Obamacare, or, I might be up a creek w/o a paddle

[gimmethesimplelife]

And luckily for you, you can now simply add the cost of your healthcare to my tab. Would it be out of place for me to ask that you exercise more and eat better, you know, positive steps to limit my liability?

Here you have very concisely nailed why so much of America does not work for me - to me, it's not your tab, its OUR tab - our being the collective society as a whole. But I do agree with you on one point - people getting the free insurance like I will be for awhile should have some mandate to eat better and to exerisize. In my case I am mostly vegetarian and I don't have a car - so I am getting a lot of walking in right there. I am aware that not all who qualify for expanded Medicaid are going to be eating well and getting exersize so I do see you have a point in this. I still consider it OUR tab though and not just your tab. This kind of thinking - I believe this is what is going to cause America to sink ever further. And it's sad because most people have thought this way their whole lives - it is unrealistic for this to change. I'm glad change is coming to health care but OTOH I don't have much hope for this country in other areas. The bitter irony in this though is that I have seen what I consider progress in health care and also in gay rights. Rob

[Miss Cellane]

We were talking about this at work. "We" being a bunch of contract workers and temps, none with employer provided insurance. One woman said she'd be fine--based on her income and the fact that she is a cancer survivor, her local hospital provides her with free health care. I hated to be the one to explain to her that she is free to avoid getting health insurance under the new plan, but the way I read our state's web pages on the matter, she'll be fined and she will have to pay for all her health care.

I think I shocked her into at least doing a little research on the matter--I think that she thought she was okay and didn't have to worry about this. But my guess is that the money that used to pay for her "free" health care will now be funneled into the new insurance programs.

[gimmethesimplelife]

If you have no idea about their situation, then what is your point, other than they are better off moving to a country with universal health care?

+1 Rob

[bae]

And luckily for you, you can now simply add the cost of your healthcare to my tab. Would it be out of place for me to ask that you exercise more and eat better, you know, positive steps to limit my liability?

Alan - I thought you'd like to know, I've decided to be a poet and philosopher for the next 20 years, this whole "work work work" thing is just too old-school for me in this progressive era. So if it helps you feel better, I'll be putting your dollars to good use!

[bae]

Here you have very concisely nailed why so much of America does not work for me - to me, it's not your tab, its OUR tab - our being the collective society as a whole.

How nice that must be!

In a higher phase of progressive society, after the enslaving subordination of the individual to the division of labor, and therewith also the antithesis between mental and physical labor, has vanished; after labor has become not only a means of life but life's prime want; after the productive forces have also increased with the all-around development of the individual, and all the springs of co-operative wealth flow more abundantly—only then can the narrow horizon of bourgeois right be crossed in its entirety and society inscribe on its banners: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!

[gimmethesimplelife]

And I see this as a "choices we've made" issue.

For sure we are going to view this and many things differently.

+1 I really respect you for understanding this.....many don't. Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

How nice that must be!

In a higher phase of progressive society, after the enslaving subordination of the individual to the division of labor, and therewith also the antithesis between mental and physical labor, has vanished; after labor has become not only a means of life but life's prime want; after the productive forces have also increased with the all-around development of the individual, and all the springs of co-operative wealth flow more abundantly—only then can the narrow horizon of bourgeois right be crossed in its entirety and society inscribe on its banners: From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs!

Pretty much this kind of thinking that I am exhibiting here - this is very European kind of thinking and to a lesser degree Australian and New Zealand thinking - these countries have more of a "we" than a "me" mentality going on. I was about 12 wnen I decided for me personally it was going to be more "we" and not so much "me" - at least as far as basic human rights issues such as access to health care go. Rob

[iris lilies]

I pay for my family's own, minimal, catastrophic coverage out-of-pocket.

Shortly after Obamacare was passed into law, my rates went through the roof, seemingly because they raised them the maximum they could get away with, and at every opportunity after that. Presumably to establish a nice solid baseline before the law went into effect.

You won't get by with that catastrophic policy now, buddy.

[gimmethesimplelife]

And luckily for you, you can now simply add the cost of your healthcare to my tab. Would it be out of place for me to ask that you exercise more and eat better, you know, positive steps to limit my liability?

Just wanted to add - I have not been a freeloader on the system. I have had several months of unemployment insurance, five months on Medicaid, and five months of food stamps. Other than that I have been self supporting. When I talk of the American work ethic I speak of putting work before all else in life. I am willing to work but work has very little to do with where I take satisfaction in life, or where I draw identity from. Work to me is a source of income to pay bills and hopefully save money with - nothing more, nothing less. It has importance in my life, yes, but it is not the most important aspect of my life in any way. This is what I was getting at by mentioning the American work ethic. Rob

[ApatheticNoMore]

yea that's how just about everyone views work, as a means to pay the bills, few and far between indeed are those who view it otherwise. People at my office are deeply unhappy on mondays and complain a lot and thrilled for fridays.