I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

BarbaraA

I'm thinking 42. We have a 10+% unemployment rate and no one can live on that.

rosemary-b

I think 42 also

1Athena1

Second quiz question (Source for correct answer: CIA World Factbook):

Which of these four countries has the lowest poverty rate:

1) Lithuania

2) United States

3) Serbia

4) Italy 

Third question: Of the following countries, which one has the highest healthcare costs as a percentage of gross domestic product?

1) Norway

2) Britain

3) Switzerland

4) United States

5) Germany 

Question 4: Finally, which of these countries has the highest infant mortality rate?

1) United States

2) Britain

3) Switzerland

4) Norway

5) Germany

Source for right answers for questions 3 and 4: Reuters/Frontline 

BarbaraA

Sorry Athena, my brian hurts today. Had to work from 4:30 until 6. Done doing complex thinking.

1Athena1

Barbara and Rosemary - correct!

Anyone care to guess the other three answers? 

rosemary-b

Athena are the answers 2-4-1

bluedahlia

U S for all three?

1Athena1

Almost...the answers are 1-4-1.

Lithuania has the lowest poverty rate, the United States has the highest healthcare expenditure rate and also the highest infant mortality rate. 

Now, for the discussion.... 

3monstmama

I will never understand why people equate not liking some aspect of a country ---even one's own country--with disloyalty and not liking the country.  I mean, am I not allowed to think waterboarding prisoners is bad?  Does thinking waterboarding prisoners is bad make me a bad American?  Or does it make me an ethical person?  Hmmm, what would a priest or minister or rabbi say?

Okay well if I can disagree with waterboarding, why can't I think healthcare in the US can be greatly improved ?  Why can't I think that our healthcare system is inadequate and that its wrong that my MIL who worked all her life had to shell out half her retirement income each month to pay for her Cobra AND keep living in a state away from her family because she couldn't get a policy that allowed her to move to another state?

How about this?  How about everyone gets the same healthcare that our Congress gets?  Seems fair to me. . . . .

I have no idea what we are having for dinner tonight but after all the discussion of fava beans and rice, I'm thinking lentils and rice with a bit of yogurt in support of all those Egyptians opposed to a new pharonich [did I spell that right?] dynasty.

Konakat please do eat more cookies and think sunny beach! 

rosemary-b

The health care plans that Cngresspeople can choose from are great and offered by private insurance companies. Other federal employees and their families have them. I am all for them being open to all.

Alpal

I feel so thankful that all our problems have been solved. We now know that none of us should ever fear not getting the medical care we need due to our finances. I feel so secure now that I have been assured of this. We also know that our country has the very best medical care in the world - we've heard that twice and maybe 3 times today. No one has ever cited a reputable source for the U.S.'s number one ranking, but I'm sure one would be provided if we asked. I also know that if all else fails all I have to do is "get a grant".

Thanks to those of you who reassured me and allayed my fears. I feel so much better  - and I think I'll call some of the AZ transplant patients and let them in on the good news that finances have nothing to do with quality of care in the Good Ole USA. 

bluedahlia

Nicely put 3monstmama.

BarbaraA

I agree. More letters to Congress on the way. If they cram it on me, they have to walk the walk.

shokk

What about food and shelter?..........if health care is a "right" what about the most basic human needs?.....if someone is basically healthy they may go through their life without really needing much medical treatment but they can't go very long with out food.........and for many without shelter.......

So does that mean a person with no money can walk into a grocery store and demand food because it is their right to be fed........

can a person walk into an apartment complex and demand shelter from the manager???????

because they have a right to shelter......even though they have no money to pay for the apartment......

and what right does a grocery store have to make a profit on the food that they sell and or that matter the farmer that grows the food.........isn't that food that he grows or she sells for the survival of mankind........what right to they have to deny someone food or shelter because that person doesn't have the money to pay????????

Is this the kind of America all you want to live in????????........I would stop worrying so much about health insurance and start trying to figure out how to take care of all these people that don't have the money to pay for food or shelter........and start attacking those people that make a profit for providing food and shelter......they are the real demons..............shokk

bluedahlia

In a world that is totally moral, there would be no need to look for food and shelter, based on income.  Sorry Shokk, I can't agree with your principals.  I think every human being should be afforded the basic necessities of life, which include food, shelter and medical aide.  This coming from someone who can't kill a fly!

Ang7

rosemary-b~

I am sorry no one was interested in your casserole...

That steams me when my kids go out and get take-out.

Hubby and I are still paying bills for BC that we got before "meeting our deductible."

Guess I should have socked some cash away just in case I got a life-threatening disease.

1Athena1

In civilized countries the burden is not put on private businesses but on the government. Nor would private citizens have to give up their own shelter. You are confusing individual rights and collective rights, Shokk. Of course no one is going to ask that grocers give away their food unless they want to. We would all help out. We already do, through taxes. 

Noone is asking a business not to make a profit or a person not to exercise private ownership rights.  

Food for the poor and shelter for the homeless is not the America I merely want to live in - it is the America I already live in. Shocking concept - feeding the hungry and clothing the indigent. We actually do it, along with waterboarding.  Section 8 Housing and Food Stamps already exist. Many conservatives would disagree with you, Shokk, not only Bob Dole. In fact, the State Childrens' Health Insurance program was created through a bipartisan effort.  

bluedahlia

My fava beens are ready........I'm going to go get "dopamined" up.

shokk

Oh and Athena don't forget the unmanned drones that are dropping bombs on innocent women and children every day in Afghanistan and Pakistan (a country we are suppose to be protecting) that this President is so fond of.........shokk

rosemary-b

Shokk

Who was president when those wars started? As Colin Powell said,"You break it you bought it."

Anonymous

What is the responsibility of a citizen in a society that provides so many "rights"?

Does responsibility go along with the "Rights"  ?

I am sure you all will go on to talk about doping up on food, as usual when you don't have an intelligent answer

Anonymous

Konakat, I'm confused.  I thought that you lived in Boston, which is in Massachusetts, which has the very model of insurance coverage for everyone that the federal bill was designed to imitate.  Are you saying that even under that model not everyone is covered? 

In Pennsylvania, if you show up at the hospital having a heart attack you get cared for.  No matter what treatments you need.  The hospital eats the cost if need be.   They'll even set up home care when you are released. 

If your boyfriend's experience is typical of how people are treated in Massachusetts, do we really want to expand that system to the rest of the country?

shokk

Well true but Bush never used the unmanned drones like the current President is doing.......Bush water boarded three theorists and Soetoro is dropping bombs on Weddings in Pakistan......just saying......and if I am not mistaken Soetoro increased the size of the troops which was his choice.......and I thought he was going to stop these wars........don't see that happening.....if fact the intensity of the wars have increased since Soetoro took office.........Shokk

bluedahlia

Erica, I think we all gave some pretty intelligent answers.  Reread them a few times.

konakat

The responsibility is to share in the cost in proportion to our earnings to ensure these rights for all.  For example, I will gladly wait on elective, non-mandatory care so everyone can have equal access to health care.

No, we turn to talking about food because we get bored of all the nonsense. or to diffuse a heated situation.  I thought that was obvious.  And yeah Erica/Robbie/Daisy/etc., I love doping on food, sorry it offends you.  Just to be a whiny b*tch, since I don't have much time left I will do what gives me pleasure, such as stuffing my face.

covertanjou

Who's Soetero?  

konakat

Pat -- everyone is supposed to be covered but not everyone is.  I.e., can't afford it so they pay the cheaper penalty.  I just know my bf's experience -- I've never used it so I never looked into it. 

Here's a link to the MA program so you can read up on it.  https://www.mahealthconnector.org/portal/site/connector/

covertanjou

Elizabeth, you go ahead and eat whatever you want.  Have some really good Canadian chocolate.

konakat

Now I'm craving pancakes smothered in maple syrup from Quebec.  I even did some taste tests comparing Vermont and Quebec syrups with my US friends and Quebec syrup won hands down.  Go figure.  Of course, Quebec is La Belle Province...

konakat

Laura Secord chocolate!