2016 Presidential Election Thread

[CanOfCorn]

It matters to a degree, sure. But we are still far and away the best military partner any of our allies have, we're still one of the best trade partners for a lot of these countries, and more to my point, it's not like these countries aren't themselves (1) being swept up in populist movements, (2) free of having made some embarrassing choices when it comes to their political leaders.

 

But this is about trust. OK, we are the best military partner, but if you have a President who has stated he doesn't really care about civilian casualties, would you want them helping you? If your goods are being taxes to the hilt coming into the US, why wouldn't you do the same to the US?

 

Of course, many countries have made embarrassing choices. But, those country's leader isn't considered the "Leader of the Free World." I'm sorry, but it matters.

[Soxbadger]

But this is about trust. OK, we are the best military partner, but if you have a President who has stated he doesn't really care about civilian casualties, would you want them helping you? If your goods are being taxes to the hilt coming into the US, why wouldn't you do the same to the US?

 

Of course, many countries have made embarrassing choices. But, those country's leader isn't considered the "Leader of the Free World." I'm sorry, but it matters.

 

Right now someone else may have to step up, because the US has to fix its own problems before we can meaningfully help other countries. Part of the reason (I believe) Trump won is that a good portion of America doesnt want to be the world's police. They want to go back to isolationist tendencies that predated WWII.

Edited November 15, 2016 by Soxbadger

[caulfield12]

And no country is well positioned to do that, which is Trump's only leverage.

 

Maybe Russia, but certainly not economically with depressed oil prices. Who does that leave? India? Japan and South Korea? Germany? Brazil? Indonesia?

 

China's the clear choice, along with Russia (depending on how seriously you treat Iran, ISIS and North Korea)...to fill that vacuum. But China has to first deal with Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and Vietnam/Indonesia, to start with.

 

I highly doubt Singapore and Finland/Norway/Sweden/Denmark want to ruin their pristine reputations.

 

 

Meanwhile, lots of Trump voters are gobbling up $10,800 Ivanka Trump collection gold bracelets and baubles.

https://www.yahoo.com/style/ivanka-trump-wo...-174930008.html

Economy, fixed!

Edited November 15, 2016 by caulfield12

[Steve9347]

Brian, we need to resurrect Flapship solely for the purposes of you posting your hilarious s***.

[champagne030]

I understand that I should do more research, but my personal experience is who is getting hosed by ACA? I've worked for a 'fairly' large corporate company (multiple companies) for the last 25 years and my insurance goes up $10-$15 per year. ACA hasn't changed that and I doubt that changes in the near future (my portion of insurance increased exactly $1/mo this year vs. last year). Is it small business owners and their workers? I'm just trying to grasp who is getting screwed. Are the rates going to down because the Republicans will now pass funding to reduce rates or is there some serious issues with ACA that are not politically motivated?

[CrimsonWeltall]

I understand that I should do more research, but my personal experience is who is getting hosed by ACA? I've worked for a 'fairly' large corporate company (multiple companies) for the last 25 years and my insurance goes up $10-$15 per year. ACA hasn't changed that and I doubt that changes in the near future (my portion of insurance increased exactly $1/mo this year vs. last year). Is it small business owners and their workers? I'm just trying to grasp who is getting screwed. Are the rates going to down because the Republicans will now pass funding to reduce rates or is there some serious issues with ACA that are not politically motivated?

 

Young healthy people with incomes too high to get subsidies. Pre ACA, I paid under $100/month for a good plan with a low deductable. The rate was steady for the 3 years I was on it. If I tried to get a plan now, i'd be paying $400+/month with a $7000 deductible. That's basically catastrophic insurance. A plan with a reasonable deductable is $600-700/month. This is in North Carolina btw.

 

Luckily I started getting coverage through work so it never came to that. I'm happy that sick people are able to get coverage now, but I'm exactly the kind of person who would be paying to offset the losses they cause the insurers.

 

[LittleHurt05]

I understand that I should do more research, but my personal experience is who is getting hosed by ACA? I've worked for a 'fairly' large corporate company (multiple companies) for the last 25 years and my insurance goes up $10-$15 per year. ACA hasn't changed that and I doubt that changes in the near future (my portion of insurance increased exactly $1/mo this year vs. last year). Is it small business owners and their workers? I'm just trying to grasp who is getting screwed. Are the rates going to down because the Republicans will now pass funding to reduce rates or is there some serious issues with ACA that are not politically motivated?

 

You work for larger corporations, you are fine.

 

I own a small business. I used to have multiple options with full networks. Now I have about two options, with limited doctors and hospitals, and have been facing 20-30% increases every year. Since I have an individual plan, the carriers removed the best hospitals from my network, including the top pediatrics, which was the main reason I wanted the insurance.

 

IN order to provide for the people who couldn't have insurance before, they have stuck it to small businesses and their owners who aren't part of the larger group plans.

[champagne030]

Young healthy people with incomes too high to get subsidies. Pre ACA, I paid under $100/month for a good plan with a low deductable. The rate was steady for the 3 years I was on it. If I tried to get a plan now, i'd be paying $400+/month with a $7000 deductible. That's basically catastrophic insurance. A plan with a reasonable deductable is $600-700/month. This is in North Carolina btw.

 

Luckily I started getting coverage through work so it never came to that. I'm happy that sick people are able to get coverage now, but I'm exactly the kind of person who would be paying to offset the losses they cause the insurers.

 

So were you unemployed, self-employed or working a job(s) trying to get a job that would better utilize your degree? Or paying your own way through schooling and working part-time jobs that don't provide benefits? My understanding is that someone has to pay for the "sick" people. Yes, the young get penalized for carrying the weight of the elders, but isn't that Medicare and SS? Or is that part of the fight? My understanding is that rates would go down, for those with the huge bump, under Trump (without any significant changes) because Congress will 'fund" it.

[champagne030]

You work for larger corporations, you are fine.

 

I own a small business. I used to have multiple options with full networks. Now I have about two options, with limited doctors and hospitals, and have been facing 20-30% increases every year. Since I have an individual plan, the carriers removed the best hospitals from my network, including the top pediatrics, which was the main reason I wanted the insurance.

 

IN order to provide for the people who couldn't have insurance before, they have stuck it to small businesses and their owners who aren't part of the larger group plans.

 

Thank you! It is the small business owner and the young and healthy (that are under/unemployed) that are funding the bill and feeling the crunch.

[CrimsonWeltall]

So were you unemployed, self-employed or working a job(s) trying to get a job that would better utilize your degree? Or paying your own way through schooling and working part-time jobs that don't provide benefits? My understanding is that someone has to pay for the "sick" people. Yes, the young get penalized for carrying the weight of the elders, but isn't that Medicare and SS? Or is that part of the fight? My understanding is that rates would go down, for those with the huge bump, under Trump (without any significant changes) because Congress will 'fund" it.

 

I was a full time employee with a classification that basically made me a contract worker.

 

[caulfield12]

LOL.

 

So Congress is now going to fund health care "gaps" for middle/upper middle class people between 26-45. We might start seeing medical savings accounts in the near future, and attempts to privatize or wipe out Medicare as well, but it's going to be at the political cost of an entire generation of Congress if they dare to do that. It's the "third rail" of politics.

 

At any rate, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell...pristine condition, great neighbors, scenic views. Bargain price if you act in the next 10 minutes.

[ChiliIrishHammock24]

If you enjoy hip hop/rap, and are worried/fearful about a Trump presidency, Macklemore put out another socially important song.

 

Edited November 18, 2016 by ChiliIrishHammock24

[lasttriptotulsa]

If you enjoy hip hop/rap, and are worried/fearful about a Trump presidency, Macklemore put out another socially important song.

 

Well that was every bit as horrible as I expected it to be.

[BigSqwert]

Well that was every bit as horrible as I expected it to be.

 

LOL. I know he's well-intentioned but man he's terrible at the rap game.

[bmags]

Macklemore is when your middle school history teacher creates a rap about the civil war to connect with the youth.

 

"I bet you think the civil war was boring, well let me tell you somethin that happened 4 score-and"

 

*kids drop heads in hands*

[RockRaines]

You work for larger corporations, you are fine.

 

I own a small business. I used to have multiple options with full networks. Now I have about two options, with limited doctors and hospitals, and have been facing 20-30% increases every year. Since I have an individual plan, the carriers removed the best hospitals from my network, including the top pediatrics, which was the main reason I wanted the insurance.

 

IN order to provide for the people who couldn't have insurance before, they have stuck it to small businesses and their owners who aren't part of the larger group plans.

Large corporations are overwhelmingly moving to high deductible "consumer" health care plans with HSA's. I think its a pretty bad indicator of where the health care industry is going.

[pettie4sox]

Large corporations are overwhelmingly moving to high deductible "consumer" health care plans with HSA's. I think its a pretty bad indicator of where the health care industry is going.

 

health care should have never been a profit laden industry to begin with, scrap the whole damn thing and single payer.

[StrangeSox]

 

GOP Senate, of course, immediately lets everyone know they've bowed to Trump

 

 

 

 

RIP Civil Rights

Edited November 18, 2016 by StrangeSox

[RockRaines]

health care should have never been a profit laden industry to begin with, scrap the whole damn thing and single payer.

If you step back and check out how much you end up paying a year for health care its pretty crazy IMO. The entire system is broken.

[StrangeSox]

Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump

Just got a call from my friend Bill Ford, Chairman of Ford, who advised me that he will be keeping the Lincoln plant in Kentucky - no Mexico

8:01 PM - 17 Nov 2016

41,255 41,255 Retweets 128,330 128,330 likes

 

Ford, of course, denies this and says they never had plans to close the Kentucky plant. But we're clearly into a world where facts are irrelevant and the White House is going to be filled to the top with insane conspiracy theorists.

[Brian]

Whatever you guys. That Macklemore song is the new "We Are The World".

[greg775]

If you step back and check out how much you end up paying a year for health care its pretty crazy IMO. The entire system is broken.

Health care lol. I should cry instead of laugh.

So I get my statement today. I had the blood tests for cholesterol and all the things they check. The lab charged 550 bucks. Somehow my insurance covered all but 8 bucks. But cmon, folks. Checking blood is a 50 dollar job. Not 550. My gawd.

It's all a scam.

[iamshack]

Health care lol. I should cry instead of laugh.

So I get my statement today. I had the blood tests for cholesterol and all the things they check. The lab charged 550 bucks. Somehow my insurance covered all but 8 bucks. But cmon, folks. Checking blood is a 50 dollar job. Not 550. My gawd.

It's all a scam.

On this, I actually agree with you, Greg. Yes, it looks great that insurance pays so much of those huge bills, but the sheer amount of them is absolutely ridiculous. And we are all paying for that.

[RockRaines]

On this, I actually agree with you, Greg. Yes, it looks great that insurance pays so much of those huge bills, but the sheer amount of them is absolutely ridiculous. And we are all paying for that.

Correct, the Revenue Cycle within hospitals and payers is broken as hell. It makes no sense.

[CanOfCorn]

Health care lol. I should cry instead of laugh.

So I get my statement today. I had the blood tests for cholesterol and all the things they check. The lab charged 550 bucks. Somehow my insurance covered all but 8 bucks. But cmon, folks. Checking blood is a 50 dollar job. Not 550. My gawd.

It's all a scam.

 

I had shoulder surgery in February, followed by 4 months of physical therapy. Got one of the bills and they charged $40 for ice. $40!

 

It was covered, so I didn't bother fighting it, but I asked my therapist why they charge just to ice my shoulder.

 

What she explained was, the insurance companies refuse to pay or "negotiate" down the price so much that places have to find ways to charge to make the money they should be making.

 

So, as someone said before, health insurance shouldn't have been for profit to begin with. Don't blame the lab for trying to get their employees paid. Blame the insurance companies for colluding to only charge what they think it's worth.