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Rob, you had a long hospital stay in the U.S. in recent memory. That was, I believe, the period where you were all atwitter about Medicaid coming through for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
If the Alan fairy didn't pay for that multi-week stay, who did?
OK, IL, your point. That was two years ago and I'm no longer on the Medicaid rolls BUT you are correct that that 13 night stay was completely covered. As was a 3 night stay preceding that stay. Medicaid did come through for me here, you are correct. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
The conservatives on here treat Rob like the whipping boy.
I can't speak for Rob but I know guys who enjoy that role.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
omg, that made me laugh!Quote:
Originally Posted by jp1
You just noticed that? He's remarkably sanguine about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Just inserting some reality when lala land seems to have taken over.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Honestly.....how could I be offended by the conservatives here? They lead very different lives from me and life has apparently taught them different lessons than I have learned. They likely don't fear the police......but they don't know the joy of crossing the border for various reasons as I do. These are just two examples that come to mind....I'm sure there are many others. I think it's a good thing certain posters here are exposed to my thinking as I doubt they run across the line of thinking often on their daily lives.....just like I don't run across their thinking often. I used to get offended but honestly......these people have never packed six to a car to Mexico for health care.....how could I possibly be offended by a person's opinion who doesn't get how things really are in the lower classes? I have compassion as I get older......I also know that fortunes can change overnight and those who don't get it these days may find themselves thrown out of their former position and forced to understand. If that happens to anyone here, perhaps they will remember my realistic advice and I'll then be of service in a way. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by JaneV2.0
Mmmmm....if I'm reading this right? I'll pass. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by jp1
IL, here's the rub....and it's taken me years to understand this. Your reality is not my reality and vice versa. That doesn't mean either of us is wrong.....though your solutions may not work in my reality and vice versa. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
I charge extra for that in one of my moonlighting professions...Quote:
Originally Posted by jp1
Do tell, Bae. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by bae
You know, I had no idea this thread would generate so many views and replies. I think I will try for 30,000 views and 1,000 replies. After all, it's just for entertainment anyway. Not bad for a thread about an imbecile billionaire.
The cultural insights of the OP were profound and incredibly thought-provoking.Quote:
Originally Posted by Williamsmith
I must have been high on opiods at the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
I wouldn't call it "like a whipping boy", it's more that Rob has spent a lot of time and effort here asserting his right to other peoples expertise and effort at a cost he deems appropriate. Sometimes those assertions beg another viewpoint, one that liberals don't seem interested in providing.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
From each according to his abilities. To each according to his needs. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
So, if someone is operating below their abilities, should they be forced, or have a duty to change?Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Does Alan decide if they are operating at, below, or above their abilities?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
I have heard that argument made in a slightly different context.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
The case given was for an investment banker earning $600K annually. Disgusted with her life of greed, she considers chucking it all and working as a relief volunteer in South Sudan.
But not so fast, says a concerned utilitarian. Local workers can be hired for a sack of rice per week. She is ethically obligated to stay in investment banking and donate her salary to hire squadrons of local relief workers in order to serve the greater good.
Investment banking does not serve the greater good.Quote:
Originally Posted by LDAHL
That is like saying one must keep working at his job clear-cutting forests so he can afford to replant trees. Better to just not cut down the trees.
Nope, but according to socialist dogma, don't we all have a duty to contribute as much as possible in order to fulfill our obligations to the collective? Every benefit must have a corresponding responsibility.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Uh... no.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Think of socialism this way:
"Many hands make light work."
I suppose her decision should be based on why she wants to be a relief volunteer in South Sudan. If it's truly because she wants to help as many people there as possible then, yes, she should probably continue working as a banker and donate the salary. If it's because she wants to leave her soul sucking job and do something she considers more meaningful with her life energy then by all means she should quit and go do that. But she should be honest with herself about her true motivations for going there if she does the second option.Quote:
Originally Posted by LDAHL
Hmm, maybe that's why socialism doesn't work.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Of course it does. Investment bankers are the heralds of capitalism. They assemble the elements that advance new technologies, fund infrastructure and otherwise deploy resources efficiently.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Capitalism doesn't work, Alan. lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Nope.Quote:
Originally Posted by LDAHL
That was the basic counter-argument I made. That benefit-maximization is more an economic than an ethical argument. My friend responded that the Sudanese would ultimately be better served by benefit maximization.Quote:
Originally Posted by jp1
If your widget manufacturing business pollutes the groundwater then the best thing you can do is keep making widgets so you can afford to buy water filters for those effected by your water pollution too. Got it. Makes sense. :cool:
"Many hands in your pocket."Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
Maybe a third option for our mythical investment banker would be to go to South Sudan in a management/advisory role. She could recommend cutting the wages of the relief workers to 2/3 of a sack of rice. When they complain that they can no longer feed their families she could generously offer to hire on their wives and teenage kids, but only at 1/3 of a bag of rice per week since they'd likely be less efficient workers. The families would still be able to eat and now the organization could do even more good work. A win all the way around!Quote:
Originally Posted by LDAHL
I find this call out of place. Given that I am now crossing the border to access expertise at a price I'm OK with.....why the judgement call here? If anything, one would think I should be respected for offshoring. See why I throw my zip code around? In the 85006 people "get" this. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by Alan
I nominate you for a promotion.Quote:
Originally Posted by jp1
Silly Rob... lolQuote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
Offshoring is for the wealthy! Not for workin' schlubs like you.
I beg to differ. In this case, what's good for those living in North Scottsdale, Cave Creek, or Paradise Valley is good for those living in the 85006 too.....It's just that the motivations are different. The former offshore to build yet more wealth, the latter offshore to access basic human rights they are not worth in the US. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
It's not a judgment call as much as a questioning of your expectations. You've told us hundreds of times, if not more, of your dis-satisfaction with the United States over the cost of medical care, and advocated for governmental intrusion of markets, along with increased taxpayer responsibility to ensure end user costs you find acceptable, all the while asserting your 'right' to receive services from others under the guidelines you've established. You continued to complain when you received no-cost-to-you healthcare services under your states Medicare program as well as when the citizens subsidized your current insurance coverage.Quote:
Originally Posted by gimmethesimplelife
I'm sorry if you feel judged by the responses to the one subject you consistently bring up. My responses are always aimed at the notion that any of us have a 'right' to the services of another at costs outside of the providers control, but I don't think the point is getting across, even after all this time.
As for your parting question, there are approximately 43,000 zip codes in the United States and I'm not sure what relevance the 85006 area has to a discussion of national importance, so No, I don't see why you throw it around.
Do you get any services of another at costs outside of the provider's control?Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan
Not outside of negotiated prices for services rendered and even then I wouldn't have the 'right' to set the terms the provider must adhere to.Quote:
Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler
If I attempted that, I'd expect the service provider to suggest I find someone else.
Maybe I need to state my point diffetently, then. By crossing the border, I take back some of the power over pricing - that's quite likely where the intense joy I feel once I cross the turnstile (sp?) and am in Mexico comes from. I refuse the role of victim by doing so and I vote with my feet. RobQuote:
Originally Posted by Alan