Protestantism

» pink101 - Obama in 08

In response to Obama in 08 posted by BrianTubbs:
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I hope you are right about Obama--We need what he promises us that he is.
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Maybe my comments were a little harsh regarding Ohio and the racism that exists down there. But, I know about the older white population in those states that border Dixie. And, maybe I judge the South from my years experience when I was stationed in North and South Carolina while the Marine Corps was still segregated. It was during my hitch that Truman called an end to that practice. Blacks were just coming in as I was leaving. The only positions they had held were playing a musical instrument in the band and working in the mess halls. I guess the Army used them in the mortuary services. Now, our military would collapse if it weren't for the Blacks.
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Maybe things have changed with younger people? But, I wonder why you are so incensed with Jeremiah Wright and the sermons he preaches to his highly specialized congregation. Religion DOES evolve and there is a time that folk have to go through to get to a better place than they have been.
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I've watched a little of that jerk, Bill O'Reilly lately and he is doing his best to keep the Jeremiah Wright thing alive. As far as I can see, he is about the only one still doing it.
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There was a time for that and, now, it has passed. It's time for the healing.
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Have a Happy Easter; but, don't eat too much ham this Sunday.
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Republicanism

In response to Reply to Pink posted by BrianTubbs:
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This is one of those "words" and "things" that needs to be better understood. It can't be explained in just a few words; but, here are the bones of the idea.
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Republicanism, as a word, is used to mean the idea that government exists to promote and protect the special interests of politically organized groups over and against the interests of the general welfare and common good of the overall society.
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - Republicanism

In response to Republicanism posted by pink101:
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I'm not making any ethical judgments of the idea of republicanism--only trying to give an understanding of what I mean when I use the term.
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Another way of looking at republicanism is that it provides society with the public deployment of some politically cooked up scheme designed for the purposes of some special interest group or groups over and against the general welfare and good of the overall society.
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In a metaphorical sense it sees government as the Starship Enterprise circling above the planet earth with the ability to "beam up" the administration's research teams sent down to discover ways and means for controlling the general population for the good of its special interests. It is the political attempt to conserve the interests of the status quo and tries to keep the hierarchy in place in opposition to any liberal or progressive efforts of the general population.
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Remember, my definition doesn't make an ethical judgment on how republicanism works.

-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Obama in 08

In response to Obama in 08 posted by BrianTubbs:
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Previously, we mentioned how the media distorts and viciously attacks candidates (specifically Dems like Obama).... Repuglycan mouth-piece FOX is the WORST!! No surprise there. But WOW!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjvNSpsPu...
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And not a peep from FOX et al about McPain:
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"Will MSNBC devote as much coverage to McCain's embrace of Hagee's support as it did to Obama's rejection of Farrakhan?" Media Matters, February 28, 2008
http://mediamatters.org/items/2008022800...
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"'Repulsive, insulting, and heartbreaking'" Jews have brought on their own anti-Semitism, says McCain supporter Pastor John Hagee," John Aravosis at AmericaBlog, March 2, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3524&id=12363-...
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"McCain 'Proud' of Endorsement From John Hagee Who Calls Catholics 'The Great Whore.' Where's Tim Russert Now?" Jane Hamsher at HuffingtonPost, February 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3525&id=12363-...
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"McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones, March 12, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3519&id=12363-...

-- posted by Migisi

» Migisi - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by pink101:

.... the agency that is SUPPOSED to cover their bills doesn't pay either. Ask your doctor if he even accepts Medicaid patients...
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Yep. No cash, credit card, or insurance = nobody wants you as a patient. Medicaid won't pay the horrendous medical overcharges - which can be as high as 350% mark up on drugs and services. And I'm sure you've heard of the many cases of Medicaid/Medicare fraud committed by docs/hospitals - where they bill multiple times for the same test and services not performed. Why should taxpayers pay for their greed? For the reputable professional, the main problem with taking Medicaid is that it pays too slowly -- 6 months+ to pay.
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The hospitals don't turn people away.
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They're only required to treat emergency patients. And it took an act of Congress to make them do that. Congress passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act ("EMTALA") which requires medical facilities to give emergency treatment, screen and stabilize all patients, and penalizes them for releasing those who are medically unstable.
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And, doctors don't turn them away either.
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They can if it's not an emergency. They simply refer them to the emergency room, where they're turned away too if it's a nonemergency. And you've acknowledged that most doctors won't take Medicaid patients.
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So, if order to make up for their losses, the docs charge those who can pay more. Howzatgrabyuh?
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Most charge everybody too much - regardless of ability to pay. Now here's the thing... if they can afford to give discounts on drugs and services to the poor, why do they bill out the same drugs and services at much higher rates to insurance companies? There are various charity orgs which help pay medical bills for those who can't. Just call hospital administration for a list. They have them lined up. And most hospitals are federally funded - even nonprofit private ones. Believe me, the docs/hospitals don't lose out. Have you ever investigated the huge PROFITS that alleged NONprofit tax exempt hospitals make? And how much hospital execs make? Some states are doing just that.
January 23, 2008
Ohio Takes New Look at Nonprofit Hospitals
http://philanthropy.com/news/philanthrop...
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Our grand children will see universal health care in their time.
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IL initiated a children's universal health care system for middle to low income families. My son qualifies. But, just try and find a doctor who is signed up for the program? NOT A ONE!! Yet another SCAM.

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by Migisi:

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Medicaid doesn't pay any of its bills--period. So, the docs don't even bill them.
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by pink101:
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Medicaid doesn't pay any of its bills--period. So, the docs don't even bill them.
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Well, if they don't bill Medicaid or the patient, then they can't complain about not getting paid, can they.
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Medicaid depends almost entirely on general federal and state revenues. The feds decide how much to pay doctors re Medicare - normally close to market rates. But states have a lot of discretion in deciding how much to pay docs under Medicaid. State Medicaid agencies set the fees and most fail to adjust them for inflation.
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So, let's track the trickle down. Because we've been funding a war (spending BILLIONS every month) for the last five years, there's been funding cutbacks in just about every gov. agency except military and foreign aid. This means less funds go to the states towards programs. Some states simply don't have enough funding -- especially since Medicaid coverage is available, regardless of citizenship status, per the EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act).
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Here's how the docs are getting what they think they're owed by the government:
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Senators Want Back Taxes Collected
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires...
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"The report, by the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm, said that some of the worst offenders live in luxury, residing in million-dollar homes and driving high-dollar vehicles.
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"The subcommittee was taking up a report which found that more than 30,000 Medicaid providers - doctors and others in the health care field - owe at least $1 billion in federal taxes, yet still receive payments for their services."
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They'll get what they think they're due - one way or another, ay?

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by Migisi:
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Well, if they don't bill Medicaid or the patient, then they can't complain about not getting paid, can they..
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"I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath.
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.
Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."
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or
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translation of the Oath runs as follows:
" I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepios and Hygeia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:
To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.
I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.
I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.
Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.
What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.
If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot."
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Doctors are a strange breed.
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To say the least.
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They pay dearly for their profession.
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God bless 'em, every one.

-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Health Care

The whole health care situation is a serious problem - and it's only going to get worse. I don't know what the answers are. I would say that the candidates who come up with the most crowd-pleasing ways to address the issue will do the best at the ballot box. It's definitely a top priority (and understandably so) for voters.

But...you are faced with some real, legitimate, give-and-take issues with respect to health care. Those issues start with...

You have an aging baby boomer population that is much too big to be supported by the tax dollars of the next generation behind it - mine.

Many (not all - but many) of the health care crises we have are due to poor lifestyle choices on the part of people. I'm preaching to myself here. But if you eat junk food a lot, it will catch up with you. And we, as a consumer society, are addicted to bad eating habits.

Not only that...but destructive sexual habits too and drug abuse problems and heavy drinking and smoking and on and on and on. Think about it...we have people binge drinking and chain smoking - taking their FREEDOM to wash their lives down the drain! And who pays to take care of them????

If people lived more responsibly and (yes) more morally, it would help our health care situation a GREAT deal!

In addition to that...you have a shortage of health care providers. This will become even more significant as more baby boomers retire. We don't have enough nurses, doctors, and other health care service providers.

How do you solve that problem? Do you FORCE people into health care careers? Start up a DRAFT system? Or do you incentivize them? If the latter, how do you pay for that? There's a ripple effect in the economy.

Getting back to paying the health care bills themselves...

One of the biggest problems (frankly) is litigation. We have to do something about tort reform. Doctors have to pay enormous fees just to cover their legal insurance. That cost flows to the customer!

All of the above, of course, is just scratching the surface. The health care crisis is a huge problem. It's not going to be an easy one to tackle.

» pink101 - We Need Dialog

In response to Health Care posted by BrianTubbs:
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The health care crisis is a huge problem. It's not going to be an easy one to tackle.
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And, of course, it's not the only problem facing us.
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The problems are pandemic--all over the place. As long as we allow the wealthy and the corporate interests to keep convincing Joe Six Pack and his family that government can't handle our problems, we're going to be kept back.
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We need dialog and we need it big time in our society. We need to put an end to the lobby groups that are financing the political campaigns of McCain and Clinton. It won't be easy because of the First Amendment. But, we need spokespersons that will stand up for the middle and lower classes.
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Cigarettes are a terrible curse on our health care system and contribute to cardio vascular problems even more so than poor eating habits. The problems are exacerbated by private interests that throw the keebosh into programs aimed at making things better.
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One of the main lies that we are being fed is that government cannot figure out how to do things better. Another of the bigger lies has to do with the one that claims reduced taxes are good for the economy. These lies are so pervasive on the media that we don't even question them.
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When is the last time you ever heard of Joe Six Pack picking up some of the writtings from men like Robspeirre? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilien_...
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-- posted by pink101