The Trump Presidency | Biden Inaugurated

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berbatrick

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You wouldn't believe the number of people I've had tell me they'd rather pay insurance costs than a little extra in taxes for free at treatment healthcare. Typically goes something like...

Them: "But if I'm healthy I'm just wasting that money"

Me: "But if you get cancer you're saving $100,000s of dollars"

Them: "[GOP talking point about socialism]"
The irony is that, under Obamacare, with subsidies going to for-profit pvt companies, you were actively and surely spending more on health than is necessary. That is literally true whenever any insurance company makes a profit: people have spent more on healthcare than would be necessary.
Now if you extend that logic and argue for a univeral public system...well then you get those talking points.
 

Fergies Gum

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Roger Stone exchanged private messages on Twitter with the hacking group responsible for the DNC hack :eek:
 

Adisa

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Showed this to some folks today. An actual response...

He was referring to the journalists reporting it
I despair at your country when I hear shite like that. it must be so frustrating for progressives where you're from.
 

Fergies Gum

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Wonder whether this is linked to the article i posted yesterday about no charges being filed in regards to Trump tower server

 

MTF

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The irony is that, under Obamacare, with subsidies going to for-profit pvt companies, you were actively and surely spending more on health than is necessary. That is literally true whenever any insurance company makes a profit: people have spent more on healthcare than would be necessary.
Now if you extend that logic and argue for a univeral public system...well then you get those talking points.
If you extend your logic everything should be state owned, and have no profits. Which would be fine if state run enterprises managed equal levels of efficiency and innovation as private ones. So you're not wrong in your definition, but there is going to be some level of profit if a healthcare system will have any private element, and highlighting whatever that number is in $ also isn't sufficient because it's going to be a big absolute number. Returns on capital and returns on equity vs other sectors is what would have to be benchmarked.
 

WackyWengerWorld

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The irony is that, under Obamacare, with subsidies going to for-profit pvt companies, you were actively and surely spending more on health than is necessary. That is literally true whenever any insurance company makes a profit: people have spent more on healthcare than would be necessary.
Now if you extend that logic and argue for a univeral public system...well then you get those talking points.
Has there ever been a not for profit health insurance company? Kind of like a building society in the UK, where all profits are supposedly distributed to the members, ie savers, borrowers, I'm not sure if a credit union is the same over there.

But if enough people who wanted affordable health care got together under 1 none profit unbrella their buying power could be huge. You could have privatised, freedom of choice yet social health care. Even right wingers would buy the service because it'd be the best deal on the market. The insurance companies would fight hell for leather against it though.
 

berbatrick

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If you extend your logic everything should be state owned, and have no profits. Which would be fine if state run enterprises managed equal levels of efficiency and innovation as private ones. So you're not wrong in your definition, but there is going to be some level of profit if a healthcare system will have any private element, and highlighting whatever that number is in $ also isn't sufficient because it's going to be a big absolute number. Returns on capital and returns on equity vs other sectors is what would have to be benchmarked.
Well, you got me, I'm a commie :p

Seriously, in the case of healthcare, which has implications on the basic right to life, I think keeping a profit motive messes things up.
Even worse, in the case of insurance, it's basically redistribution from the insured to the shareholders (if the company is profitable). While in, say, consumer goods, the profit can be used for expansion or innovation, in insurance, I don't see the parallel.
 

Fergies Gum

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How reliable is 'the smoking gun'? If true this is absolutely huge news.
Done a bit of digging and can say they look to be legit and reliable. They mainly post stuff such as legal documents, arrest records, and police mugshots.
 

Tarrou

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This is all heading towards impeachment, isn't it? The drip-feed of evidence is constant.
 

Ubik

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I think people need to also prepare themselves for the realisation that he may well win a second term.
 

Cheesy

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I think people need to also prepare themselves for the realisation that he may well win a second term.
Since ISIS is largely on the back-foot already, he'll likely claim credit for their defeat if it does come during his time in office. Similarly, an economic upturn, or him generally not being as dangerous as expected by doing something like not annihilating the entirety of mankind, will likely make people perceive some of the attacks on him as having been over the top. It wouldn't surprise me if he manages to sneak through again...presuming he doesn't get impeached.
 

Cheesy

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It's incredibly frustrating on the news when people like Pruitt are referred to as climate change skeptics. They're not skeptics. Being skeptical as to something is being unsure...and uncertainty regarding climate change tends to be outright denial, or lying. I get that the media don't want to appear biased but ultimately certain people need to be called out for what they are on topic. Anyone who disputes climate change without substantial, scientifically backed evidence for doing so, should be referred to as a liar or denier. Not a skeptic.
 

Fergies Gum

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Trumps people are likely leaking false info to some media outlets like Circa. Circa yesterday reported the FBI had finished the investigation into the server. CNN now report the investigation is continuing.
 

Ubik

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It's a very real possibility.
Think langy was chuckling at the lack of congruence between the two visions of the future :lol:

In fairness I can easily see either happening, the lack of predictability is the scariest thing.
 

langster

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Think langy was chuckling at the lack of congruence between the two visions of the future :lol:

In fairness I can easily see either happening, the lack of predictability is the scariest thing.

Exactly right, that is what I was chuckling at. I'm also with you on the unpredictability and fear too.
 
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