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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 10:08 PM CST
LETTER: Government not good at running a business

EVELYN LIVINGSTON, Toledo

Where do we get the money to pay for all the government is promising everyone? Bills eventually come due! And don’t tell me that the government will save money! It has never happened. Everything goes up and up.

When did people decide to give up their freedom for security? Inmates in the prisons have security — housing, food and medical care. Do you suppose it makes up for their lack of freedom?

It seems to me that we have failed to grow up. Parents care for us as children and we’re expecting the government to take over for them.

This health care bill will be taking over one-sixth of the economy and will affect 100 percent of the people. The funding figures are extremely misleading. They intend to raise part of it by cutting 45 percent out of Medicare. When the doctors said they would not take on Medicare patients if they cut 50 percent out of the reimbursement, our brilliant Congress people said, “Oh well, then we’ll take it out of the health care and add it to the deficit.” Finally some saw the folly of this and voted it down. So I guess that is out in limbo.

They have also said funding (fines and taxes) will begin now but coverage would not begin until 2013. Nevertheless the figures touted for 10 years end in 2019. Ten years of income — maybe five or six of service. The Democrats are complaining about unconscionable profits of insurance companies. According to charts I have read they have a 2.2 percent profit margin. Would you be wildly happy with this kind of profit in any business?

There is a lot of talk about health care gouging. Many of my family work in the health care field — nurses, dietary and equipment repair. My son tells me that not a day goes by when he doesn’t need to install new parts on medical equipment costing $4,000 to $5,000 for each part.

A newspaper article told of how many nursing homes are being closed because of delayed payment from Medicaid. The government has never been able to run a business well. This is understandable if they don’t worry about how they pay for anything. Headlines tell you what they get approved for their district — never how much you will pay for those goodies.

I was born in 1929 and I fully remember a saying very commonly used, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.”

EVELYN LIVINGSTON

Toledo

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Harry Potter wrote on Nov 4, 2009 11:17 AM:

" Medical Malpractice Insurers Profits Higher Than Nearly All Fortune 500 Companies.

The American Association for Justice the trial lawyers lobby group has just released an astounding statistic: medical malpractice insurance companies average profits are higher than those of 99 percent of Fortune 500 companies.

As the nation remains mired in a debate over health care reform and how to keep down the costs of expanding coverage, AAJ is trying to point out that Republicans claims that medical malpractice lawsuits are one of the big cost drivers is completely misleading. In fact, though malpractice claims and so-called defensive medicine does account for a small percentage of unnecessary costs, medical errors and the astronomical profits of malpractice insurers appear to be a bigger part of the problem.

AAJs report released today finds that the average profit of medical malpractice insurance companies is higher than 99 percent of all Fortune 500 companies and 35 times higher than the Fortune 500 average for the same time period; and malpractice insurers have seen their profit margins range from 5.9 percent to 74.8 percent, with an average of 31.2 percent. The report also finds that malpractice insurers have publicly overestimated their losses and underestimated their profits in an attempt to suggest the insurance business and medical practice in general faces a crisis that must be resolved by so-called tort reform i.e., making it harder for patients to sue and to collect damages for their injuries.

Oh yeah, sounds like tort reform is a real problem. A quick check with FactCheck shows that their other divisions are making about 6 percent, not the 2 percent claimed by the letter writer. Anyone who has ever worked in any large corporation knows that real profit is manipulated to be as low as possible to avoid taxes.

I'm having a hard time feeling the same sympathy for the poor insurance companies as the letter writer apparently has.

What's next, a letter telling us how bad off Ameren/CIPS has it? "

sapient wrote on Nov 4, 2009 5:08 PM:

" Then how about TORT REFORM, HP???? "

sapient wrote on Nov 4, 2009 5:17 PM:

" US Postal Service
Medicare
Medicaid
Tennessee Valley Authority
Social Security System

All federal government programs.
All broke.
All inefficient.

And now they also want to run our healthcare. That is scarier than the Ashmore House. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 5, 2009 7:02 AM:

" Then how about TORT REFORM, HP???? "

Apparantly you missed the point. Lawsuits are not having a lot of effect on the overall cost of health care.

Tort reform is not the problem. It makes for a good red meat issue for the GOP, but is in reality a red herring.

As for it not being passed, I would say that just like the insurance companies, the GOP and Fox Opinion news are fighting real health care reform, the lawyers lobbies are fighting it.

By the way, we are getting pretty close to getting health care reform. It's going to happen. "

Jon Vanatta wrote on Nov 5, 2009 8:07 AM:

" Our leader has never ran a business as big as a lenon aid stand so how could he run a business? "

61938 wrote on Nov 5, 2009 4:02 PM:

" sapient is on the right track. Look at the V.A. It can't even take care of our veterans. How on earth can we rely on the government for health care? Better off leaving it alone. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 5, 2009 6:22 PM:

" " Our leader has never ran a business as big as a lenon aid stand so how could he run a business? "

Maybe not, but I'll bet he would know how to spell it. LOL! "

Bps wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:41 AM:

" A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd. of China, Shenyangs largest shareholder, is set to supply turbines for a wind farm in Texas. $450 million in U.S. economic recovery aid may be used to help build the wind farm and create as many as 3,000 jobs, MOSTLY IN CHINA.

Quote- *The Obama administration should bar a $1.5 billion wind-farm project in Texas from receiving U.S. government stimulus funds because most of the power turbines would be made in China* - END QUOTE

Senator Charles Schumer
-----------
I never thought this would happen, little Chucky Schumer finally got something right.

Now lets see if the Obama administration gets it right and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu rejects the request for stimulus money unless the high-value components, including the wind turbines, are manufactured in the United States. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:56 AM:

" Kudos to Obama...

...more 'distinction' under his administration...

The unemployment rate has surpassed 10 percent for the first time since 1983 and is likely to go higher.

Nearly 16 million people can't find jobs even though the worst recession since the Great Depression has apparently ended. Many economists worry that persistently high unemployment could undermine the recovery by restraining consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of the economy.

The Labor Department said Friday that jobless rate rose to 10.2 percent, the highest since April 1983, from 9.8 percent in September. The economy shed a net total of 190,000 jobs in October, less than the downwardly revised 219,000 lost in September, but more than economists expected.

The jump in the jobless rate reflects a sharp increase in the tally of unemployed Americans, which rose to 15.7 million from 15.1 million. The net loss of jobs occurred across most industries, from manufacturing and construction to retail and financial. That tally is based on a separate survey of businesses.

Economists say the unemployment rate could climb as high as 10.5 percent next year because employers remain reluctant to hire. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:19 AM:

" I guess you're not aware of how many businesses George W ran into bankruptcy, huh Jon? By the way, an often overlooked fact is that Osama Bin Laden's brother was one of his former partners in one of those failures. Perhaps Orly the Birther Queen needs to look into that deal. lol! "

Cognitus wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:21 AM:

" Jon Vanatta:

Look, you jerk, he graduated from Harvard Law. If you're ignorant of how difficult that is, and how much competence is required, read the book "One L" by Scott Turow.

Certainly he's intelligent enough to
avoid making TWO blunders in a TWO line message:
(a) spelling "lemon", or
(b) making a grammatical error like "he has never ran".

I'm growing weary of people who are ignorant of the English language and yet expect people to take seriously their criticism of Obama. "

Cognitus wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:33 AM:

" Jon Vanatta:
Your msg still looks strange so I've checked my trusty dictionary. [You should get one Jon; it has lots of neat words you could use against Obama.]
But actually, even if you spelled it
correctly, it's still wrong; the dictionary says it's ONE WORD:
"lemonade".
Some claim this is picking the nit, but why should we listen to the "deep thoughts" of someone who is even untutored in our own language.

And particularly amusing are those who rant about immigrants who haven't learned English when those criticizing can't properly use it themselves!!!! "

Jon Vanatta wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:29 AM:

" Wow Cognitus are we a little testy this morning or what? I guess that must have kind of got to you somewhat or what? How do you know I didn't mean to write lenon aid? It really got your attention didn't it? "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Nov 6, 2009 12:11 PM:

" I'm growing weary of people who are ignorant of the English language and yet expect people to take seriously their criticism of Obama. "
-------------------

Wow! So maybe you'll just quit posting on these blogs then, eh, since it's soooo beneath you?

Or do you continue to post because it makes you fell 'superior'?

But hey...before you go...could you tell us once again why music is so important to our economy relative to the GDP of the nation?

I enjoy a good chuckle... "

Bps wrote on Nov 6, 2009 12:18 PM:

" Is anyone surprised by this?

Pelosi Breaks Pledge to Put Final Health Care Bill Online for 72 Hours Before Vote!

Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office tells THE WEEKLY STANDARD that the speaker will not allow the final language of the health care to be posted online for 72 hours before bringing the bill to a vote on the House floor, despite her September 24 statement that she was "absolutely" committed to doing so.

Proving once again how we the people are ignored by the political elite upper caste.

Hay LLCoO why is it that your enlightened leaders can't tell the truth? "

Jon Vanatta wrote on Nov 6, 2009 1:25 PM:

" Cognitus wrote on Nov 6, 2009 9:21 AM:

Look, you jerk, he graduated from Harvard Law.

How do you know he graduated from Harvard Law? What scholarship did he go on? Who paid for it? How did he rank in his class? Did he actually qualify to go there? What's so great about Harvard anyway? Is that why he is an elitist? There are so many questions about this man. I wonder if he has got around to selecting a church in DC to attend like he said he would? He found time to attend an Islamic prayer meeting, hmmmmmm. I think I might have heard that from Rachel Maddow, probably not though.

Oh, did you know Harvard was founded as a Christian university and named after a Christian minister? "

The Question wrote on Nov 6, 2009 3:26 PM:

" But you've completely overlooked the corollary, Evelyn. Business is not good at running a government. And that's really our trouble. "

Loki813 wrote on Nov 6, 2009 4:17 PM:

" CG: Do not get your undergarments in a uproar.(Don't get yor panties in a wad) Some people do not use correct grammer on proper spelling most of the time, this should not be held against them or thier posts on here.
PS. Just cut people some slack once in awhile you might make a friend someday. "

The Question wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:32 PM:

" If people reveal themselves to be either too lazy or too stupid to learn to spell simple English words or use basic grammar, why on earth should we pay any attention to their opinions about complex subjects like national policy? They have already advertised the fact that they are just blowhard fools. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Nov 6, 2009 7:35 PM:

" 237 millionaires in Congress

Know your richest government millionaires:

Rep. Darrell Issa California (R) worth about $251 million.

Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), worth about $244.7 million;

Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), worth about $214.5 million;

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), worth about $209.7 million;

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), worth about $208.8 million.

Securities and Exchange Commission Chairwoman Mary L. Schapiro (D), with a net worth $26 million.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton $21 million.

President Barack Obama is the sixth-wealthiest executive, worth about an estimated $4 million.

Senators median reportable worth $1.79 million.

House Reps. median income $622,254

Isn't it funny how the richest are democrats?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29235.html "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:07 PM:

" Hey Cannon (4F)odder Bob...

I believe father bob has described his military service Neo in detail, so how about sharing yours. Or do you have something in common with the draft dodging Limbaugh and Cheney? Remember now that brother in VietNam doesn't count. "

father bob wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:35 PM:

" NeoCon Academician wrote on Nov 6, 2009 3:43 PM:

"here's how you spell Lenin...F-A-T-H-E-R B-O-B. """"

no, that's how you spell jeremiah wright. "

likestoknow wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:40 PM:

" Evelyn--since you oppose our government "taking over" for our parents, I assume that you do not accept Social Security or Medicare payments from this governnment. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:08 PM:

" Or do you have something in common with the draft dodging Limbaugh and Cheney? Remember now that brother in VietNam doesn't count. "
----------------------------

Draft? You mean there was draft during Vietnam, Grandpa? Ya gotta love those democrats that were in power back in the 60's and 70's to send folks like Stumpy Bob to Vietnam, don't ya? "

m wrote on Nov 7, 2009 3:32 AM:

" Ya know what? (how's that for incorrect...perty good?) The measure of a persons level of intelligence can not possibly be measured by a bizarre theory that if a person makes a grammatical error that their opinion makes them a "blowhard fool" or "ignorant". It is much more likely that those who chronically point out the slight errors of those they disagree with that they have nothing else to complain about...making them feel inferior and not the center of attention. They do not possess the intelligence to debate the opposition so they attack the silly little things they feel that they can twist and manipulate into something credible. Misery loves company and there (their, they're) probably aren't too (two? to? tu? geeze, I hope I don't pick the wrong one, won, juan!) many more miserable than those who enjoy sitting around, chomping at the bit to trash talk those they are intimidated by. Get over yourselves, narcissists. If you weren't too busy lovingly gazing at your reflection in your computer screen you might notice that normal people do not care whether or not anyone can spell 'lemonade'. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 7, 2009 9:08 AM:

" Jon Vanatta wrote on Nov 6, 2009 11:29 AM:

" Wow Cognitus are we a little testy this morning or what? I guess that must have kind of got to you somewhat or what? How do you know I didn't mean to write lenon aid? It really got your attention didn't it?

Nice try Jon, but a simple admission of error would have sufficed. "

hahvahd wrote on Nov 7, 2009 1:37 PM:

" You Republicans never cease to amaze me. The last time the unemployment rate was this high was in mid-1983. Remind me -- who was president then? Oh, yeah, Ronald Reagan, your political messiah. Let's see, mid-1983 was what, more than 2 and a half years after his Inauguration??? But back then, you were all saying the unemployment rate wasn't Reagan's fault -- you put the blame on his predecessor, Jimmy Carter, even though we were talking about being more than half-way through Reagan's 1st term.

Here we are in early Nov. 2009 -- 9 and a half months after Obama's Inauguration, and you're blaming WHO for the unemployment rate? Why certainly not George W. Bush!!!

You can't have it both ways, right wingers. If Obama's accountable from day 1, then so was Reagan. If Reagan got to blame Carter for economic woes more than halfway through his first term, then surely Obama deserves the same slack, especially since he's been in office 20.5 months less than Reagan was -- with even worse unemployment numbers, mind you. "

hahvahd wrote on Nov 7, 2009 2:09 PM:

" And Evelyn, millions of people without health insurance have neither freedom nor security! They are not free to seek the provider of their choice -- because they cannot afford to seek any medical care.

And I echo the poster who asked if you accept evil assistance from the government in the form of Social Security and Medicare. Don't offer the excuse that you do because you paid into those programs as a suitable defense, either -- people in those programs receive benefits many times over what they paid in, especially folks who have lived for decades beyond retirement age, such as people who were born in 1929 and are 80 years old. You advise those without healthcare to "do without," so why not follow your own advice??

For the record, I don't believe that our senior citizens should have to give up Social Security and Medicare. But I also believe that in addition to helping our seniors, our government needs to step up and assist the uninsured as well. "

Bps wrote on Nov 7, 2009 6:12 PM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:07 PM:
I believe father bob has described his military service Neo in detail, so how about sharing yours. Or do you have something in common with the draft dodging Limbaugh and Cheney? "
-------------------
You and fb have both dodged or ignored this issue several times and call me a pollyanna, but maybe this time one of you two patriots can address this ongoing issue the beloved leader is having:

It has been more than two months since the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, submitted his report calling for an urgent and significant change in strategy regarding the war in Afghanistan and more troops.

Any idea when Mr. Obama will be able to make up his mind if he is sending more troops as the general requested, pulling them all out (exit strategy) or getting a new general?

If you cant address it maybe one of your cohorts can address why such a supposed well educated President is having a problem understanding what urgent means. "

Jon Vanatta wrote on Nov 7, 2009 8:45 PM:

" likestoknow wrote on Nov 6, 2009 8:40 PM:

" Evelyn--since you oppose our government "taking over" for our parents, I assume that you do not accept Social Security or Medicare payments from this governnment. "

You might have somewhat of a misunderstanding likestoknow, this government does not pay for Social Security or Medicare payments, they are paid out of funds that Evelyn has paid into over her lifetime. This government just mismanages this fund just as all administrations have been doing. "

hahvahd wrote on Nov 8, 2009 12:19 AM:

" I submitted this about 2 minutes after my post of 1:37 p.m. on Saturday, but for some reason the moderator bounced it. I have no idea why, as it didn't include anything libelous, etc. I hope this one clears.

Yes, neocon, I didn't read your post as carefully as I should have -- Reagan's 10%+ unemployment rate (higher than the current rate, btw) came in APRIL 1983, not mid-1983 as I posted; I was off by 3 months. So instead of being 2.5 years into Reagan's first term, it was 2.25 years into the term -- still, though, more than halfway through his first term, his supporters were blaming the previous administration for that rate. And instead of Obama's numbers coming 20.5 months earlier than Reagan's it's 17.5 months, but still, only 9 and a half months into his term, you right-wingers are blaming HIM and not his predecessor for the numbers.

Let's be consistent, right-wingers, 'kay? And I don't recall Carter leaving Reagan with 2 massive wars to clean up as Bush left things for Obama, nor starting the trend of corporate bailouts that tied Obama's hands at the start of his administration. "

hahvahd wrote on Nov 8, 2009 12:28 AM:

" And another post from earlier on Saturday that didn't make it through for some reason:

To Jon Vanatta: are you completely crazy? It's a matter of public record that Obama graduated from Harvard Law School. And he didn't just squeak by; he was editor of the Law Review there, an honor reserved only for the best and brightest within an individual class, not for someone middle of the class, even, let alone bottom of the class. And Harvard Law has such competitive admissions policies that even being accepted is quite an accomplishment; bottom of the class at Harvard is superior to top of the class at the majority of colleges and universities throughout the world.

The ability of the right wing to deny and distort reality never ceases to amaze me. But then again, if one believes the Flintstones belongs on the history channel because man and dinosaur co-existed, then I guess such blunders are to be expected. The anti-intellectualism around here is also so amazing that it would be funny, if it weren't so disturbing. Yeah, well-educated people are the problem. (Heavy sarcasm.) Uh-huh. That's why if I need bypass surgery, I want a doctor who was bottom of the class at a 4th-rate medical school in the Bahamas, not first in his or her class at Duke Medical School. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 8, 2009 6:45 AM:

" You and fb have both dodged or ignored this issue several times and call me a pollyanna, but maybe this time one of you two patriots can address this ongoing issue the beloved leader is having:

It has been more than two months since the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, submitted his report calling for an urgent and significant change in strategy regarding the war in Afghanistan and more troops.

Any idea when Mr. Obama will be able to make up his mind if he is sending more troops as the general requested, pulling them all out (exit strategy) or getting a new general?

If you cant address it maybe one of your cohorts can address why such a supposed well educated President is having a problem understanding what urgent means. "

---------------

Just like you, I have no idea of what is going on behind the scenes with this administration. One thing I have noticed about Obama is that he is methodical about making decisions. Unlike some of his predecessors, he's not prone to knee jerk reactions. I have to assume that he is gathering as much information as possible before making his final decision on Afghanistan. I would remind you that over 4000 young Americans lost their lives over a hasty and poorly planned decision by the previous president.

By the way, as an aside, I don't think a president who graduated from the top law school in the country with honors could be classified as a "supposed well educated person". You may not like him or his policies, but to discredit his educational achievements seems rather silly to me.

As for saying he is having trouble making up his mind, I respectfully disagree with that assessment. Only time will tell if he makes the right decision on what to do with Afghanistan.

Regardless of what he does, his distractors won't be satisfied, and I think you would have to agree with that. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 8, 2009 6:52 AM:

" You can't have it both ways, right wingers. If Obama's accountable from day 1, then so was Reagan. If Reagan got to blame Carter for economic woes more than halfway through his first term, then surely Obama deserves the same slack, especially since he's been in office 20.5 months less than Reagan was -- with even worse unemployment numbers, mind you. "
---------------

Excellent point!

I've often thought the same thing, hahvahd. Of course the right wingers are ignoring that historical fact. Just remember that Reagan got the nickname "the Teflon President" for a good reason. "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 8, 2009 8:47 AM:

" " Or do you have something in common with the draft dodging Limbaugh and Cheney? Remember now that brother in VietNam doesn't count. "
----------------------------

Draft? You mean there was draft during Vietnam, Grandpa? Ya gotta love those democrats that were in power back in the 60's and 70's to send folks like Stumpy Bob to Vietnam, don't ya?

Avoiding the question, huh Neo? I thought you would. I'll just assume that you're a chickenhawk like your hero Dick "five deferment" Cheney. lol! "

Matt Toon wrote on Nov 8, 2009 2:30 PM:

" Sometimes conservatives seem to lose even when they appear to be winning. A good example are the abortion restrictions which conservatives placed in the health care bill approved Saturday the U.S. House of Reprsentatives. Conservatives from both parties forced through restrictions which would ban coverage for abortions in many medical plans. This might seem like a victory for conservatives, but is it really? I don't have a problem with what was done, since I am NOT a fan of abortion. However, the irony is that this might very well boomerang on conservatives in the long run. After all, these restrictions on abortions could very well mean that millions of additional African-Americans and Latinos will be born over a period of years. And when they grow up most of them will probably vote for liberals. Yes, liberals should really thank these conservatives for their good work!
LOL "

The Question wrote on Nov 8, 2009 4:55 PM:

" I've often thought the same thing, hahvahd. Of course the right wingers are ignoring that historical fact. Just remember that Reagan got the nickname "the Teflon President" for a good reason. "
---
You know the drill, Harry. The Democrats, who try to repair Republican disasters, are held responsible for everything. The Republicans, who wreck everything with greedy abandon, are held responsible for nothing. "

NeoCon Academician wrote on Nov 8, 2009 6:18 PM:

" Avoiding the question, huh Neo? I thought you would. I'll just assume that you're a chickenhawk like your hero Dick "five deferment" Cheney. lol! "
-----------------

Nah...I just know better than to give out personal information...think what what you will... "

Harry Potter wrote on Nov 8, 2009 9:12 PM:

" Nah...I just know better than to give out personal information...think what what you will... "

Yeah right, just as I thought, a chickenhawk. Most whining right wingers are. "

father bob wrote on Nov 10, 2009 9:32 AM:

" The Walt Disney Co.s plan to build a theme park in the Chinese city of Shanghai marks the largest foreign investment ($3.5 billion) yet in that country. Its also the first time the countrys totalitarian government has allowed an icon of Western culture to set up shop.

The deal makes sense when one considers how much Disney has depended on cheap Chinese labor to manufacture its merchandise.

~TZ~ "

father bob wrote on Nov 10, 2009 11:04 AM:

" Harry Potter wrote on Nov 8, 2009 9:12 PM:
"Yeah right, just as I thought, a chickenhawk. Most whining right wingers are. """""

careful HP, you're insulting the cowards! "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 11, 2009 8:56 PM:

" TQ wrote:

" If people reveal themselves to be either too lazy or too stupid to learn to spell simple English words or use basic grammar, why on earth should we pay any attention to their opinions about complex subjects like national policy? They have already advertised the fact that they are just blowhard fools. "

I agree, TQ, but I am confused about why you never responded when I pointed out two grammatical errors in posts from you awhile back. Are you prepared to pronounce yourself lazy or stupid? Does this mean we can also disregard everything you have to say? Your simplicity and blatant hypocrisy is just plain fun to watch. "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 11, 2009 8:59 PM:

" Mr. Potter, why on earth is it bad form to make comments about President Obama's education when you and your little pals were constantly attacking President Bush's level of education and intelligence? The last time I checked, President Bush attended an Ivy League school, too? Someone needs to light a candle. It smells like hypocrisy in here. "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 11, 2009 9:01 PM:

" It occured to me a month or two ago, as I was watching TV, that President Obama had spent more time chatting with George Lopez making a commercial for Mr. Lopez's television show than he had conversing with his top general in Afghanistan. I'm sure this was all part of his "methodical approach". George Lopez probably had some really important and insightful information about troop levels for the president to consider. "

The Question wrote on Nov 12, 2009 6:00 AM:

" Oh? What grammatical errors were those, Justy? "

sophiesmom wrote on Nov 12, 2009 7:36 AM:

" Its time to quit the blame game and move on. If the health care reform passes in present form, we will be opening a can of worms that can never be closed. I think they should start over.
It stands to see that the lobbyists have their hands in the government's pockets. You can bet some, if not all, will stand to make a lot of money. Government reform will cost more than anyone realizes. They cannot be trusted. But I don't know the answer. If those people involved with health care could all work together and have the chance, they could come up with something better.
I recognize that something could be done to make coverage more affordable.
But doesn't it anger you that we are paying for generations of people who will not work? And they have the best health care of anyone.
I certainly do not begrudge those who are unable to work through health problems. There is so much fraud perpetrated through medicare and medicaid. Maybe we should offer rewards to those who expose the frauds. But if something could have been done, why hasn't it? Its obvious that if there were a reward tied to it, that people would be more prone to report it.
p.s. hope I didn't spell something wrong or use improper language.
And I hope I haven't attacked anyone.
Al Gore, the father of global warming, stands to be the first "green" billionaire. "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 12, 2009 10:25 AM:

" If I remember right, it was incorrect pronoun usage of some kind and maybe a misplaced apostrophe. Anyway, I'm sure you were too lazy or stupid to read the post when I pointed them out. "

Becky wrote on Nov 12, 2009 10:36 AM:

" The Question wrote on Nov 6, 2009 3:26 PM:

" But you've completely overlooked the corollary, Evelyn. Business is not good at running a government. And that's really our trouble."

I totally agree TQ. Good point!! "

The Question wrote on Nov 12, 2009 12:13 PM:

" Well, I'm sorry to hear my alleged grammatical errors are so upsetting to you, Justy. I'll grieve over that on long winter evenings. "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 12, 2009 1:51 PM:

" Your grammatical errors don't upset me. The only reason I point it out is because you dismiss others as lazy and stupid for making mistakes, yet you make the same types of mistakes. You really are a clown. "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 12, 2009 1:53 PM:

" I can't decide if you are a parody or seriously that deluded. You are like a left-wing version of Stephen Colbert, except I have this creepy feeling that you are really this arrogant. "

The Question wrote on Nov 12, 2009 2:43 PM:

" Sorry to confuse you so much, Justy. I'll grieve about that too on those long winter evenings. "

father bob wrote on Nov 12, 2009 2:53 PM:

" Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 12, 2009 1:53 PM:
" I can't decide if you are a parody or seriously that deluded. You are like a left-wing version of Stephen Colbert, except I have this creepy feeling that you are really this arrogant. """""

um...JAS, steven colbert IS a leftist liberal, like those of us that have a functioning thought process.

if being intelligent, intellectual and always correct is considered arrogant, there are several of us posting on these threads. "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 12, 2009 3:22 PM:

" Ummm... Father Bob, he is a leftist by being an over-the-top parody of a conservative, much like TQ appears to be an over-the-top parody of a liberal. My point is that I can't imagine someone being so completely ruled by ideology and so smuggly arrogant in their belief in their own superiority. I honestly can't imagine some with the personality that TQ presents on this site actually being able to function in the real world. "

The Question wrote on Nov 12, 2009 3:36 PM:

" I honestly can't imagine some with the personality that TQ presents on this site actually being able to function in the real world.
----
Thanks for telling me, Justy. I'll add that to the growing laundry list of real-world events and relationships that you are incapable of imagining. "

Just a Soldier wrote on Nov 13, 2009 8:37 AM:

" hahaha. TQ, that's exactly what I'm talking about. I can't tell if you are joking. I mean, nobody would really be that smug with a straight face. Come on, it has to be a joke right. You can't really think you are that superior, can you? "

The Question wrote on Nov 13, 2009 10:53 AM:

" The oh, so screamingly "pro-life" Republican National Committee was offering abortion coverage to its employees right up to the minute it got caught.
We really need to invent a stronger word than "hypocrisy" to describe Republicans. "

The Shadow wrote on Nov 13, 2009 2:32 PM:

" "We really need to invent a stronger word than "hypocrisy" to describe Republicans."

OK, as-damn-straight-as-Democrats? "

m wrote on Nov 14, 2009 12:13 AM:

" Just a soldier, there is a condition called narcissism of which there is no known cure, that fully explains the ill-placed arrogance that you spoke of in regards to TQ. TQ probably gets government assistance for that condition which is the probable cause for the ability and luxury of the time consumed in spell checking everyone and maintaining lists of all that displeases him/her. "

tempwayfarer wrote on Nov 14, 2009 2:40 AM:

" The takeover of health care and/or insurance is not about health care or insurance. It is about creating a "water empire", a name which comes from circumstances in which government controls something essential to life such as the Nile river in Egypt. Control the river and you control everything in the country.

Health care is like that. The People will have to beg government for something essential to life. With such power, government will be able to control many aspects of our private lives, because now "health" affects a public interest.

Since most people recognize that actual delivery of health care will not be improved by this takeover, and since politicians know full well that most of the American public is against it, one wonders what Titanic Forces are pushing it through. Certainly not the insurance companies or the medical establishment. Not the trial lawyers (there is no tort reform in the recently passed bill).

Who's really behind this? "

father bob wrote on Nov 16, 2009 10:27 AM:

" tempwayfarer wrote on Nov 14, 2009 2:40 AM:
" Who's really behind this? """""

without a doubt, a conspiracy by the godless muslims!....LMAO!!! "

m wrote on Nov 18, 2009 11:01 AM:

" Yes, FB, I'm certain that is what Tempwayfarer was driving at. It was soooo obvious. HAHAHA LOL LMAO LMFAO ROFLMAO ROFLMFAO HILARIOUS Boy that was funny! Man that was a good one! Too funny! WooHoo! Hysterical! That Tempwayfarer is a hoot! & that Father Bob, he's such a card! Oh, allah, my sides hurt from all this super funny stuff making me laugh all flipping day on the floor! "

Cognitus wrote on Nov 19, 2009 8:09 PM:

" According to charts I have read they have a 2.2 percent profit margin. Would you be wildly happy with this kind of profit in any business?

If that's true it's their own fault.
They spend only about 79% of their income on payout to subscribers. If they screw away 21% of their income trying to further decrease the % paid to subscribers and worthless paper work, that's THEIR PROBLEM.
When people complain about govt bureaucracy, they never stop to consider the waste by the bureaucracy of the insurance company. "

Cognitus wrote on Nov 19, 2009 8:32 PM:

" "The government has never been able to run a business well."

I guess you think the banks and financial houses of Wall Street have set an example we should all follow????? "

Cognitus wrote on Nov 19, 2009 8:40 PM:

" JaS:"The last time I checked, President Bush attended an Ivy League school, too?"

Yes he did, having been accepted because of his father, not his outstanding grades at Yale.

Further he arrogantly displayed his disrespect for the school by taking a tin can to class so he could chew tobacco and spit in the can in class.
His pronouncements, when not reading Rove's script, showed the lack of influence of any higher education on his brain. You think he made Phi Beta Kappa???? Hmmm, dumber than I thought. "

Cognitus wrote on Nov 21, 2009 8:55 PM:

" Vanatta:"" Our leader has never ran a business as big as a lenon aid stand so how could he run a business? "

Obviously Vanatta does not know what's involved when one is head of Law Review at Harvard....... Oh well, same old.... "

Cognitus wrote on Nov 21, 2009 9:01 PM:

" bps:Now lets see if the Obama administration gets it right and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu rejects the request for stimulus money unless the high-value components, including the wind turbines, are manufactured in the United States. "

I guess bps never ever shops at Walmart where almost everything is imported from China. 10 million people shopping at Walmart is a LOT more than the amount of money here. "