays for their expenses out of your pocket? Somehow, I won’t hold my breath waiting for you hypocrites to step up to the plate and do something on your own and stop looking to the government to solve your problems.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:17 am“but let Cheney sell out the country for war profits
Comment by ronjazz — August 7, 2007″
Really? And you can prove this, other than stupid liberal rhetoric? I’m waiting?
August 7th, 2007 at 12:18 am“Those people get Medicaid, idiot. You’re paying for them whether you like it or not.
Comment by shane — August 7, 2007″
First off do you liberals know how to debate without calling people names? It really reduces your credibility. I know they get Medicaid. The point I’m making is that they know how to work the system and I want to see it stopped. Medicaid, food stamps, welfare, AFDC! Why should they find a job? Why should they work 2 jobs to support their families?
Comment by michael — August 7, 2007 @ 12:11 am
There is no “debate”.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:20 amMorons like yourself have proven to be uninformed and willfully ignorant cheerleaders of the worst president and administration in US history with Chimpy and Co ; where the hell do you get off trying to claim others lack credibility ?
Why should I pay similar amounts that you do , and also leave an astounding debt to future members of my family , for an imbecilic , unnecessary and useless war ?
They think the Founding Fathers wanted public “welfare†instead of private “charity†just like they stole the word “gay†too . . .
Comment by Jake D. — August 6, 2007 @ 11:53 pm
That’s right Jakester you belive what Bush and his daddy said about a thousand points of light and armies of compassion helping people so government doesn’t have to. Where are those armies coming from Joke, you and michael? From the stupidest of sociopaths who believe the crap they’re fed. You and michael and your ilk are responsible for the predicament we’re in now. And you people are so clueless that you don’t even know that the shit has hit the fan and your are covered in crap.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:21 amUniversal health care is a basic right that must be afforded to every American. For too long drug and insurance companies have aligned themselves with republicans to deny this basic right to every American.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:27 am“where the hell do you get off trying to claim others lack credibility ?
Comment by MCMetal — August 7, 2007″
Simple! Read your stupid posts? Good night!
August 7th, 2007 at 12:28 ammichael, let me repeat this so even you can understand. The welfare crowd already gets health insurance, therefore, they are not among the 25% of Americans that are not insured. It’s working families that are not covered by their jobs that are uninsured. What does your griping about welfare abusers have to do with working class families who can’t afford health insurance?
August 7th, 2007 at 12:29 amSimple! Read your stupid posts? Good night!
Comment by michael — August 7, 2007 @ 12:28 am
**snort**
August 7th, 2007 at 12:30 amBut more to the point, this is being reported and read in Europe and not covered here — that in itself makes it worthy of our readers’ attention. Speaking generally, those kinds of stories are important to share, which is why I read and link to so much foreign press coverage.
Comment by Amid Alien Corn — August 6, 2007 @ 11:26 pm
Yeah, we don’t have enough rags in the U.S. printing stories about aliens, enormous babies, and U.S. govt counterfeiting. ;)
August 7th, 2007 at 12:32 amSimple! Read your stupid posts? Good night!
Comment by michael — August 7, 2007 @ 12:28 am
**snort**
Comment by Zooey — August 7, 2007 @ 12:30 am
Now Zooey, in all fairness, michael is the expert at simple, stupid posts.
** double snort **
August 7th, 2007 at 12:32 am“where the hell do you get off trying to claim others lack credibility ?
Comment by MCMetal — August 7, 2007″
Simple! Read your stupid posts? Good night!
Comment by michael — August 7, 2007 @ 12:28 am
Yes, because you Chimpy leg humpers certainly make real persuasive arguments and plenty of sense by posting links to joke sites like The Weakly Substandard and the American Sphincter , and claiming lies that have been debunked repeatedly are “fact(s)”…
August 7th, 2007 at 12:32 amNow Zooey, in all fairness, michael is the expert at simple, stupid posts.
** double snort **
Comment by shane — August 7, 2007 @ 12:32 am
His use of the question mark is baffling…..and hilarious!
August 7th, 2007 at 12:34 amNow Zooey, in all fairness, michael is the expert at simple, stupid posts.
** double snort **
Comment by shane — August 7, 2007 @ 12:32 am
His use of the question mark is baffling…..and hilarious!
Comment by Zooey — August 7, 2007 @ 12:34 am
Not to mention stupid ………..
August 7th, 2007 at 12:35 amNot to mention stupid ………..
Comment by MCMetal — August 7, 2007 @ 12:35 am
Well, it is the michael troll, so it’s a given. :D
August 7th, 2007 at 12:37 amIt was the Idea of the Founders of our Country that the Govertment also provide for the General Welfare of the People.
Comment by Jim Wolf359 — August 6, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
The words “of the people” do not appear with “general welfare.” The constitution addresses the general welfare of the United States, not individuals. ;)
August 7th, 2007 at 12:50 amIn reality big insurance needs to leave a noticable % uninsured.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:52 amThis is their best promo for what happens when you do not pay your premiums.
That is their scare tactic: that you may become one of them.No health care!No please not me!
Do you think they want to make any concessions and lower costs?
The lower income have nots just die anyway with or without insurance.Check the stats.
It was the Idea of the Founders of our Country that the Govertment also provide for the General Welfare of the People.
Comment by Jim Wolf359 — August 6, 2007 @ 11:47 pm
The words “of the people†do not appear with “general welfare.†The constitution addresses the general welfare of the United States, not individuals. ;)
Comment by upright left — August 7, 2007 @ 12:50 am
You’re right, upright left.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:52 amThe words “of the people†do not appear with “general welfare.†The constitution addresses the general welfare of the United States, not individuals. ;)
Comment by upright left — August 7, 2007 @ 12:50 am
The Constitution doesn NOT address “the general welfare of the United States”. It merely refers to “the general welfare” - “to promote the general welfare”. You can read, can’t you? ;-)???
By and large, it is for Congress to determine what constitutes the “general welfare.†The Court accords great deference to Congress’s decision that a spending program advances the general welfare,595 and has even questioned whether the restriction is judicially enforceable.596 Dispute, such as it is, turns on the conditioning of funds.
supreme.justia.com/constitution/article-1/18-spending-for-general-welfare.html
August 7th, 2007 at 1:16 amConsumer Reports ten years ago said Americans would save $175 billion each and every year, administratively-alone, by switching to what every other developed country has—universal single-payer healthcare. Since this figure is a percentage and the cost of healthcare has skyrocketed, this figure would now be about $250 billion SAVED every year.
And it would save 18,000 lives every year. And American automakers are moving to Canada because US healthcare is too expensive.
August 7th, 2007 at 1:51 amAnd Michael, parents buying beer doesn’t really address the cost of healthcare going from $135 to $248 per month from 2000 to 2006. Wages have gone nowhere for the average American for the past 26 years. Europeans don’t have to work two or three jobs. They do very well working a 35-hour week. Noone works more than Americans.
August 7th, 2007 at 1:58 amI give up. TP is censoring posts now provide continuation of the topic….
August 7th, 2007 at 2:39 amAnd American automakers are moving to Canada because US healthcare is too expensive.
Wrong, they are having money problems because they have to pay for the legacy benefits of past employees under programs structured by the strongarm unions, programs which were destined to be untenable in todays markets.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:42 am104 Another lie from the right. Today’s markets are those of the super-rich corporate oligarchs. there is no free market here, or the unions would be strong and the pernsion funds would not be pillaged by the fat cats. The reason US manufacturers are moving North is because they think they can destroy another country in their greed an arrogance. there is no greater welfare state than the bailouts of the super-rich by the immoral rightwing political greedmongers.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:45 am“Mikey hates kids. Especially ones with Lupus”
Comment by JPark — August 6, 2007″
No, I hate their mommies and daddies!
Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
And they cal US haters?
Please don’t call this choad “Mikey” anymore.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:09 amReally? How much in payroll taxes did you pay last year? I paid $20,000! How much did you pay in state taxes last year? I paid another $7,000! How much did you pay in property taxes last year? I paid $12,000! How much did you pay last year? I PAID ENOUGH!
Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
I realize that Michael went to bed late, and probably isn’t up yet. But if these tax claims are true (and that’s a BIG “if”), he most likely has a much-higher than average income and a much-higher than average home. I’m curious to know how much he pays for his health insurance, whether it’s out of his pocket or employer-provided, and whether it covers only himself or a family. If he pays for his own out of pocket, even in his high tax bracket he would mostly likely pay less in extra taxes to cover UHC than he is currently paying in premiums.
Michael also seems to think that everybody can pay for their own health care if they really want to — that if they don’t, they are just lazy. I urge him to go here…
http://www.nchc.org/facts/cost.shtml
…and pay particular attention to this paragraph:
“The annual premium that a health insurer charges an employer for a health plan covering a family of four averaged $11,500 in 2006. Workers contributed nearly $3,000, or 10 percent more than they did in 2005 (3).The annual premiums for family coverage significantly eclipsed the gross earnings for a full-time, minimum-wage worker ($10,712).”
Most minimum-wage earners (as well as many workers making above minimum-wage) do not have their employers paying for their health insurance. If they want it, they have to pay for it themselves. Swearing off the Budweiser won’t be enough to pay for it, I’m afraid.
And my final point: Even though people like Michael believe it’s sufficient to just say “I’ve got mine, and to h*ll with everybody else”, it’s prudent to give some thought to the rest of society. Just as society benefits when everybody has access to education, it benefits when everybody has access to health care. The working poor aren’t just going to vanish into a black hole somewhere because the rest of us ignore them (and even if they did, they would leave a lot of work undone that would have to get done by somebody).
When somebody can’t afford health care, they lose the benefits of regular check-ups, wellness programs — you know, stuff they need to stay healthy. When they do get sick, they will wait until their situation gets dire enough for an emergency room visit — the most expensive kind of health care (and paid for by the rest of us). Their children, having no access to health care, can grow up unhealthy (and in some cases, disabled) if conditions such as asthma, hip dysplastia, anemia, etc. aren’t corrected early. And healthy adults contribute more to society than unhealthy ones do.
ALL of society is affected when a large part of it has no health care, just as all of society is affected when a large part of it has no education.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:44 amOk TP, I won’t try to post my longer comment.
Well ranted, Miss Molly.
August 7th, 2007 at 11:07 amReally? How much in payroll taxes did you pay last year? I paid $20,000! How much did you pay in state taxes last year? I paid another $7,000! How much did you pay in property taxes last year? I paid $12,000! How much did you pay last year? I PAID ENOUGH!
Comment by michael — August 6, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
My guess. michael lives in California and makes about $100,000 a year. How close?
August 7th, 2007 at 11:22 amWhy don’t these losers set up Tax Deferred Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)?
August 7th, 2007 at 4:31 pmThe Constitution doesn NOT address “the general welfare of the United Statesâ€. It merely refers to “the general welfare†- “to promote the general welfareâ€. You can read, can’t you? ;-)???
By and large, it is for Congress to determine what constitutes the “general welfare.†The Court accords great deference to Congress’s decision that a spending program advances the general welfare,595 and has even questioned whether the restriction is judicially enforceable.596 Dispute, such as it is, turns on the conditioning of funds.
supreme.justia.com/constitution/article-1/18-spending-for-general-welfare.html
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — August 7, 2007 @ 1:16 am
Now stupid, you know very well that I can read. If you WOULD read, you would know that the founders were referring to the welfare of the country. Remember, in their time they expected those who were able to work to do so. They only advocated charity to those who were unable to care for themselves and their children. Those who CHOSE not to care for their children weren’t rewarded, they were punished.
As for that “it’s for Congress to decide business,” that’s what got us into the welfare crisis we had when government was trying to be all things to all people. ;)
August 8th, 2007 at 10:02 am