tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post4850543790341697205..comments2023-07-15T04:20:16.543-05:00Comments on Almost Diamonds: Let's Talk Pre-existingStephanie Zvanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-40374724259542982122009-08-31T12:40:55.055-05:002009-08-31T12:40:55.055-05:00truthspew, I refuse to cede the economic arguments...truthspew, I refuse to cede the economic arguments to the oligarchists, largely because they're wrong on so many of them. And don't let your elected representatives and fellow citizens (and, perhaps, yourself) off the hook by pointing at the insurance fat cats as though we were helpless to stop them. It is not impossible to make so much noise that they have to listen.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-77002466874813353202009-08-30T15:22:52.667-05:002009-08-30T15:22:52.667-05:00I like how you touch on the economic issue. Put it...I like how you touch on the economic issue. Put it this way I wouldn't mind changing my consulting business to a real business if only I could afford health care for all my contractors. <br /><br />But now the Fed looses out, the state looses out all because of insurance fatcats.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-24938490799626620252009-08-28T18:48:15.298-05:002009-08-28T18:48:15.298-05:00isn't that the kind of knock-down argument tha...<i>isn't that the kind of knock-down argument that would bring a free-market conservative around to our side?</i><br /><br />Jason, you're confusing the term of (political) art, "free-market conservative" with someone who wants to have or conserve a free-market economy.<br /><br />Just 'taint so. "Free-market conservatism" is about supporting the oligopolies that dominate the Fortune 1000. A genuinely free market (with lots of small independent actors) is the absolute <b>last</b> thing they want. There are various strategies in support of that end:<br /><br />1) Non-scalable barriers to entry (e.g. SarbOx) which have costs that are proportionately greater for smaller businesses. Health insurance premiums, for instance.<br />2) Barriers to employee mobility (e.g. pre-existing condition clauses) prevent the start of potentially competitive businesses and also keep people like Ben and Stephanie chained to the oars.<br />3) Rents. Consider the way that the Medicare budget got jacked up to allow private insurers to skim off some of the cash flow. Nice work if you can get it.<br />4) Obstructive regulation: notice that the FCC today acts mainly to keep competition from happening to telecom companies. Other examples abound.<br /><br />Look around, there are plenty of others. It's not quite the old company town of "14 tons" fame, but it's still a plantation system. Some of us are in the house, some are in the field, but we're still not free.D. C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06515125525097163604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-57048539750751621822009-08-28T18:04:28.178-05:002009-08-28T18:04:28.178-05:00@Jason Thibault: sounds to me the Republicans don&...@Jason Thibault: sounds to me the Republicans don't actually want people to start new small businesses, since that would hurt the existing big businesses. <br /><br />I'm also skeptical that you can convince many people on the right by pointing out it's a good idea to make it easier for people to leave their employer. After all, these are the same people who are against unions. Why would they agree that employers should give up the stranglehold on their workers that the health insurance situation gives them?DEENhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01038312556912179499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-50138732737650881952009-08-28T18:03:31.658-05:002009-08-28T18:03:31.658-05:00I swear, to some of these bastards just having a p...I swear, to some of these bastards just having a preexisting condition and not having the good grace to curl up and die, is irresponsible. Or having a family history of certain types of health problems...<br /><br />It is, apparently, <i>your</i> fault your body has these problems. Or it's <i>your</i> fault that your father and grandfather had heart disease. Or it's <i>your</i> fault you were hospitalized for depression or some other neurological disorder.<br /><br />It's all <i>your</i> fault, so fuck you - you don't deserve health care coverage.<br /><br />What is good and truly fucked? With all the bad decisions I have made - with all the damage I have done to my body...As soon as I am cigarette free for a year, I can probably get cheaper insurance than a lot of people, if anyone will sell them insurance at <i>any</i> cost.DuWayne Braytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04074683871047219790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-70944884471133902782009-08-28T13:14:56.498-05:002009-08-28T13:14:56.498-05:00I pushe dthe door a crack open today . . .I pushe dthe door a crack open today . . .Philip H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12049875206738422083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-2744040915396035272009-08-28T12:05:22.647-05:002009-08-28T12:05:22.647-05:00Hells yes. Those doors need to be thrown wide ope...Hells yes. Those doors need to be thrown wide open. If you can do it, more power to you... I wouldn't know where to begin. I'm not near enough to the battlefront to talk to anyone opposed to reform except drive-by trolls on the interwebs.Jason Thibeaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01595673310069068735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-85928240088329729732009-08-28T11:54:27.431-05:002009-08-28T11:54:27.431-05:00Jason, from just these limited comments, it's ...Jason, from just these limited comments, it's pretty obviously even a bigger problem than I thought. I'm starting to think this is an issue that needs to be pushed a lot harder. Of course, when I mention it to anyone opposed to reform on partisan grounds, I get crickets in response.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-18144791652961968152009-08-28T11:35:50.121-05:002009-08-28T11:35:50.121-05:00So you're saying an impediment to starting and...So you're saying an impediment to starting and maintaining your small business is the insurance factor? Then, isn't that the kind of knock-down argument that would bring a free-market conservative around to our side? I mean, businesses can't even start up properly with the health care system as it is now!Jason Thibeaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01595673310069068735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-74748410854321090872009-08-28T10:39:58.569-05:002009-08-28T10:39:58.569-05:00My father tried to start his own business a couple...My father tried to start his own business a couple of times but was always driven back to working for the man because of the need for insurance. I could never be in business for myself for the same reasons you describe. The whole thing sux donkey balls. <br />Even if the current health care reform is passed I doubt it will even make the slightest dent in situations like ours.<br /><br />The wife has been longing to live in the UK for years, maybe it's time to start looking?CyberLizardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10154794445065275905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-36737925662102313032009-08-28T09:54:34.181-05:002009-08-28T09:54:34.181-05:00Phil, I went to bed right after writing this, but ...Phil, I went to bed right after writing this, but it will be sent. <br /><br />Jason, migraines can cause the most fascinating somatic hallucinations. They can also mimic some of the symptoms of strokes and seizures. However, I'm generally healthy enough (believe it or not) to not have to worry about those. As for the heart, the quote about having a valve replaced was "if you live long enough."<br /><br />Part of the point is that there are plenty of people with invisible conditions that need to be monitored and may need attention periodically, sometimes without much notice. We're all hostages to the system.Stephanie Zvanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15182490110208080002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-74110535692096636912009-08-28T07:57:56.177-05:002009-08-28T07:57:56.177-05:00"Thing is, there's nothing acute wrong wi...<i>"Thing is, there's nothing acute wrong with me (as far as I know; the static can get pretty loud sometimes)."</i><br /><br />If this was meant to dissuade me from my newfound concerns for your health, it failed utterly.<br /><br /><i>"Anyplace civilized, they wouldn't be punished for the accident of their health while insurance companies rake in profits."</i><br /><br />I only wish Canada could shoulder the burden of health tourism from those of you south of the border that have to sprint just to keep up with their health care, but can't bring themselves to a sprint because they aren't healthy enough... the whole situation just blows.Jason Thibeaulthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01595673310069068735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-37476895971460956632009-08-28T07:54:27.491-05:002009-08-28T07:54:27.491-05:00Stephanie,
I'm sure you've alradey done th...Stephanie,<br />I'm sure you've alradey done this, but have you sent this exact story to your Senators and Congresspersons? Maybe they won't read it - maybe they will. Yours is a compellign reason why we need healthcare reform, and your story needs to be told a thousand, thousand times to drown out the "markets will save us all" mantra from the far Right.Philip H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12049875206738422083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-2034811305788247472009-08-28T07:53:14.744-05:002009-08-28T07:53:14.744-05:00Life is a pre-existing condition, and it all just ...Life is a pre-existing condition, and it all just builds from there. The Republicans have a solution for that of course. If you can't afford the insurance premiums, your primary pre-existing condition gets "cured". End of problem. Right-to-life apparently has a nine-month expiration clause.a daughter's mothernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38764987.post-53611493836091183092009-08-28T03:03:09.494-05:002009-08-28T03:03:09.494-05:00I had tried to start my own business, I carried CO...I had tried to start my own business, I carried COBRA from my prior job, and pre-existing conditions were going to be a problem for me, too. Not becuase of my own health but because of my daughter's. Even COBRA at 102% of my former employer's premiums was very hard to pay. I ended up having to go back to work for a large company because of it. <br /><br />I was at a "Health Care Town Hall" presented by the 6th District Representative from Minnesota on Thursday. I didn't actually go insisde, it was too crowded. I was outside holding up a sign saying that I wanted a public option.<br /><br />Did you know that I am an ignorant thief who hates freedom? That's what I learned about myself. I am glad I went, because I learned something about myself. There will be more detail on it at Quiche Moraine on Monday.Mike Haubrichhttp://tuibguy.comnoreply@blogger.com