GOP congresswoman tells uninsured constituent to ‘be a grown up’ and get insurance.
GOP congresswoman tells uninsured constituent to ‘be a grown up’ and get insurance.
At a recent town hall meeting, a 27-year old uninsured waitress named Elizabeth Smith asked Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) why as a working mother she can’t “get an affordable option” for health care. According to the AP, Smith’s 2-1/2-year-old son “hasn’t been to a doctor in 21 months, except for emergency room visits for ear infections, because she can’t afford either insurance or a doctor’s visit.” When Smith asked her question, Jenkins criticized creating “a government-run program” and said that she advocated tax credits so people like Smith could “go be a grown-up and go buy the insurance“:
SMITH: I want an option that I can pay for. I work. I pay my bills. I’m not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can’t I get an affordable option. Why are you against that?
JENKINS: A government-run program (laugh) is going to subsidize not only yours (laugh) but everybody in this room. So I’m not sure what we’re talking about here. Well, I think it comes down to the whole discussion of…OK folks. Let’s be respectful. UH-OH (talking over crowd). We’re gonna make time for everybody. We’re gonna all listen to each other respectfully, even if we disagree. I think we can agree we need reforms, again it’s just how we gonna do it. I believe people should be given the opportunity to take care of themselves with an advanceable tax credit to go be a grown-up and go buy the insurance.
Watch it:
(HT: Dave Weigel)
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Why yes, I do believe that blaming and belittling the un- and under-insured is an excellent political strategy for the GOP. What could possibly go wrong?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:11 pmWhat a patronizing b!tch.
Maybe this young woman can just wait for Jenkins’ “great white hope.”
September 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pmYes, because the fact that she can’t afford doctor’s visits despite being a working mom proves that she’s not a grown-up. If only she could be successful and be worthy enough to earn enough to buy insurance…which would probably drop coverage for her family because of her son’s ‘pre-existing condition’ of ear infection.
Obviously, all those uninsured folk are just unserious manchildren, unlike the very serious Congresswoman.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pmWow now that answer should not go well with others who are struggling as they pay for Rep. Jenkins full coverage Health Insurance. I wonder what if the voters stop paying for Law Makers insurance how fast would the Health Care Plan pass in all Branches of Government?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pmJenkins comments crystallize the GOP’s stance on health care – the GOP supports giving federal tax money (advancable tax credit – whatever that is) to private insurers provided that the government is prohibited from limiting how much federal tax money the private insurers can charge. That, my friends, is capitalism American-style. Your tax money to private companies with no strings attached at all.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pmWhy haven’t I seen this on MSM? They have all the wackos, ‘Birthers’, ‘Tea Baggers’ and old grumps, but this doesn’t make the cut? WTF?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pmAn advanceable tax credit?
a) that’s not a word
b) there’s no such extant or proposed
Moving on, a tax credit is an annual re-imbursement, it doesn’t pay for a present bill which, if it remains unpaid affects credit and may accrue interest.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pmI think the final outcome of public opinion as a result of these town meetings is not going to be what the Repubs had in mind. The latest USA Today poll now shows that a HIGHER number of respondents, 78%, favor a public option than before the town hall meetings began.
What these meetings have actually done is given Repubs more exposure so that they could state their positions more plainly in some cases – they’ve made it clear to lots of Americans that they just don’t give a damn about the voters’ personal problems.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:15 pmWingnuts still haven’t accepted the failure they are.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:16 pmWhen in doubt, demean. It’s the Repugnican’t way…
September 1st, 2009 at 1:16 pmAre women in the GOP the biggest bunch of **** ever assembled?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:16 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
GOP congresswoman tells uninsured constituent to ‘be a grown up’
As opposed to the childish antics of the GOP/birthers/teabaggers.
Irony really is lost on the Repiggies, isn’t it?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:18 pmThat smug cow should realize that many folks are denied medical insurance, even with the ability to pay.
Does that stupid cow even know the phrase “pre-existing condition?”
Are all the repiggies this goddamned stupid?
Or are all of them just a collection of venal crooks?
Screw the repiggies, and screw the teabagger trash.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pmGuess who won’t be throwing a vote Rep. Jenkins way when she comes up for re-election?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pm***
why doesn’t rep. jenkins grow up
and stop groveling like a child
before the insurance industry?
**
September 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pmMaybe the tactic of allowing the teabaggers to make fools of themselves will reap benefits when the dems start using footage of the fools belittling those with less than them, or the congressman yesterday who thought the insurance company denying coverage was the government. The wingers don’t even know enough to be in the conversation and that is why the democratic party should ignore them and cram universal single payer down their throats. Give them the option to buy private insurance and opt out of single payer.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pmWow! This woman is an elected official?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pmRep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) seems quite stupid to me.
And worse, hateful.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pmDon’t you just love watching the compassion in the compassionately conservative Repignofascist Party? These Cheneyholes call themselves “christians” no less. Too bad there isn’t a real “god” who will hold a “judgement day” some day. It would be comical to sit there with a giant glass of beer and watch every one of these alleged “christians” being sent off to the imaginary “hell” they talk about. What a fitting end to their existence that would be.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:20 pmJenkins has a condescending tone which just goes on and on…. and very little filter between brain and mouth.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:20 pmThis woman deserves health care for herself and her child. Servers do no get health insurance. They work very hard and put up with lots of crap from people who think they are better than the wait staff. They also make half of minimum wage. How is she going to afford health insurance? Ms. Jenkins eats in restaurants, I presume. Does she consider at all how much the staff is paid, or if they have insurance? I think not, but she should. Health insurance should be a right.
This is a disgrace. If this woman QUIT and went on Welfare, she could have health insurance. Why is it like that. If you work, no health insurance, if you don’t work, the government will provide it. How is that right?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:21 pmThis the Great White Dope who’s looking for a Great White Hope.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:24 pmCongresswoman Jenkins may have just politically slit her wrists.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:25 pmThis is compassionate conservatism? I hope the voters bounce her.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:27 pmTime to Cut off the Senators and Congressman’s Health Care after this sad display.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:28 pmPalin, Bachmann, Jenkins, Foxx – is it me, or are women Rethuglicans ESPECIALLY compassionate?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:29 pmlarkohio says This is a disgrace. If this woman QUIT and went on Welfare, she could have health insurance. Why is it like that. If you work, no health insurance, if you don’t work, the government will provide it. How is that right?
well that way they can point to a over burden government system and say see you have health insurance and see also that the gov plan do not work.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pmTHAT WAITRESS SUBSIDIZES YOUR GOVERNMENT INSURANCE, CONGRESSB-ITCH!
People don’t pay your salary to push back their concerns, you great white dope. These concerns are legit, having nothing to do with your masochist definition of being “grown up.” Under YOUR party’s reign, the economy was killed and health premiums go up 17% on avg annually!
You succeeded at getting me worked up. Good job.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pmTundra says:
Someone really needs to keep an eye on that kid though. Having him on a table and around a whole bunch of cords like that was a receipe for something bad.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I agree. I was flinching a bit. :|
September 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pmThis woman wants affordable healthcare, Representative. Perhaps you should “grow up” enough to be able to read a dictionary a learn that “affordable” is not a synonym for “free” or “immature”.
While you are at it, Representative, how about advocating for serving staff at restaurants getting at least minimum wage rather than a percentage of it? If I give a tip, I want it to be an optional reward for a job well done and above usual performance, not an expectation to make up the server’s hourly wage. (I’ll bet you are glad you don’t work for tips.)
September 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pmI agree. I was flinching a bit. :|
Glad it wasn’t just me. I wanted to walk through the screen and say “Here let me hold him, you talk”
September 1st, 2009 at 1:33 pmPatrioticLiberalChristian says:
(I’ll bet you are glad you don’t work for tips.)
Why i think you might be on to something here>>>lets send them to congress as a tip only pay scale. you know pass good stuff get payed pass bad stuff and well you stave.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pmI want this played again and again on the airwaves to personify the GOP’s lack of concern for 95% of Americans.
Pooling premiums is not a miracle invention that only the private sector can undertake. They suck at it, in fact. People expect CARE out of their premiums, not ringing bells on CNBC.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pmI want it to be an optional reward for a job well done and above usual performance, not an expectation to make up the server’s hourly wage.
Oh no it’s Mr Pink.
Seriously though, I never understood why waitstaff is immune from minimum wage. I always tip well, sometimes when given bad service I try not to tip, but I force myself to give at least 15%. The service may have been bad, but not make them starve because of it bad.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:35 pmShorter Jenkins: Buy insurance by telling congress to subsidize private insurance for shareholder profits
September 1st, 2009 at 1:36 pmTundra says:
Someone really needs to keep an eye on that kid though. Having him on a table and around a whole bunch of cords like that was a receipe for something bad.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:18 pm
_____________
Meh, no worries. If the kid gets hurt, there’s always the emergency room. The doctors there probably know him quite well by now…
September 1st, 2009 at 1:36 pmok…sounds good, then why are we paying for Congress to have healthcare. They get a better wage then the majority of the country. Let them buy their own insurance. They shouldn’t even need a tax credit. Why isn’t she “grown up” enough to get insurance.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:36 pm“I believe people should be given the opportunity to take care of themselves…” – Rep. Jenkins
Rep. Jenkins may have some impenetrable logic, but a public option does not preclude people taking care of themselves.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:37 pmThis sort of attitude is so typical from privileged individuals like Ms. Jenkins. “Just go buy insurance”. As if money is no object. She has no idea what it feels like to REALLY need $100 and only have $2.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:38 pmI think Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) is on to something here:
Need insurance…grow up and go buy some!
Starving…stop acting childish and eat something!
Unemployed…quit playing around and get a job!
Who says that Republicans can’t solve problems?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:38 pmWhy i think you might be on to something here>>>lets send them to congress as a tip only pay scale. you know pass good stuff get payed pass bad stuff and well you stave.
The only thing they can all agree on is that their raise stays intact.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:38 pmWith all of these thoughtful, caring Republicans, maybe they should change the Republican slogan to “Sux to be you, don’t it?”
September 1st, 2009 at 1:39 pmTundra says:
Seriously though, I never understood why waitstaff is immune from minimum wage. I always tip well, sometimes when given bad service I try not to tip, but I force myself to give at least 15%. The service may have been bad, but not make them starve because of it bad.
Take it from a friend of mine; not all patrons tip 15% when the service is excellent, and some don’t tip at all.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pmMight as well tell them to put it on a credit card.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pmJENKINS: I believe people should be given the opportunity to take care of themselves with an advanceable tax credit to go be a grown-up and go buy the insurance.
What does Jenkins think this woman is trying to do? And what the hell is an “advanceable tax credit?”
Condescending b!tch.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pmI’ve been concerned that the Dems didn’t seem to have much of a strategy on this. Apparently “go ahead and let the wingnuts keep blabbing, they’ll make our case for us” actually works sometimes…
.
5th Estate says:
An advanceable tax credit?
Faith-based economics has vast room for flights of fancy and imaginary worlds.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pmThe vast divide between the haves and the have-nots makes any speaking across this divide almost pointless. Jenkins is clearly insulated in her gated community of wealth. Let’s take away Jenkins’ free ride on her government insurance plan.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:41 pmI get tired of tax credits being trotted out as a solution. It is no solution
You have to owe taxes for a tax credit to be useful.
How many Americans end up owing taxes, since most have it withheld?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:41 pmUnfortunately, the R-KS after her name says it all. What is the chance that KS is gonna elect a commie-pinko DFH lib-ral to congress ?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pmThe whole advanceable tax credit has merit. If someone gave me 3 million a year and only expected 1 back and I didn’t have to pay them any interest on it, I could live on that.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:47 pmAnother picture perfect example of compassionate conservatism.
People go without insurance and health care and lifesaving treatments all the time in a non-socialist country. That’s the beauty of the free market! Don’t you GET it?
September 1st, 2009 at 1:47 pmCompassionate conservatism at it’s very best…
coming from a congresscritter with free health care, no less.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pmOK, let’s ignore for a moment the obvious condescending tone of suggestion that people who don’t have insurance need to “be a grown-up”.
Let’s also ignore for a moment that providing tax credits alone won’t solve everyone’s woes because there are a lot of people out there whose income is so low that even if you credited back 100% of the taxes they pay, they still wouldn’t have enough for insurance — unless they were willing to give up frivolous luxuries like rent and food.
No — let’s just look at the people for whom a tax credit might be a viable option. They go out and make the best deal they can on private insurance. They pay a lot for it because of pre-existing conditions and the insurance company has to make a profit, you know. But that’s not a problem, because they are able to subtract the cost of the insurance from their taxes (I’ll assume everyone here knows the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit).
What that taxpayer just subtracted from his taxes amounts to a “handout” by the government. A handout for him to buy expensive insurance. The Republicans are constantly bemoaning the “trillions” of dollars health care reform will cost. How much money will it cost when taxpayers are getting tax credits on their health insurance costs?
Personally, if I’m going to be subsidizing people’s insurance, I would rather it be non-profit with a low overhead. And I would rather subsidize based on the ability to pay for insurance, not the ability to pay taxes (fewer people get left out in the cold that way). I realize that “tax cuts” markets a lot better with conservatives than “socialism”, but a handout is a handout no matter what you call it.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pmIf Jenkins worked for tips she would really be hurting. If you want a good tip, you actually have to do something for a customer and be pleasant while doing it. Jenkins would starve! No tip for you, Lynn. Mean people suck.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:48 pmMaria Bartiromo was out trotting the ‘class warfare’ term again in her push back against reform because, you know, she’s the self-proclaimed “defender of the investor.”
I got news for you, Maria. The war’s over. You won.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:51 pmTundra says:
Seriously though, I never understood why waitstaff is immune from minimum wage. I always tip well, sometimes when given bad service I try not to tip, but I force myself to give at least 15%. The service may have been bad, but not make them starve because of it bad.
Its that darned volunteerism issue.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:51 pmMcWars says:
“I get tired of tax credits being trotted out as a solution. It is no solution…You have to owe taxes for a tax credit to be useful.”
Not true, McWars. Tax credits are money in your pocket–if you’re due a refund. It’s only a credit if you OWE.
I should know. I was a poor, single parent, and could hardly believe the refunds I got in the early 90s, from the George H.W. Bush-signed EIC.
Tax credits are money going to you from the Treasury. It all depends on if you already owe, or are getting a refund, as to whether you see CASH.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:52 pmZimzone:
JINX!
;-)
September 1st, 2009 at 1:52 pmMaybe we should put Congress on the waitperson pay scale. Half wages and we tip them when they do a good job.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:53 pmZooey says
September 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pm
And what the hell is an “advanceable tax credit?”
_____________________________________________________________
I believe that “advanceable tax credit” is the same as a tax cut. Or a rebate check that’s essentially a loan against future taxes.
What it means, of course, is a handout for the rich. Tax credits for people who don’t make enough to pay a lot in taxes won’t do a thing to help them buy health insurance, no matter how “grown-up” they are.
And this may be the biggest difference between the Democrats and the Republicans. Both want to give handouts to help people pay for health insurance. It’s just that the Republicans want to give handouts to the wealthy, like they always do.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:53 pmI’m trying to make sure I have it right, Daddy-O.
Tax credits are a dollar-for-dollar reduction in tax liability. Granted, some tax credits are refundable if you owe nothing.
Tax deductions reduce the amount of income subject to tax. So if you paid anything up front, you are due money back because the IRS is holding money you paid on income, or a portion thereof, that wasn’t subject to tax after all.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:56 pmIn 2007 Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and three fellow members of Congress struggled for a week to subsist on $21 worth of food, the equivalent of benefits received by the average food stamp recipient.
We need a group of Congress members to take up the challenge of finding affordable health insurance for: 1) a single parent with one child making $20K per year, 2) a person just turning 18 years old and no longer on parents’ insurance, with juvenile diabetes, and 3) a man age 50 recently laid off and now self employed.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:58 pm100% of the arguments against reform boil down to:
“but what about the poor insurance companies?”
which is prima facie ridiculous.
Were in not for recalcitrant GOP WATB’s, this whole “debate” would’ve lasted four minutes, and we’d be down the road and working on other important issues right now.
September 1st, 2009 at 1:58 pmGOP == Let Them Eat Cake
September 1st, 2009 at 1:59 pmmisscoleopteramolly says:
September 1st, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Thanks, Miss Molly.
Naturally, such a tax credit would do nothing to help that young waitress. Oy…
September 1st, 2009 at 2:04 pmAbout a week ago I vented because as a sixty two year old Vietnam Vet, I had been rejected for the third time for health insurance.
Many of you suggested applying through the VA. I thought this was a good idea also, but there is even a problem with approach. If your last year’s income was over a “certain” amount, you may not be eligible.
My application is currently under consideration…with out medications, I have been handed a death sentence….maybe the Emergency Room is my only alternative.
This is what that damned Republicans DON”T understand!!!!
Every one of these idiots have insurance…
September 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pmYeah, right let’s take away Congress’ health plan, then they’ll be more responsive to the condition of most Americans. Better still, let’s pay members of Congress in correlation to the average income of their constituents, then they’ll be more apt to think in someone else’s shoes.
Let’s see…we’ll have to get Congress to vote for taking away their funded health care and taking a massive pay cut…Well, nevermind, that’ll never happen.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pmPurpleState,
“Take it from a friend of mine; not all patrons tip 15% when the service is excellent, and some don’t tip at all.”
You don’t think Rep. Jenkins tips anyone at all do you?
I’d bet she doesn’t leave a dime – looking at the wait staff like slaves and all.
I can first hand tell you how well the public tips – and it ain’t good.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:07 pmI thin the finer point I want to make is, we already have a health care deduction and those haven’t helped keep costs down.
We have enough credits on the book that give people a reason not to owe taxes, and if that benefits the poor and middle classes, that’s a good thing. Money in your pocket, as Daddy-O says.
But if you’re out of a job, if your income is so low, you’re less likely to owe tax or realize the benefit added through credits/deductions because you already don’t have much tax to pay. The insurance guy comes knocking, regardless. And these GOPers assume a tax credit in a period of declining incomes and decreasing govt. revenues will help.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pmMs Smith was sure brave to face that snooty elitist and her followers. Maybe next time she, or someone in her shoes, will reply, “Representative Jenkins, I’m paying for YOUR government health insurance”.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:10 pmMr. Smith goes to Washington was on televion last weekend.
I think it should be REQUIRED VIEWING for all of our lawmakers. Maybe they could learn something…
September 1st, 2009 at 2:27 pmNice, using a condescending and patronizing tone to a constituent that isn’t looking for a handout but for an honest and affordable way to provide health insurance for herself and child. I guess Ms. Jenkins forgot who it is she really works for. Biatch.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:28 pmHow would giving everyone a tax credit to buy insurance from a private company be cheaper than creating an affordable public option?
September 1st, 2009 at 2:28 pmSlightly OT, but meant to clarify some earlier points:
Tax credits, tax deductions, refundable/advanceable tax credits – a brief synopsis.
By smidget
I will be using easy, made up figures for illustration of points. We will assume that taxable income is $25,000 and the tax rate is 15% ($3,750 tax liability if we stop there).
A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the total tax liability, not just the amount you owe or would owe. That means that with a $2,500 tax credit, your tax liability would be $1,250. If you owed the whole amount before, then you owe less now, and if you were due a refund before, then you are owed more back now. However, the credit can only tax your tax to zero. So, if you have a $5,000 credit, you can only take $3,750 of it, making your tax liability $0, and refunding you the entirety of what you paid in.
A tax deduction is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the amount of taxable income. If you have a tax deduction of $2,500, therefore, your new taxable income would be $22,500, and your tax liability would be $3,375. Deductions can only take your income to zero in the case of individuals. For corporations, or any business really, you can generate a loss, but let’s keep this as simple as possible.
A refundable tax credit is one like the Earned Income Credit, which does allow you to reduce your tax liability below zero. If you have a $5,000 EIC in the case of our pre-established example, you would be able to collect the entire $5,000, even though your tax liability was only $3,750.
An advanceable tax credit is one that is payable upon passing the legislation, to be reported on the following year tax return, such as the $600 checks we all got a few years back. We received the checks, and then on the tax return that covered the period in which the checks were received, the credit was reported on the return, and no additional credit was given. If, however, you only received $300, but had income sufficient to warrant a $600 return, then you were awarded an additional $300 in credits on the return itself. I am not sure how it would work as the Representative is proposing with regard to purchasing healthcare.
This is an incredibly simplistic overview, but if anyone has questions, let me know.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:30 pmHow would giving everyone a tax credit to buy insurance from a private company be cheaper than creating an affordable public option?
Exactly. It wouldn’t. MissMolly made this point quite eloquently earlier, but basically it would be providing credits to people (one would have to assume that they were refundable credits, like the EIC as I explained above, therefore allowing everyone to actually purchase insurance regardless of what their tax liability is) to pay for insurance that has profits built-in, which is inherently more expensive than non-profit, governmental insurance.
It has nothing to do with saving money, or maintaining freedoms. It has everything to with saving GOP face and maintaining the status quo. That’s just not as nice-sounding a soundbite.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:35 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I am not so sure that even if you have a health care tax credit that you will be able to use it for anything else. I would suspect that it will be limited to buying insurance and medical expenses just like HSA’s. That does not answer the problems with deductibles and copays.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:38 pm“It’s not my job to pay for your health insurance.”
Hey, stoooopid, if the woman is on Medicaid and runs to the emergency room every time her child has a fever, YOU ARE paying double or triple for HER health insurance . .
Stoooopid doesn’t understand that WE are all paying for the health needs of the uninsured and that’s why the system needs to be reformed . .
Jeez, did these townhall people go to school with Bush by any chance?
September 1st, 2009 at 2:39 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
poor little stub
children of scared little brain dead right wingers tend to grow up to be scared little brain dead right wingers
September 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
kwsventures says:
“A government policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul.”
It looks as if Paul just shoved your main asset, an RC Cola can, right up your ass.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:44 pmBy the way troll, since blue states are the bulk taxpayers in this country, don’t worry about what they want to do with their money and what options they want to afford to welfare red states. If people want the ability to pool their money in the public option, that option should be made available and is really none of your damn business.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:46 pmIsn’t Jenkins the repub waiting for the “great white hope” to save her party (and country).
I feel bad for the apparently minority of sain people in her district who have to be represented by her.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:46 pmIt’s impossible to sway a stupid troll from a position with logical discourse when said position was not arrived at logically.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:46 pmkwsventures says:
“A government policy to rob Peter to pay Paul can be assured of the support of Paul.”
– George Bernard Shaw
Shaw was a Fabian. In other words, a socialist… bum, bum, BUMMM!
Glad to see he’s making a comeback with you guys…
A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.
George Bernard Shaw
A little learning is a dangerous thing, but we must take that risk because a little is as much as our biggest heads can hold.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:47 pmGeorge Bernard Shaw
Jenkins- arrogant, elitist, & insulting. Definitely a Repub.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pmHave the stupid trolls read the legislation that’s under consideration? I’ve read summaries of each of the three House Bills. Perhaps I missed something but, I can’t find the part that says net costs for those currently insured will go up. Once again, it appears the stupid trolls are “arguing” against their self-interest.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:54 pmOK, folks. Let’s be respectful. UH-OH (talking over crowd). We’re gonna make time for everybody. We’re gonna all listen to each other respectfully, even if we disagree. — Rep. Jenkins
*************************************************************
It’s sadly ironic (not to mention unbelievably hypocritical) that Rep. Jenkins felt it necessary to lecture her audience on the need for respect — and yet with her next breath showed this to be a case of “do as I say and not as I do” by making a remark which was in its turn disrespectful in its not-so-subtle expression of condescension and contempt toward low-income individuals who are understandably concerned about the spiraling costs of health care and their own inability to keep up.
As always…
(*sung to the tune of “Bingo”)
I-O-K-I-Y-A-R…
I-O-K-I-Y-A-R…
I-O-K-I-Y-A-R…
It’s O-Kay If You’re a Re-Pub-Li-Can!
Someone could stand to yank Rep. Jenkins off her high horse and shake her until her head rattles like a Fisher-Price toy. We can’t all be CEOs and stockbrokers, for pity’s sake. Just because people like Ms. Smith don’t have impressive jobs, don’t get paid very well, and often go unnoticed doesn’t mean that these people don’t contribute anything to the society. I said this at least once before during the government shutdown of the 1990’s, and I’ll say it again now. If everyone who makes over $100,00 per year in this country decided to go on strike, there would be plenty of problems — but if the people on strike were all those making less than $100,00 per year, the country would collapse into utter anarchy before the week was out. “For want of a nail, the shoe was lost” — just because someone holds a relatively humble and obscure job doesn’t mean that they’re unimportant.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:56 pmI admire the restraint of the young lady who asked the question. Personally, I would have had trouble controlling my rage when the “good Representative” started laughing.
September 1st, 2009 at 2:56 pmWow, here at the end of this thread some incredibly NASTY excuses for human beings decided to show up.
I love how they ASSUME that people with no health insurance drive big SUVs and have big TVs and cell phones. They are clearly either blind or stupid.
A health insurance plan for a family will run at least $900 a month. If you work a minimum wage job, you bring home $1,200 a month before taxes or deductions. In fact, in order to be able to afford that kind of price tag, one would have to make at least $43,200 a year, assuming that they have no other debt and can spend 1/4 of their earnings on health insurance alone.
So, basically, what you’re advocating is screw everyone, I’ve got mine, and to hell with all those “normal” people out there. That’s lovely. Tell you what – if and when you lose your job, and therefore both your insurance and your source of income, don’t come crying when you get sick and lose your house. The sad part is that you won’t deserve pity, but you’ll still get it, because unlike people like you, we actually give a damn about other human beings.
Tell me – what has to happen to someone to make them so bitter, hateful, mean, and inconsiderate of their fellow man? Were you born that way? Did your mommy and daddy do that to you? Or are you just jerk by choice?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:01 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Hey, hey!
Vote down troll is back!
Still too cowardly to join the discussion? Aww.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pmNet costs will not go up? Too funny.
Smelly troll a financial expert? Too funny.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:06 pmkwsventures says:
Can you explain how net costs will not go up if we do NOTHING?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:07 pmDo you have anything to offer other than misunderstood Shaw and Goldwater quotes, kws?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:08 pmThat’s great.
Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with the quote you brought foward.
You planning on answering the question, or are you stupid enough to think you already did?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:08 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
So, I assume the stupid troll is admitting that there’s nothing in the proposed bills that says his net cost will go up. We must thank the troll for admitting he doesn’t know what he’s condemning. It makes it so much easier to ignore.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:08 pmThere is no greater evil than one who shrugs at the suffering of others.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pm“A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.”
You were told not to worry about what the blue states do with their money. Your red state welfare checks will still be in the mail, don’t worry.
No deal on that $3 trillion invoice for the Iraquagmire, however. You’re on the hook for that.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:11 pmWhy not just pay cash, kws – lot cheaper.
btw – What does you insurance company do to add value to your personal healthcare equation?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:12 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
kwsventures says:
You assume I wanted all these wars. Sorry, ya got the wrong guy.
Can you explain how doing nothing on Health Care will hold down costs, kws?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:16 pmThen STOP FIGHTING MAKING IT AFFORDABLE, jerk!
Without a public option, there is no way to insure some people, so premiums become more expensive for the rest of us who are paying for their very expensive care with higher health care costs.
Can’t we please get this already?????
September 1st, 2009 at 3:17 pmRep. Lynn Jenkins wikipedia note “Jenkins has two children, Hayley and Hayden, and was married for 25 years. Her husband Scott filed for divorce on Friday, November 7, 2008, shortly after her election to the U.S. House.”
Oops – I guess we see and hear possibly why Mr. Jenkins wants to Not be married to her anymore.
What a horrible person and Representative.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:18 pmHey, all Republicans, WE ALREADY PAY FOR EVERYONE’S CARE. Really, we do, one way or another. That’s why it is so damned expensive, because people have to go to the emergency room for eat infections.
Get a clue, already.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:18 pmI see our old-white-person-quoting troll has re-run his collection of others’ greatest hits so often that he’s now forced to reach as far as Voltaire, in the hopes that we’ll think “the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other” doesn’t apply equally well to conservative governments.
kwsventures has really run out of ideas, hasn’t he?
But at least he’s environmentally conscious. Being into recycling, and all.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:19 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
“In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.”
– Voltaire
From one party to other to the other; hence, blue states to the red states.
Get up to speed!
September 1st, 2009 at 3:23 pmkwsventures says
September 1st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Ask Native Americans in Montana how they like their public option health care plan that has been in use for years now. … Not so good. You get what you paid for, I guess.
_____________________________________________________________
You have posted this same Terry Anderson article on every thread you can, and I still can’t figure out what your point is.
The Indian Health Service and the public option President Obama proposed as part of a health reform package are two entirely different things.
The proposed public option is a great deal more like Medicare than the IHS, while the IHS is probably a little more like the VA.
Yes, the IHS has some flaws that need to be fixed. But it has absolutely nothing to do with what’s currently on the table in Congress.
So unless you can present a clear and intelligent argument as to why the public option is like the IHS (just quoting Terry Anderson doesn’t count), just STFU — okay?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:25 pmNevermind, based on your most recent post, I now know that you ARE in fact too stupid to answer the question, or even understand the question.
But, in one final attempt at teaching you SOMETHING, here’s why it’s your problem if I can’t afford food or healthcare (no one NEEDS a car or expensive clothes, they can take a bus and go to the goodwill for clothes) – because if I’m not healthy, then I’m not productive, which means the goods and services my industry relies on me producing become more scarce, and therefore more expensive. This creates the problem that even MORE people can’t afford it, and the cycle spirals until you have economic collapse. That and the fact that to pay for some poor person to go to the doctor costs about 1/10 of what it costs for them to go to the emergency room, which you do pay for in increased insurance premiums, the argument that you should be unconcerned about their inability to get health insurance merely proves your idiocy has taken hold to such an extreme that there is very likely no hope for you whatsoever. Please tell me you didn’t breed.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:27 pmI am amazed, ralph, that the stupid trolls think quote mining impresses anyone. I have a feeling he wouldn’t be quoting Voltaire if he had ever seen a first class production of Candide. Or read it. Or anything by Voltaire. Or anything about Voltaire.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:27 pmIsn’t this the “Great White Hope” idiot Congresswoman?? Gee, I would hope that Ms. Jenkins would stop accepting her government-run option that she gets through Congress, if she believes it is so bad. She needs to grow-up and do her homework, and a great many issues….she is totally clueless, on top of being heartless!
September 1st, 2009 at 3:28 pmRepublicans are fixated on having pretty balance sheet during a time of deep recession, at the cost of human well-being. As of late, they’re trying to latch on Mitch Daniels as a front-runner. Mitch is holding onto $1 billion of people’s money when that state is suffering right along the rest of the country. Yet, when Bill Clinton ran a surplus of about half that during a great economic boom, they took issue.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:29 pmI notice you’ve quoted Winston Churchill now, kws. You might be interested to know that he considered Britian’s NHS one of his greatest achievements.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/08/14/healthcare/
September 1st, 2009 at 3:29 pmThe job of a manger dog is a tough one Ralph.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:33 pmI think we see now why kwsventures relies so heavily on contextually barren quotes from famous people.
When you see them side-by-side with kwsventures’ own comments, it’s clear that he can’t construct a decent argument on his own, so he must lean on quickly tossed-off Bartlett’s entries in order to have any chance of sounding at all coherent.
I guess “minimally coherent” is a necessary first step in order to someday reach “constructive and well-argued”.
I don’t think you’ll ever get there, kwsventures, but you keep trying, little dude! You keep trying.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:33 pmThe discoveries of healing science must be the inheritance of all. That is clear. Disease must be attacked, whether it occurs in the poorest or the richest man or woman simply on the ground that it is the enemy; and it must be attacked just in the same way as the fire brigade will give its full assistance to the humblest cottage as readily as to the most important mansion. Our policy is to create a national health service in order to ensure that everybody in the country, irrespective of means, age, sex, or occupation, shall have equal opportunities to benefit from the best and most up-to-date medical and allied services available.
-Winston Churchill
Does this speak to you, kws?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pmHow to make health care more affordable? Price always gets to the bottom line. Supply and demand.
1. Allow health care insurance to be bought in any state in the Union. More competition. More insurance companies. Auto insurance in the example.
2. Tort reform.(okay, I know most congressman are lawyers and they hate that idea.) John Edwards got rich chasing ambulances not just skirts.
3. More doctors. Give those interested in a career in medicine incentives to pursue their dream.
4. More incentives to those living a healthy lifestyle. Those that smoke, eat donuts and drink a 6-pack of beer everyday pay more for insurance. Just like safe drivers pay less for car insurance.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:36 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
How to make health care more affordable? Price always gets to the bottom line. Supply and demand.
Okay… do you know about elasticity in supply/demand?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_elasticity_of_demand
Just as no one ’shops’ for the best deal on a fire brigade and only have house fires when it’s cheapest people can not ’shop’ for the best price on a doctor or ‘wait’ to get sick until the prices come down… sorry.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pmkwsventures says:
To all looking for government to handle your problems, I say, good night and good luck.
Who handles your fire protection, kws?
September 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pmyou’re right kws – I’m giving up on the Post Office and start having Donald Trump deliver all my mail.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:40 pmInterestingly, H.Scott Gordon isn’t saying what you think he is either, kws.
Read the whole paper here:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/r66n262067337060/
He’s arguing against an unregulated market…
September 1st, 2009 at 3:55 pmkwsventures says
September 1st, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I want affordable food, clothes, cars and health care. I need/want/deserve a high paying job, too. I want. I want. I want. I deserve. I deserve. I need. I need. Ok, go and buy your own food, clothes, cars and health care. Why exactly is it my problem if you can’t afford them? How is it your problem if I can’t afford them?
We have become the handout generation. A bunch of losers looking for handouts. Why? I want. I need. I deserve. Soft.
Embarrassing.
_____________________________________________________________
You appear to be equating basic health care with plasma TVs. This is a fairly common wingnut argument. Let me explain why I don’t embrace your position.
When I am asked if I should contribute toward my fellow man for a commodity he cannot afford on his own, I ask myself, “what would be the consequences if I failed to contribute”?
If my neighbor can’t afford a plasma TV, this scarcely impacts my life at all. So my attitude is that he can live without it. But just so that he’s not without entertainment, I’m willing to contribute to a library system, so he has access to books he can read for free. Furthermore, reading may increase his literacy, which will make him more productive to society.
If my neighbor can’t afford to send his children to the fanciest private school in town, that’s too bad. But I’m willing to fund the public schools so his children can get a basic education. That way, they’re more likely to get decent jobs when they grow up, and they’ll make the talent pool more attractive for employers.
I’m not willing to pay for my neighbor to dine on steak, lobster, and champagne every night. But if he and his family starve, that will impact me because he won’t be able to work, his children won’t be able to learn, and the entire family will just continue to be a drain on society instead of producing. Furthermore, I find people begging on the street for food to be annoying. So I find it cheaper in the long run to provide his family with food stamps so they can at least eat something.
I’m not willing to pay for my neighbor to live in a palace. But it’s in my best interest for him to have some kind of roof over his head. If he doesn’t, he’ll just live in the street and lower my property value.
I’m willing to pay for crime prevention programs (like midnight basketball) because A) I don’t like crime and I’d rather feel safe in my community, and B) crime prevention programs are a great deal cheaper than prisons. Just call me cheap and selfish.
And now we come to health care. I guess I’m just not cold-hearted enough to say that people should just die in the street if they can’t afford it. So I know I’m going to pay for health care for the uninsured no matter what. And as long as I’m going to pay for it, I’d just as soon pay to keep a person healthy with regular doctor visits and appropriate medication than pay huge bucks for their emergency room care later. It’s cheaper, you know.
We had a situation down here a few months ago that illustrated the folly of turning a blind eye to everybody else. A young mother of three small children had high blood pressure. She couldn’t afford health insurance, she couldn’t afford doctor visits, and she couldn’t afford BP medication even if she could afford to see a doctor for a prescription. She had to choose between health care for herself or food for her kids. She chose to feed her children.
She suffered a stroke when a blood vessel in her brain ruptured. An ambulance was called when she fell unconscious. She was whisked to a state-of-the-art emergency room, where doctors worked on her for 90 minutes to try to save her life. She died.
It was observed that the cost of blood pressure medication and two doctor visits a year for the rest of her natural life expectancy would have cost less than that 90 minute emergency room visit. In addition, three children just became wards of the state — responsibility of the taxpayers.
Yes — I weigh the consequences of NOT paying to benefit my fellow man before deciding what I’m willing for my taxpayer dollars to fund. Health care falls into the category of “more expensive to taxpayers if we don’t fund it”. Plasma TVs don’t.
September 1st, 2009 at 3:57 pm129. Misscoleptramolly,
may I add that not everyone is born with the same skills and same social advantages. If someone were making 1/2 million a year, I wouldn’t feel so sad for them, but there are plenty of people existing on minimum wage – hard working, working multiple jobs, but lack the ability to get ahead.
Add to this that in this economy, there are many, many people who are underemployed. They may posess the skills for a good paying job but because of the economy are settling for much lower paying jobs without benefits.
And can I add in the mix that there are companies where the workers are intentionally kept on part time basis so that the company doesn’t pay benefits. Companies (including nation-wide companies making a huge profit) where they have been known to direct full-time workers with several years of experience to the local welfare office for food stamps ?
September 1st, 2009 at 4:18 pmMolly – nice takedown, and plus, plus points for politeness.
kws is just regurgitating the latest incarnation of the “welfare queens” myth, in the form of some tortured, Jack-Bauer-and-the-ticking-clock pseudo-conundrum.
bottom line:
kws would kill a kid’s puppy if he believed it would save him 2 bucks in taxes, and he’s ashamed to admit it outright, so he dresses up his avarice in a Ted Nugent outfit.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pmIf anyone has Keith Olbermann’s ear, we have a winner for “Worst Person” tonight.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:21 pmStubain says:(@2:40)pm
live within your means, that means no cell phone.
Have you looked around for pay phones lately?
September 1st, 2009 at 4:27 pmThey are as extinct as the passenger pigeon. I had to get a cell phone because pay phones are almost unheard of these days.
Same applies to rich people, child abusers, and misanthropes.
What do you think we should do about that?
September 1st, 2009 at 4:31 pmJenkins has offended every waitperson in the country.
How often does Jenkins eat in restaurants?
How many food servers are now going to be spitting (or worse) on her food?
Yummy!
“Capitalism has destroyed our belief in any effective power but that of self interest backed by force.”
September 1st, 2009 at 4:46 pm– George Bernard Shaw
kwsventures says:
To all looking for government to handle your problems, I say, good night and good luck.
Strange, in the 8 years of Bush (and I know you’ve been here for at least a couple of those) we were treated to a non-stop litany of how well the government was protecting us, and you didn’t say squat then. Now suddenly you’re anti-government. Hypocrite, much?
September 1st, 2009 at 4:46 pm4. More incentives to those living a healthy lifestyle. Those that smoke, eat donuts and drink a 6-pack of beer everyday pay more for insurance. Just like safe drivers pay less for car insurance.
And what are these incentives? Lower rates? Haw! haw! That’s a good one!
September 1st, 2009 at 4:47 pmActually, my poster boy for 2008 is Bernie Madoff. He was able to f uck over a lot of snobby rich pricks who thought the world was their oyster and now they have to sell everything to pay the bills. “Greed is good”
You f ucking arrogant scumsucking pricks.
As for kws and his misadventures. The Indian Health Service (IHS) is allowed to set their own coverage, not forced to follow FDA like Medicare and Medicaid.
From your link provided:
“The IHS attempts to provide health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives in one of two ways. It runs 48 hospitals and 230 clinics for which it hires doctors, nurses, and staff and decides what services will be provided.”
“Personal stories from people within the system reveal the human side of these statistics. In 2005, Ta’Shon Rain Little Light, a 5-year-old member of the Crow tribe who loved to dress in traditional clothes, stopped eating and complained that her stomach hurt. When her mother took her to the IHS clinic in south central Montana, doctors dismissed her pain as depression. They didn’t perform the tests that might have revealed the terminal cancer that was discovered several months later when Ta’Shon was flown to a children’s hospital in Denver. “Maybe it would have been treatable” had the cancer been discovered sooner, her great-aunt Ada White told the Associated Press.”
Depression in a 5yo. Oh OK, that would have passed muster in an FDA approved care center, I think not.
http://www.thecre.com/fedlaw/legal22x.htm
You f ucking GOP bastards are SOOO lucky I know better, and do not own a gun. I would have killed many of you pukes a long time ago.
I truly hope you and your whole family comes down with some horrific, incurable disease and you lose every f ucking penny you ever stole, you soul-less, lying, cold hearted, scumbag.
St. Peter will piss on your when you get to whereever you think you are going. He will then take you and use you to wipe his ass, afterwhich he will toss your empty, container of a soul into the depths of hell for all eternity, afterwhich, when eternity ends, I will be there to kick the ever loving crap out you.
September 1st, 2009 at 4:49 pmTo all looking for government to handle your problems, I say, good night and good luck.
—
September 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pmAnd I’ll bet you also wrap flags around shit and claim greatest nation right? So about that business of yours…
kwsventures says:
I want affordable food, clothes, cars and health care. I need/want/deserve a high paying job, too. I want. I want. I want. I deserve. I deserve. I need. I need. Ok, go and buy your own food, clothes, cars and health care. Why exactly is it my problem if you can’t afford them? How is it your problem if I can’t afford them?
We have become the handout generation. A bunch of losers looking for handouts. Why? I want. I need. I deserve. Soft.
Embarrassing.
Bull. This has been the lost generation because of failed Reaganomics which is unabashed greed. It was a lie, not trickle down but wealth trickling up leaving the middle class and poor the big losers. Reaganomics is dead even according to Greenspan. It is time to move in a different direction.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:04 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Chant at your keyboards.
“Reaganomics is dead”
September 1st, 2009 at 5:06 pm“Reaganomics is dead”
“Reaganomics is dead”
“Reaganomics is dead”
“Reaganomics is dead”
conservative guy says:
Another liberal sob story.
Do you have an opinion on the bills before Congress?
September 1st, 2009 at 5:08 pmAthena… do we need to re-do this morning again? Didn’t we cover your sweeping generalizations then?
September 1st, 2009 at 5:09 pmYes Athena,
September 1st, 2009 at 5:10 pmYou can learn alot. You can learn that you and KWS are nothing but represetnatives of the endless push to kill the United States of America and we, the under class, you so famously belittle and keep “down on the farm” will eventually strip you of your skin, just like Marie Antoinette you will be be-headed.
I am done with civility. I say we kill as many of you f ucks as soon as possible. And I say kill up to 2 generations. From Grandpappy to Jr.
A heartfelt “hear, hear” to MissMolly at 129!!
September 1st, 2009 at 5:11 pmAlso Athena,
There is nothing to learn about GOP mindset, as it is still the disgusting mindset of 600 years ago. The Feudal lord mindset. We have battled this same bullshit before and won, and we will do it again.
The People ALWAYS win.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:13 pmStubain says
September 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pm
If you can’t afford health insurance, you can’t afford children.
_____________________________________________________________
And yet you wingnuts believe that women should be forced to birth children they don’t particularly want because they should be punished for having sex.
You really need to pick one or the other to get outraged about.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:13 pmI ask a friend of mine the other day, what a Progressive is and what do they stand for. He recommended this site and said it is the flag ship for the Progressive movement with direct access to the white house. And that i could learn all i needed to know about the progressive movement by spending a little time observing the back and forth debate between posters. Boy was he right!
—
September 1st, 2009 at 5:15 pmIt is fun to have imaginary friends to talk to…
So Athena how old are you? Am I suppose to believe that you had to seek out a friend to ask what a progressive was? Damn these is weak made up stuff even by weak made up standards…
September 1st, 2009 at 5:17 pmI’d say hi to conservaqtive guy but his pussy ass is long gone…
September 1st, 2009 at 5:18 pmHoodathunk sez: Maybe we should put Congress on the waitperson pay scale. Half wages and we tip them when they do a good job.
Excellent idea…..then all the idiots in the Rethuglican party (and those in the Democratic also) would be out of a job soon because NOBODY would tip THIS Congress–remember, Tips means “To insure proper service”–and we sure ain’t gettin’ any of that!
September 1st, 2009 at 5:18 pmsorry conservative guy. I know you already ran away but honoring names is important to me. No disrespect intended…
September 1st, 2009 at 5:19 pmconservative guy says
September 1st, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Another liberal sob story.
____________________________________________________________
I see. So what do YOU think this woman should do? Just shut up and quit whining? How is this going to get insurance for her child?
As the price of health care and health insurance has skyrocketed, this woman’s story isn’t unique. And if nothing is done, there will be even more and more of people like her.
So far your “solution” is to dismiss her story and others like it as “sob stories”. Way to go — demean her and belittle her. She could be the person who takes your order and brings you your meal next time you eat in a restaurant.
You obviously don’t think her situation affects you at all. Yet, you’re paying for her emergency room trips. And if either she or her child gets seriously ill, you’re going to be paying for their recovery. If she gets sick enough she can’t work anymore, you’re going to be paying to support them both. And if she dies before her child is grown, you’re going to be paying for him to be in the foster care system.
Not only are you a mean, cold-hearted, thoughtless b*stard, but you’re a very impractical one as well.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:24 pmWhat is the underclass? You are wildly misinformed and your display of aggression demonstrates the severity.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:28 pmDo you have a better suggestion?
dbadass are these types of posters normal?
September 1st, 2009 at 5:33 pmdbadass are these types of posters normal?
What do you think? Is that representative of the majority of posts on this site? Or are you looking for ‘examples’ of ‘Progressive posters’ that fit your own prejudices?
September 1st, 2009 at 5:37 pmhttp://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/31/az-pastor-brain-cancer/
Athena, are these type of pastors normal?
September 1st, 2009 at 5:37 pmSweeping generalizations aren’t usually very informative, Athena,
but don’t let that stop you from using them dishonestly to support your nakedly self-serving positions.
have a nice day.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:45 pmdbadass are these types of posters normal?
— Well that would depend on whether an intentionally sarcastic comment was being taken out of context and held up as an example to reinforce a predetermined agenda. I notice you didn’t select any of the multitude of well reasoned and argued comments which are presented here on a daily basis when formulating your thesis defense.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:45 pmDo you have a better suggestion?
—
September 1st, 2009 at 5:47 pmSo you admit that whole friend thing was pure bullshit? See now the problem is how am I and others to take you serious when you acknowledge that your agenda is more important to you than your integrity….
Y, I like the Conservative sob stories much better…
like AIG’s,
and Dick Cheney’s
and Enron’s,
and Goldman Sachs’
the characters are always so much more symapthetic, and the plots are so complicated one can barely manage to keep track.
(and they have lots bigger, juicier price tags!!!)
September 1st, 2009 at 5:47 pmAny post that dosen’t seem to agree with the blog subject gets voted down immediately. But no one has touched these post, or flagged them.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Any post that dosen’t seem to agree with the blog subject gets voted down immediately. But no one has touched these post, or flagged them.
Well, I’m sure that’s not true. I don’t vote down as a rule but I have noticed that DC’s number of Rec’s has been going up and down and you are free to flag and report DC if you wish…
Personally, I can understand the anger but I would prefer to talk these things out with those on the other side… except no one is willing to discuss it for more than a post or two.
Why do you think that is? Could it be that you have no real good arguments on the other side and so must resort to scare tactics and diversions?
Diversions like worrying about the votes on a Progressive website and what that says about progressives in general?
Just wonderin’
September 1st, 2009 at 5:54 pmDid you have anything of substance to contribute, Athena?
I’d like that.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:55 pmOk now Athena honey,
I’ve gone back there and flagged that post.
Many people here do, in like fashion, with like posts, daily.
Is there anything else you’d like to “tell the teacher on someone” about before we get back on topic?
You know, selective tattling is really unbecoming a nice young lady like you.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:55 pmAny post that dosen’t seem to agree with the blog subject gets voted down immediately. But no one has touched these post, or flagged them
September 1st, 2009 at 5:56 pm–
Don’t look at me I have a well established no vote down no flagging policy…
No where in my questions did I say that.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:56 pmJust read 157 and tell me what it says…
September 1st, 2009 at 5:57 pmOkay them if we wish to continue this charade why don’t you tell me more about this friend. We know he is male and that he is slightly delusional what with that “red phone” to the Oval Office….
September 1st, 2009 at 5:59 pmNo, there are plenty of arguments against why we do not need a compete take over of our health care system by the government.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:01 pmjohn podesta is involved right? wasn’t he involved with the current administration?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:04 pmNo, there are plenty of arguments against why we do not need a compete take over of our health care system by the government.
And there is no evidence that that is what is happening, see the disconnect?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:04 pmdbadass says:
Just read 157 and tell me what it says…
Do you have a better suggestion on how i could learn more about the Progressive agenda.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:05 pmDo you mean on this blog or in the general public?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:05 pmFunny – Because the only one I’ve heard is:
“But what about the poor insurance companies”
granted, that one has been disguised in a number of ways, but because I’m observant and intelligent, I haven’t been confused.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:06 pmOdd response to a statement that clearly says…”It is fun to have imaginary friends to talk to…”
I am not sure you are really up to this. Now might be a good time to reconsider…
September 1st, 2009 at 6:07 pmDo you mean on this blog or in the general public?
You find evidence in either place and post it, then we’ll talk.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:07 pmDo you have a better suggestion on how i could learn more about the Progressive agenda.
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September 1st, 2009 at 6:10 pmWell you might consider logging on to progressive sites and politely requesting information or maybe you might consider contacting progressive political organization in your community and attending a few gathers. I think the key is probably the sincerity part and of course that open mind of yours. Those will definately help people see how interested you are in learning. You are sincere and open aren’t you because the thing is and I hate to sound rude, this whole thing seems a nit of a ruse…
Athena says:
No, there are plenty of arguments against why we do not need a compete take over of our health care system by the government.
It is apparent you repeat the Republican slogans while ignoring the facts about the health care bill. It has been repeatedly said that the government is offering an alternative to private insurance. There is no takeover except in the minds of legislators that want to defeat the bill. If you cannot understand a simple concept, then you are wasting your time posting. Why should anyone try to respond to your statements when you don’t know what you are talking about?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:11 pmThe whole issue is cost right? Why does the government have to create another health insurance program to control cost? What about Tort reform? I have heard nothing about this.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:12 pmAthena says
September 1st, 2009 at 6:01 pm
No, there are plenty of arguments against why we do not need a compete take over of our health care system by the government.
_____________________________________________________________
And those are arguments against a strawman, since “a complete takeover of our health care system by the government” isn’t even on the table, even though that’s how you would like to frame the discussion.
What’s on the table is health care reform that includes a government-administrated non-profit alternative plan to the private insurance companies already available.
Got any arguments against that? I mean, besides “death panels”, “rationing”, “private insurers will disappear”, “bureaucrats will get between you and your doctor”, “uninsured people can always go to an emergency room”, and other absurdities we haven’t already slapped down?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:12 pmThe whole issue is cost right? Why does the government have to create another health insurance program to control cost? What about Tort reform? I have heard nothing about this.
You’ve heard NOTHING about tort reform? How about the study that showed that tort reform had NO effect on costs in Texas after it was enacted?
How about the fact that doing NOTHING is GUARANTEED to increase costs?
Where are you getting your information? ‘Cause most of it seems obviously faulty.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:15 pmFor you, Athena:
http://washingtonindependent.com/55535/tort-reform-unlikely-to-cut-health-care-costs
September 1st, 2009 at 6:16 pmhttp://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/06/01/090601fa_fact_gawande
Another article about the study in Texas, Athena.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:16 pmjohn podesta is involved right? wasn’t he involved with the current administration?
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September 1st, 2009 at 6:20 pmWill it take long to get to Kevin Bacon? Can I get one simple answer? Do you or do you not have a predetermined agenda here that you are attempting to disquise as sincere inquiry? See the thing is that I have absolutely no patience for frauds, posers, tax whiners, and lame asses… I am happy to engage all but those folks are just beneath me…
This from Wellpoint (the insurance company)on costs:
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS137490+27-May-2009+PRN20090527
September 1st, 2009 at 6:20 pmAthena?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:20 pmWhat do you think about that, Athena? Payment for treatment of the uninsured or under-insured is being transferred to everyone ALREADY and driving up costs!
Wouldn’t it be better to deal with that in a more efficient and cost-effective way?
Like making sure EVERYONE is adequately insured?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:23 pmThe problem with that is statements like this from the president.
Obama IN HIS OWN WORDS saying His Health Care Plan will ELIMINATE private insurance
September 1st, 2009 at 6:26 pmSo is it safe to assume we won’t be hearing about Athena’s sincerity or lack thereof? I suppose it’s time to be moving along them. What is the point of discussing the issues of the day with individuals who come to the table dishonestly…
September 1st, 2009 at 6:30 pmhttp://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/aahca.pdf
Find Single Payer in here, Athena…
I’m ALSO a proponent of single payer but UNIVERSAL COVERAGE is the goal and so we are COMPROMISING.
Yeah, once people see universal coverage working we may EVENTUALLY move to a single-payer system… but the French haven’t and the Germans haven’t.
You need to find better bogey men. Single-Payer doesn’t scare me and it is NOT on the table. More’s the pity…
September 1st, 2009 at 6:31 pmI’m with dbadass, Athena… you don’t seem interested in actually reaching a compromise or debating the bills as they stand now.
I don’t find that to be an honest position and I don’t find yours to be an honest argument.
We’re talking about this bill in the here and now… what do you oppose in THIS BILL, here and now?
September 1st, 2009 at 6:34 pmIt occurs to me that all of the “arguments” from the Reichwhiners are strawmen. They could make rational objections to cost. That’s a fair consideration but, they don’t choose to do so. That compels me to think that they have reached the same conclusion I have. Namely that we can afford the proposed plans and, barring unforeseen complications, they should work.
So? They bleat about “death panels” and “government takeovers” and “pulling the plug on Grandma”. They fail to produce logical arguments because the logical arguments are already addressed in the legislation.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:42 pmhttp://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/28/wellpoint-attacks/comment-page-1/#comment-5783113
More from Wellpoint on why they should not be trusted to act in the public’s best interest…
September 1st, 2009 at 6:49 pmAthena: “Do you have a better suggestion on how i could learn more about the Progressive agenda.”
Read the original “Common Sense,” by Thomas Paine. Or, on any given year, you could go to their websites and read the platforms of the Green Party and the Democratic Party. The Green Party’s platform is a good representation of very liberal policy positions and the Democratic Party’s platform is good for moderately liberal positions.
There is no secret agenda. It’s easy to figure out where liberals stand. Stop pretending it’s some kind of insidious conspiracy.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:50 pmTexasrick, if you did your time and got an honorable discharge, you are a veteran, and should enroll NOW. Your income status just puts you at a lower priority for getting appointments. Being understaffed and underfunded, the VA is working hard to get the recently wounded vets enrolled and cared for. Your income just means that you have to pay a deductible, and copays—it doesn’t in any way disqualify you from VA benefits. Get yourself in the system NOW. There may be a long wait time, but once you’re in, you’re in and can go to any veterans’ hospital or clinic in the country. Vets familiar with the system will gladly fill you in on tricks to get around bureaucratic impediments. How many hoops you have to jump through varies from state to state, and I suspect Texas has more hoops.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:52 pmMy favorite pile of steaming nonsense is conservatives’ newly-found commitment to lowering deficits. Maybe they’ve forgotten what Dick Cheney famously said to his Secretary of the Treasury during Bush’s first year: “Deficits don’t matter. Reagan proved that.”
And, so, they ran a $12-billion a month war of choice for years while all these conservatives happily stared off into space. Now, they’ve found a new religion and it’s only by mere coincidence that we’ve got a Democrat in the White House.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:55 pmDid you not want to know how Progressives thought after all, Athena?
Disappointing…
September 1st, 2009 at 7:19 pmAthena says:
Obama IN HIS OWN WORDS saying His Health Care Plan will ELIMINATE private insurance
And the problem with that is? I don’t see a downside to that.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:27 pmkwsventures says:
Did you do it while being a single working mother working as a waitress? You are the stupidest most disgusting piece of garbage I can even imagine. You are a selfish punk. You care only about yourself and rich peoples money. Your worship of Ebenezer Scrooge makes me sick. Do you even remember what it was like before your soul ran screaming from you when it realized how utterly putrid and blackhearted you were?
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:00 amconservaTROLL
Why havent you killed yourself yet you ignorant hearless pile of dogshit?
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 am“Athena”, if you knew anything at all about the Goddess whose name you are slandering, you’d know that She has _absolutely no use_ for disingenuous idiots.
I’m sure She is preparing a nice fat brick to drop on you even as we speak.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 amAthena says:
If you have heard nothing about tort reform its because you have been living in a cave in Sri Lanka. It is the corporate push even though studies show it is an insignificant part of healthcare costs. A good argument why we NEED a public option at LEAST is that 18,000 Americans per year DIE from lack of access to healthcare. Also that half of ALL bankrupcies are healthcare related even though more than half of THOSE are people who HAD healthcare when their problems began.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:04 amWow. The Repiggie congresswoman is one damnably condescending b1tch. Methinks a trip to Niffleheim is in order.
And Athena hun? I may not be very politically intelligent, but I have yet to see a single logical, legitimate argument against this bill, from you or anyone for that matter. Especially you though. You can’t say I never payed attention to you =]
As for CG: you’re lucky I’m a pacifist on most days, you insensitive prick, or I’d punch your face in for that sob story comment.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 amWow. The Repiggie congresswoman is one damnably condescending b1tch. Methinks a trip to Niffleheim is in order.
And Athena hun? I may not be very politically intelligent, but I have yet to see a single logical, legitimate argument against this bill, from you or anyone for that matter. Especially you though. You can’t say I never payed attention to you =]
As for CG: you’re lucky I’m a pacifist on most days, you insensitive prick, or I’d punch your face in for that sob story comment.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:59 amWow. The Repiggie congresswoman is one damnably condescending b1tch. Methinks a trip to Niffleheim is in order.
And Athena hun? I may not be very politically intelligent, but I have yet to see a single logical, legitimate argument against this bill, from you or anyone for that matter. Especially you though. You can’t say I never payed attention to you =]
As for CG: you’re lucky I’m a pacifist on most days, you insensitive prick, or I’d punch your face in for that sob story comment.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 amWow. The Repiggie congresswoman is one damnably condescending b1tch. Methinks a trip to Niffleheim is in order.
And Athena hun? I may not be very politically intelligent, but I have yet to see a single logical, legitimate argument against this bill, from you or anyone for that matter. Especially you though. You can’t say I never payed attention to you =]
As for CG: you’re lucky I’m a pacifist on most days, you insensitive prick, or I’d punch your face in for that sob story comment.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 amAck. Sorry about the repeats. Internet issues. My apologies to all.
September 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 amIt appears that the ONLY words known by the GOP are, tax credit and tax break.
September 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 amPay attention you wienies, these do NOT help if you are struggling every day just to survive. The ‘little bit’ that the average minimum wage employee would get from either of these ’so called’ breaks, is not even enough to buy a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk, how is the hell do you pay for insurance with that?
EugeneDebs says:
kwsventures says:
Did you do it while being a single working mother working as a waitress? You are the stupidest most disgusting piece of garbage I can even imagine. You are a selfish punk. You care only about yourself and rich peoples money. Your worship of Ebenezer Scrooge makes me sick. Do you even remember what it was like before your soul ran screaming from you when it realized how utterly putrid and blackhearted you were?
EugeneDebs says:
kwsventures says:
Did you do it while being a single working mother working as a waitress? You are the stupidest most disgusting piece of garbage I can even imagine. You are a selfish punk. You care only about yourself and rich peoples money. Your worship of Ebenezer Scrooge makes me sick. Do you even remember what it was like before your soul ran screaming from you when it realized how utterly putrid and blackhearted you were?
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
September 2nd, 2009 at 3:16 pm– C.S. Lewis
kwsventures says:
You are so pathetic and so stupid it is astonishing. You think you have something there so you post it over and over even though you fool no one. It is out of context. Do you think CS Lewis would be on your side of this argument? Have you read his books because I have. He would be ashamed of a moron like you. A selfish ignorant piece of filth like you using his name probably has him rolling over in his grave.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth Galbraith
John was talking about incredibly stupid and selfish morons like YOU
September 2nd, 2009 at 7:43 pmvery thanks for article!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:38 amSounds like something my mom and dad would say (they’re big on the whole “personal responsibility” thing); basically shes saying “Don’t cry to me about not having healthcare”, which is probably the last thing this poor woman wants to hear. Has this congresswoman ever even tried to live how many people here in the u.s., including many of her constituents live? If so, eaither shes lacking in empathy or she can’t seem to relate to “ordinary” Americans at all (But then again, what elected official can?).
September 7th, 2009 at 9:41 pmDoes it ever occur to her that there might be people out there who make only about minimum wage and maybe don’t get benefits through their employer? I guess she’s forgotten that, because she can afford her health care (that is, if she actually paid for it). I think being an elected official has done something to her brain to lack sympathy for people who make less than she does, but wait ’till she has an emergency and her healthcare won’t cover it; then she’ll be singing a different tune. Karma is a biotch, senator!
September 7th, 2009 at 9:49 pm