Gond

Thought about this on my drive home. People thing healthcare is a right. It isn't...it's a privilage. I feel sick saying it but yea, if you can't afford it, your going to die.

That said...yea, there are always going to be free clinics to help people who can't afford it but your not going to get a heart transplant out of that.

Those backing this system will toot their horns for 10 or 20 years if it passes. After that when the number of doctors decreases and the number of patients increases and we start seeing the waits other countries are seeing they will finally understand...or at least their kids will.

System may have issues but it's not a reason to let the government take it over. Hows it go? Don't cut off your head to cure a headache.

On the bright side...couple more years of this administration and I can quit my job and live off society like everyone else;)

I'm not against healthcare reform...I'm against government controlled health care. The scenerio you stated above with your insurance will be exactly the same but with taxes. Technically, healthcare is socialist...just a capitalist version of it...just like auto and home insurance.

And yes, people should get rich on heathcare...they are called doctors. Think anyone will become a doctor if there isn't some bonus to it...being money? You take away that ability to become rich and nobody will be a doctor...then where will we be? Tons of tax dollars to spend but nobody to spend it with. Drug companies should make money too...else why research and make new drugs? Government control is a slippery slope. Today you "reform" healthcare & tomorrow the government tells you where to live, where to work, what to eat...yea, conspiracy-ish but...

If I recall on the TS issue, her husband wanted to pull the plug but her parents didn't right? The government just made the decision that her husband had that right.

LOL...that has to be one of the stupidest comments based on pure speculation stated as fact that I've heard all day.

But I'm still 100% against government controlled healthcare.

Ya know...if you took out the part about the charge for health concerns it would remove the political implications and just be funny cause your right...we put all that info out there with the actions we take regardless of what the government does.

LOL

Ordering pizza

LOL...but that lady was a pin head. She never listens to Beck if she thinks he is ok with the bailouts. He's was witching about them back when Bush did the first one.

Heck in a hand basket I tells ya...heck in a hand basket!!!

Glenn Beck

I mean, which is better: private school or public school? Private bathrooms or public bathrooms? Private health care or public health care?

 

I suspect some of the things he says are due to population but I think the point of taking away the free market for a doctor to become very rich is very valid. Doctors should make lots of money...least good ones.

I'm not against some heathcare reform but I don't think one that is rushed into is going to be the best one. Heck, look at the stimulus packages. Time to pull the plug on this rushed way of spending my kids future and start thinking and discussing.

I'd be ok with medical coverage supplied by the government for people who can't afford it...heck, I already help pay for housing, food, clothing and schooling. Seems to just buy some group health coverage would be easier and cheaper than a "government takeover". Heck, if they just sign all those people up at costco we'd be in good shape.

LOL...I loved Data when he was laughing about the "lasers".

Congrats!!! Sounds like things worked out as you hoped...I'm glad.

I understand your position on the current economic system and I don't disagree...though I think everyone has the same ability to gain that top spot. I've lived first hand how companies can be making millions but trash employees so they can make an extra million...last 5 years actually.

What I'm wondering is this...the past 20 years have been a boom. All due to sales...we buy cars every 3 years. New phones every 6 months it seems. I pods, video game machines...but what happens when we start running out of resources. Not in 5 years but in 100 years or more. How can an economy like ours survive without the plastics we need to create the products to buy? Renewable items don't seem like they will keep the capitalist system going.

And I find it hard to believe that you were suckered into a mortgage...honestly you seem too informed for that. Sure, your first mortgage is going to suck cause you don't have credit built up but how could you pay 43k and not have any principle...you get an interest only loan? You keep plugging away and eventually the principle takes over and you get up to 50% of your payment to principle...and it's down hill from there. Slow and steady wins the race;)

Regardless...unfortunatly nobody out there is interested in helping you. They only want to help themselves. I always want to smack the bank teller when they say "would you like to talk to an investment specialist about investing your savings?" and I say right back "why, so they can make a bunch of money putting my cash into a dead annuity like they did last time?"

The question for debate.

I saw a clip from Carter the other day where he said something to the fact that "we will not solve our dependence on foreign oil till we address our problem with consumerism".

Now, that got me to thinking. We do have an issue with consumerism in that we *need* to have everything and then *need* to have the next best thing. Since the earth has a limited amount of resources how long can we continue capitalism? Of course I am making the assumption that consumerism and capitalism go hand in hand.

The growth we saw in the economy over the past years is a direct result of our consumerism. What happens when the resources run dry? No more land to build...no more materials to build from.

If people stopped buying out of desire and only out of need would our economic system survive?

One thing that stuck out to me about the other place (only looked at the first) was the parking. I think your place looks nicer overall. Also, back yard of yours nice? That was one of their pics.

As far as the pre-pics...I'm not sure...I guess I'd have to say it would be nice to have if someone asked but if not then they don't need to know what it used to look like. That might give them the thought that you bought it cheap and try to bid lower...but then again...I'm not a realtor, I don't even play one on TV. Seems your right in the sweet spot on price though.

LOL...lets just hope our money isn't being used for that study.

Wow...real nice job. Wife said the living room was beautiful.

I'm no expert at selling houses...I went right to a dealer. Total it was 6%. 3 for the selling agent and 3 for the buyers agent. My understanding at the time was that it was 6% regardless and it was split between the 2...probably in some realator common law thing.

Anyway...you may want to make sure that 2.5% is all there is and you won't be nailed for another 2.5% from the other side.

If I knew what I was doing when

is something you can say about anything...but then you would never learn.

I think it's great you had that experience. From your past posts I know it was a ton of work. I do hope you get your money back out of it. A little equity and the boost to your credit can only be a positive. The way banks are tightening up you may have made the smartest move of your life in that regard.

I like all the changes mentioned above as well as the increase in sunlight you had installed

I believe some of the estimates are assuming that industries change nothing in the next 15 years. The goal should be to have these industries install more clean energy over the next 15 years so that the cap becomes less of an issue.

It would be nice to see language in there that benefits those companies that do install clean energy systems.

And, of course, my post would not be complete without a Glenn Beck reference;)

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529200,00.html

Concentrate on things that are important, like those who are pushing this energy bill stand to gain the most from it:

 

• Nancy Pelosi has $50,000 to $100,000 in Clean Energy Fuels Corp.

 

• Rep. Edward Markey  hmm, why does that name sound familiar?  has investments between $51,000 and $115,000 in the Firsthand Technology Value Fund (which as three solar-energy manufacturers)

 

• Al Gore  Mr. "Inconvenient Truth" himself  his venture capital firm is heavily invested in a new software company that's making software to help companies track their carbon footprint. He, and companies like his, will make a fortune.

I've not looked at the actual way the C&T will be implemented but I will say this to all those further to the right than me.

You are so worried about putting your children in debt with the stimulus bill yet you care very little about leaving them with a world devoid of natural resources, drinkable water and breathable air.

Will this be painful? Yes it will.

I do understand that cleaning the air in the US won't stop other countries from polluting. Maybe the next step is to refuse imports from those countries...dunno...something has to happen and at least this is something.

And another post to discuss current events turns into an argument. Sigh...wait till I post my next topic...LOL

Since I started the thread I'm gonna close it too.

Wow, you really think we have the moral authority to remove leaders of sovereign nations simply because we disagree with them? Really?! In that case you have the same world view as the Islamic extremists, those we disagree with do not deserve to be in power and we should do anything and everything in our power to remove them.

Actually I think this is a very good point. We must be very careful in the actions we take less we chance once again looking like the evil empire. We tend to believe our ways are the right ways but then so do those we oppose.

Now, what do we do if the Iranian government really starts to crack down...mass murder in the streets? (not that it would come to that) I don't envy Obama's job in this matter...and the topic really wasn't to get a bash on the current administration.

And, btw Shaft...thanks for the above discription of the political landscape in Iran. That puts some of this in perspective.

Just wow...the happenings in Iran are amazing. It will be interesting to see how things end up. Could this turn into a full scale revolution?...or has it already.

Very interesting how the government has shut down cell and internet access to the people. I can't imagine living in a country like that. Almost seems to me as guilt by actions on the part of the government...maybe the election was rigged.

hehe...seems everyone is using numbers to their advantage. Think that is why I found statistics so stupid.

The chart is good...though it compares apples to oranges. It compares how much money in assets the public controls to what the government just acquired...not that the point of the chart isn't valid but it should be what the government controlls period, not just what they took.

But again...it's statistics...kinda like 46,000 Americans without healthcare. No mention to those 212,000 who have it or that part of the 46,000 don't have it by choice (no, those numbers are not accurate just making a point).

I recall examples from the "other" side as well regarding the money in the stimulus. In essence it was like $2,000,000 compared to $3 billion which makes the 2 mill look bigger...yea, forget the actual numbers but the point is...statistics can be manipulated very easily to say exactly what you want them to say.

Wait...

Cities where GM managed to eliminate electric/rail systems, and replace them with buses and private cars, included New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, St. Louis, Oakland, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles.

They saying these cities don't have subways?

But...regarding GM...actually, that IS capitalism. Is it right? No...but I bet at the time most people didn't give a hoot. You think Americans said "oh, darn...global warming"? No, they said "gimme a car so I can live out there away from the city and have the freedom to roam where I please.".

So what is being suggested is that government jump in and tell us what we want, need and should have. That is something other than capitalism eh?

Now, maybe GM broke some law(didn't see the actual charge in the article, probably something regarding a monopoly cause there were 3 companies) in replacing one product with another product that consumers wanted but the idea behind buying up the "competition" and removing them seems fine to me.

Again...I'm more disturbed by the government being involved in the decisions than the decisions themselves.

I continue to be disturbed as I hear the "current administration" will guilde GM through bankruptcy. But don't worry...I'm sure once GM returns from this the government will step out and again let it be a private entity.

Without knowing much more than the speculation I've heard on the radio my initial reaction is that most american car dealerships would be republican. That is a very political profiling comment I realize. So, I'll have to look at the research & see. Should be very easy to gather.

I am shocked to see that a dealership can be "shut down". I always thought a dealer was just a guy who sold cars. If they don't want to sell one type they sell another. Start selling used cars.

I guess the worst thing about it all is that the government is making the decisions. That is just wrong regardless if something unethical was done.