World, Writing, Wealth discussion
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If you're not in the U.S., what's up in your part of the world?
Regarding those who can't pay for hospital treatment in the US, at our local hospital, if you can't pay you can apply for indigent care and, depending on income, the bill is paid by some entity - not sure if it's by the hospital forgiving the debt or by some government program - but it is paid. Here's where I have a problem. If the patient makes even a dollar over the cutoff, he/she is responsible for the bill. There are payment programs; however, making any payment may be impossible for those with low incomes - the working poor. They're making just enough money that they don't qualify for government benefits such as food assistance and Medicaid. They're working and paying taxes, yet they're living paycheck to paycheck with nothing to spare. They'd be better off to stop working and apply for Welfare, but they're too proud to do that. Politicians don't address the plight of the working poor.
With working poor the situ is the worst of the worst. Totally unfair.Ok, so for lifesaving procedure anyone will be treated. So far so good.
What about seeing any physician, gynecologist, baby doc? Not life-saving, yet necessary orthopedic procedure? Would only those with med insurance be able and those without - won't or be priced out?
Beau, why in the bloody Hell is y'all's worthless washout of a Prime Minister on our side of the pond?https://youtu.be/x9u5AhYwZVY?si=xnBCD...
Is she planning to out Biden the Codger in Chief by tanking our currency like she did the Pound?
J, Lizzie alerted us on the covid thread to that character we exported to you. Now this. Once again, I apologise to your country on behalf of GB.
Actually, maybe we can consider it payback for unleashing Biden on the world?
But if ever you feel hard done by over this trade off, remember that the Truss imbecile is our answer to Trump and Kennedy, and will eventually, with the help of a team of highly paid, diversely chosen advisors, find her way back over here. Then, don't gloat, just take pity on us.
Actually, maybe we can consider it payback for unleashing Biden on the world?
But if ever you feel hard done by over this trade off, remember that the Truss imbecile is our answer to Trump and Kennedy, and will eventually, with the help of a team of highly paid, diversely chosen advisors, find her way back over here. Then, don't gloat, just take pity on us.
Nik wrote: "With working poor the situ is the worst of the worst. Totally unfair.Ok, so for lifesaving procedure anyone will be treated. So far so good.
What about seeing any physician, gynecologist, baby do..."
There are doctors that will see those without medical insurance. Mostly, you go to clinic and get whoever is on duty. Or you go to the hospital. Not perfect, but no system is perfect.
Beau wrote: "J, Lizzie alerted us on the covid thread to that character we exported to you. Now this. Once again, I apologise to your country on behalf of GB. Actually, maybe we can consider it payback for un..."
The problem with Truss and our versions of her is that there is never room for compromise. if you mostly agree with the agenda, but not all of it, the name calling and driving one out starts, which only hardens opinions.
Papaphilly wrote: "....There are doctors that will see those without medical insurance. Mostly, you go to clinic and get whoever is on duty. Or you go to the hospital. Not perfect, but no system is perfect..."So, what was Obamacare needed for then? Is there a catch or is it impossible to be denied medical care in the US no matter what?
Nik wrote: "So, what was Obamacare needed for then? Is there a catch or is it impossible to be denied medical care in the US no matter what?..."It was not needed. As in other issues, medical care always has those left out. Government has programs that can help, but never covers everyone. Obama care was disaster from the start because of how it was used. Plenty more were hurt by it than helped by it. It was the first time in American history people were forced to buy insurance when they were healthy to subsidize others. Generally that means the young forced to cover the old. It was expensive with bad coverage. Then the kicker came, the Democrats decided there was gong to be a "Cadillac tax" on those with too good of insurance. The problem was the Democrats would not tell anyone what the line was going to cause the tax. So what does that mean? The line could be any thing over what the Government offered. See the problem? My suggestion to fix this mess is the politicians have to have the exact same health coverage that us peons get.
That’s what I’m trying to understand- whether there are many of those denied medical help because they can’t afford insurance or pay the doc his/her/its fees or whether it’s so rare that it’s not really a problem?
It's a problem for people who think that public health care in the UK and other single payer systems is free. They want the free stuff to which they believe themselves entitled, but they have no understanding of what that means for their tax bill.That so many of my fellow Americans are absolutely sold on the necessity of government overseen theft for their benefit tells me Jefferson and the Republic are truly dead.
I think almost everyone in NZ knows the health care is paid for out of taxation and I think most approve of that. The problem lies with elections. Each election one party, usually the National party (identifiable as the conservatives) promises to lower taxes with no loss of services, and the gullible believe them. Key came into power promising a reduction of income tax and he delivered - but rose the GST (equivalent to VAT) by 5%. In the most recent election the government came in promising tax reductions and said the could be paid for by removing "wasteful spending". That assertion may well have been true, but they have not identified sufficient "wasteful spending". (I am sure there is plenty, but if you don't identify it they just have a general hack at everything.)This sort of snake-oil promises and the incompetence to follow through properly tends to leave health systems underfunded. From my recent experience, I know our health system is working very professionally for the necessary, but not so well for the desirable, thus I ended up in an orthopaedic ward, taking a bed from someone needing a joint replacement, but could wait. It is the volume that is difficult to manage on reduced funding. On the other hand, many of those in that ward who got there for the right reason would never have been able to afford it but for public health. The system is working very well where it is working, but politicians make it work poorly in terms of volume.
I remember my friend from LA outlined his med insurance plan that would kick in only after a considerable out of pocket spending that it sounded extortionately ridiculous. I’m for all being covered, whichever way it works, even if I need to pay for other fellow citizens
Fear not, ladies. Justin Trudeau has your backs.‘What’s woke and what’s a joke’: Canada implements gender-inclusive Ukraine support
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/...
J. wrote: "Fear not, ladies. Justin Trudeau has your backs.‘What’s woke and what’s a joke’: Canada implements gender-inclusive Ukraine support
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/......"
Is that ladies or laddies?
I don't know about Justin's personal tastes, ladies vs ladies.The Canadian funds are for programs like diversity and inclusion in minesweeping.
J. wrote: "I don't know about Justin's personal tastes, ladies vs ladies.The Canadian funds are for programs like diversity and inclusion in minesweeping."
And to think I thought his father was really bad....
Which father, Pierre, Fidel, or my bet Fidel's brother Raul?
Nik, if an uninsured person sees a doctor and can't pay the bill, the doctor has the right to refuse further service. Our local hospital does have financial relief programs for lower income people but, like Medicaid, you have to make under a certain amount to qualify. Otherwise, you're responsible for the bill.Sometimes I think it would be smarter to quit working low-paid jobs without benefits and just go for government benefits that non-workers get. And there are lots of them. Assistance with paying utility bills, phone bills, food bills, medical bills, child care bills - as well as receiving Welfare payments. And while getting those benefits, you can work and be paid under the table without reporting income.
George Galloway Back in Parliament
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...
For the benefit of non-British group members, he's a marmite character (I love him).
Nik wouldn't like many of his views (but I love Nik too).
With the possible exception of Nigel Farage, he's the best orator in British politics.
He's going to make the Mother of All Parliaments a lot more interesting.
Also, great to see that a local businessman, standing as an independent, finished second, pushing the Conservative and Labour bottom cheeks into 3rd and 4th places respectively.
Ahh! Take that you Biden NWO warmongering, carbon -cutting, covid-cultist establishment rudewords. It's a small victory for the little guy - a firmly-planted peach right on your chin.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...
For the benefit of non-British group members, he's a marmite character (I love him).
Nik wouldn't like many of his views (but I love Nik too).
With the possible exception of Nigel Farage, he's the best orator in British politics.
He's going to make the Mother of All Parliaments a lot more interesting.
Also, great to see that a local businessman, standing as an independent, finished second, pushing the Conservative and Labour bottom cheeks into 3rd and 4th places respectively.
Ahh! Take that you Biden NWO warmongering, carbon -cutting, covid-cultist establishment rudewords. It's a small victory for the little guy - a firmly-planted peach right on your chin.
In other UK news, those ITK reckon the PM will announce a snap GE THIS month, to take place in May.
And a West End theatre production about slavery is staging black-only audience nights to shield black people from 'white gaze'.
Such is life in the 'progressive' UK.
And a West End theatre production about slavery is staging black-only audience nights to shield black people from 'white gaze'.
Such is life in the 'progressive' UK.
NZ has several TV channels, but only two of them have competed on news. One of those was bought up by Warner Bros some time ago, and they have decided to cancel news broadcasting and fire all their journalists. Not good for democracy.
Scout wrote: "....Sometimes I think it would be smarter to quit working low-paid jobs without benefits and just go for government benefits that non-workers get. ..."Yes, there must be a borderline below which working would be disadvantageous. It should never be so
More encroachment from the Great White North in the form of Bill C-63:Five things to know about Canada's proposed law to guard against online harms
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/five-...
They start by talking about protecting children from pornographers. That is well and good. But they continue on to prison sentences for "hate speech". And they get to appoint bureaucrats and an "ombudsperson" to determine what qualifies as "hate speech". Now, think of all of the people that Trudeau's government has labeled "hateful, fascist, Nazi, etc...", like the Trucker Protests. Capisce?
Interesting about Canada. Similar things have been happening in the UK too. Also, our PM held an impromptu press conference Fri, about democracy being under attack:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...
The MSM seemed quite upbeat about it but I (and the handful of people I've spoken to about it) found it quite sinister.
I'm pretty sure the speech was prompted by George Galloway's success in the Rochdale by election.
I certainly don't find GG a threat to democracy but I do find this new Western ruling class's mindset disturbing.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...
The MSM seemed quite upbeat about it but I (and the handful of people I've spoken to about it) found it quite sinister.
I'm pretty sure the speech was prompted by George Galloway's success in the Rochdale by election.
I certainly don't find GG a threat to democracy but I do find this new Western ruling class's mindset disturbing.
Oh, hell no to both of those. A step in the wrong direction of government persecution of those who don't fall in line. As you say, Beau, disturbing and sinister.
J. wrote: "Images show North Korea sealing its border with Chinahttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-6..."
I presume this is to keep people in ... right? Like, how many chinese people want to escape to North Korea?
Graeme wrote: "J. wrote: "Images show North Korea sealing its border with Chinahttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-6..."
I presume this is to keep people in ... right? Like, how many chinese people want to ..."
That fence would not stop many determined people
Ian wrote: "Graeme wrote: "J. wrote: "Images show North Korea sealing its border with Chinahttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-6..."
I presume this is to keep people in ... right? Like, how many chinese ..."
It is not the fence per se, but all of the mines....
Of course, the Kim's have to use deadly force to keep their toys in their boxes. Unfortunately for the people, crossing the river doesn't get them out of boxes.North Koreans working in China 'exploited like slaves'
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-6...
She fled North Korea but was sold to a man in China. Her second escape came nearly 20 years later.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/asia/n...
No bitter pill, J - certainty in terms of recruitment, an inevitability. The top brass don't want the demographic most likely to join the armed forces to defend their woke world as it messes up their quotas. Hence the shortage of numbers.
BTW, what on earth is the end to that link. Are you posting scams?
BTW, what on earth is the end to that link. Are you posting scams?
YouTube has reached the level of sophistication in advertising which TV did in the 1950s. In short, they just star talking about the product they're shilling. I admit it's annoying. Hopefully, they'll outgrow it soon.
I'm not usually a royal watcher, but something strange going on here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68526972
Kate hasn't been seen in public for a while now, and this is the 2nd picture in a row that has supposedly been doctored.
Something and nothing, or is something of importance being hidden?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68526972
Kate hasn't been seen in public for a while now, and this is the 2nd picture in a row that has supposedly been doctored.
Something and nothing, or is something of importance being hidden?
I don't know what the standards for hospital admittance are in the UK. In the USA, a two week long hospital stay is indicative of a grave illness or physical trauma. Hopefully, the crisis has passed and she is on her way to a full recovery.As she is not in the line os succession and would only become regent through an incredibly unlikely sequence of events, it seems likely that the subterfuge is merely an attempt to protect her and her family's scant privacy.
The Haitian government has fallen. Gang wars are raging in the streets. Videos exist of at least one gang leader commiting cannibalism.
Maybe an omen of "crocodilization" of societies, as after peaking humanism has turned towards decline.
I suppose what's happening in Haiti puts our own troubles in perspective. That said, our natives are far from happy:
Government to pay failed asylum seekers £3k each to move to Rwanda
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...
A little reminder...in 2019, we elected a Conservative Government, with a thumping 80+ seat majority.
Since then - in fact, since the crooked response to covid, we have become a completely deranged country, with institutions, from top to bottom, infected with the worst possible case of the woke mind virus. They're captured. Every single one of them.
We don't even have the hope of replacing the current lot with a Trump or RFK because the only other party that will win our GE is even more deranged and woke.
I don't care if I sound like the archetypal middle-aged moaning man. Someone's got to say it...GB is finished. The only real question is whether to go down with the sinking ship or desert it.
And if Biden gets re elected, the rest of the West goes the same way. Come on Donald and Robert, it's not just the US banking on you.
Government to pay failed asylum seekers £3k each to move to Rwanda
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...
A little reminder...in 2019, we elected a Conservative Government, with a thumping 80+ seat majority.
Since then - in fact, since the crooked response to covid, we have become a completely deranged country, with institutions, from top to bottom, infected with the worst possible case of the woke mind virus. They're captured. Every single one of them.
We don't even have the hope of replacing the current lot with a Trump or RFK because the only other party that will win our GE is even more deranged and woke.
I don't care if I sound like the archetypal middle-aged moaning man. Someone's got to say it...GB is finished. The only real question is whether to go down with the sinking ship or desert it.
And if Biden gets re elected, the rest of the West goes the same way. Come on Donald and Robert, it's not just the US banking on you.
New extremism definition unveiled by Government:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...
It'll start with Muslims and the far right, but it'll spread. Climate 'deniers'? Lockdown sceptics? Anything opposed to the prevailing political orthodoxy?
Very, very bad move for our increasingly fragile liberal democracy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...
It'll start with Muslims and the far right, but it'll spread. Climate 'deniers'? Lockdown sceptics? Anything opposed to the prevailing political orthodoxy?
Very, very bad move for our increasingly fragile liberal democracy.
Probably an over-reaction, Beau, but the concept is bad. Laws should apply to what you do, not what you think.
McDonald's Closes Amid Global IT Outagehttps://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-cl...
The screens where the staff pushes the pictures of the food the customers order wasn't working. So, you couldn't even pay in cash. The compounding stupidities of that make my head hurt.
J. wrote: "McDonald's Closes Amid Global IT Outagehttps://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-cl...
The screens where the staff pushes the pictures of the food the customers order wasn..."
If the ATMs/EFTPOS system ever fails ... 😱😱😱
Actually not if, but when.Every system fails sooner or later.
Here is something that shows how excessive regulation can get unwanted outcomes. During the cyclone last year, the floods and bad weather disrupted a lot of water supplies. It has now come to light the military were not allowed to distribute water to those in need. That can only be done by registered water suppliers! (It is not clear whether the army took any notice of this regulation.)Then there was a Council that took a case against a farmer in the environmental court for breaking the law on protected wetlands on his property. He went to jail for this, but now the Court of Appeal has thrown out the conviction on the ground that there was no real evidence said wetlands existed! The Council is being sued. Apparently, the Council officer who was responsible had no background in ecology - he merely saw water, including a pond the farmer had dug to ensure stock had water during dry periods.
About Canada's version of 1984, who's deciding whether a statement "advocates for genocide online" or is "willful promotion of hatred"? Are they going to have an agency that decides what statements qualify, and what sentence they deserve? Who's going to monitor online speech, and how the heck can anyone monitor everything? This sounds ridiculous.
Princess of Wales undergoing Cancer treatment:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68641441
Naturally, 1st thoughts are to wish her and her family well. She's an exceptionally dignified and attractive woman who, through her Royal position, helps link British people to God.
However, more relevant to our discussions is that, only a few days ago, the BBC 'fact checkers' were telling us that rumours about Kate's health were harmful online 'conspiracy theories'.
'Fact checkers' lol! People who failed in journalism, so got themselves a non job.
And ooh, those dreaded conspiracy theories, which always seem to have an uncanny knack of eventually becoming fact.
Pay attention and trust your gut instincts, people...on every issue.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68641441
Naturally, 1st thoughts are to wish her and her family well. She's an exceptionally dignified and attractive woman who, through her Royal position, helps link British people to God.
However, more relevant to our discussions is that, only a few days ago, the BBC 'fact checkers' were telling us that rumours about Kate's health were harmful online 'conspiracy theories'.
'Fact checkers' lol! People who failed in journalism, so got themselves a non job.
And ooh, those dreaded conspiracy theories, which always seem to have an uncanny knack of eventually becoming fact.
Pay attention and trust your gut instincts, people...on every issue.
World, Writing, Wealth
Books mentioned in this topic
1984 (other topics)Common Sense (other topics)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (other topics)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (other topics)
Lolita (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Mel Brooks (other topics)Victor Davis Hanson (other topics)
Peter Zeihan (other topics)
Bobby Fischer (other topics)
Jordan B. Peterson (other topics)
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Japan is a known veteran tech giant. As of the rest - the free entrepreneurial spirit might still be needed for the ful..."
China is trying to have it both ways. Keep on top of their people and still develop their tech. It does not work that way and they are suffering a brain drain badly because smart people tend to think for themselves and will move to greener pastures.