Life is a myth

I know when I drive around I get the strangest looks. I can't imagine how the looks would be if I was playing loud music.

Yeah a nice US surrender will make the "no-preconditions" conversation with the Iranian president so much more plesant. Thank you Obama from the bottom of my white ass.

Of all the Democratic presidential candidates, Obama is (was) the least experienced. IMO he got the novelty vote, which seems to be popular with Dems this year. You can tell from the 2006 congressional election that substance was not an issue (just check out their approval rating) so why should electing a president be any different? Only in America can the least qualified get the job, because you’re a racist if you say otherwise. If everything about Obama was the same except he was completely white, most folks wouldn’t even know his name. The other democratic candidates would have chewed him up and spit him out over experience alone. No, this guy is doing to be forced down America’s throat because he is black and it's a pity because there are hard-working black folks that demand more from themselves in the work place than Obama could ever hope to offer. It's a shame the first black president will be a symbol and not substance. So it’s no surprise that he will preempt the race issue to delegitimize it. Being black is the one qualification nobody can dispute him for having. Can we set the bar any lower?

...and therefore stands an excellent chance of becoming America's first affirmative action President.

Hey, we hire and promote less qualified blacks to all other positions of power and influence, (mayors, police chiefs, fire chiefs, principals, professors, congressmen (and women) and even Senators.

We even 'dumb down' the tests administered for these hirings and promotions in the quest for equal results (as opposed to equal opportunity) but how the hell do you 'dumb down' the qualifications needed to run the freakin' country?

Oh wait, I know the answer to that one....eight years of GW would make even the dumbest donkey look bright by comparison.

Who cares who gets elected anymore, really.  We're in deep dung either way, and my Beloved Other and myself have already switched gears and gone into survival mode.  What that entails is another topic (and article) itself, but lemme tell ya, kids, a hard rain's gonna fall.  Better to lay in some galoshes and umbrellas while you still can than be left out in the rain going...wtf?

He's half white! 

Wow free... that’s wonderful. I wouldn't want to be a doctor though working for free, or a hospital. Sorry of course I'm being sarcastic, but nothing my friend is free. You and everyone else in the country are paying through your taxes for your health care, whether you’re sick or healthy, of course if you’re chronically ill it is a very good system, your neighbors will foot the bill. In rural areas I'm sure it is very nice, no wait, maybe different in metro areas

What about doctors? Do you get to choose the one you will see? Or is it fifty/fifty chance you'll get the guy that finished last in his class as you will the top guy? And what is the incentive to be the top physician? You earn the same as the worst doctor; there is no benefit to study harder. Of course we all hope that doctors are in it for more than just money. But if I were a top surgeon, enjoyed my job and all, and could make more cash, I might be tempted to move. Los of Indian/Pakistani doctors are practicing in the US these days, why? Why not stay in India or Pakistan? There is definitely a need there. Because they can make more money here that’s why.

In the US, I suppose the government could socialize health care, make all working people pay through their wages. Something like the more you make the more they take type of thing. If sure it will be a big hit with some folks, the poor, the chronically ill, and people that just don't want to work. Of course businesses that want to keep good employees have to pay more to offset the loss in wages, but that's ok they could just raise prices to cover their own loses. Or maybe just outsource to another country where you don't have to worry about the BS at all.

Government health is a great idea if you can stop doctors from leaving for greener pastures, has everyone pay their fair share (healthy people thank you), allow people to see the doctor of choice (maybe pay the difference).

This is all a big problem for nations like the US and Canada where the birth rate is flat or even declining. Medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and health workers wages are going up, do we regulate them too? So the workers must pay more and more year after year. Is this starting to sound like socialism comrade?

Prices only go lower when supply exceeds demand or it is artificially lowered through subsides.

I dunno. You're right, it does depend on how you look at it. From a purely anecdotal perspective, I've met plenty of folks in the states who said there's no way they could afford proper coverage what with trying to keep on top of bills, fuel costs, food and all that other pesky stuff one has to pay for.

I DO know that I'm very happy to be in a system where I will never have to pay a bill or go in debt for any operation. I've been in emergency rooms and on waiting lists before and it wasn't the long drawn out ridiculous scare story of evil socialized medicine that is apparently being told these days.

When I moved to the NWT I had to fill out a form and provide proof that I was indeed living here along with some basic ID. No medical exam. No questionaire about smoking or lifestyle habits or any such nonsense. Just prove you live here. No co-pays or deductibles or the like. In exchange I got a little card that means that I don't have to worry about paying for anything if I fall and break my leg and need an x-ray. For me, the piece of mind alone is worth it's weight in gold.