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New York, 5:46 AM
Wed Dec 16
67 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of socktree socktree
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    I have had depression since I was 11 and had cancer when I was 14. Despite surviving all of this to get a Master's degree...I have been turned down for one of those reasons, so I am currently insuranceless.

    I love how we treat pediatric cancer survivors in this country.
     Reply
    dianersb was bit by a zombie promoted this comment socktree was starred socktree was unstarred
    Image of MilointheMeadow MilointheMeadow
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    So, I don't have health insurance in the United States and I needed a partial hysterectomy last week. I was able to afford it thanks to a small inheritance I received last fall. Should have been fairly straightforward, right?

    I played phone tag with the financial administrator at the hospital FOR A WEEK because there was a brief delay in payment - I had to raise the limit on my bank card for payment, which takes 24 hours. She threatened to cancel my surgery altogether at least five times. A spokesman from my bank called her in my presence to offer the option of a cashier's check, which they rejected and later accepted, grudgingly.

    Here's the crazy part - I have your money in full. Fucking roll out the red carpet!! When even someone in my financial situation is running into obstacles with health care?? That was enough proof for me...

    THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.
     Reply
    MilointheMeadow was starred MilointheMeadow was unstarred
    Image of willwriteforfood willwriteforfood
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    I hate the people who argue health insurance should be left up to the free market. What free market? We don't have one now! You can bargain-hunt for car insurance but in most places in the U.S., you're stuck with whatever monolithic health insurer has a deathgrip in your area. So don't give me the crap about maintaining competition, when insurers have no incentive to insure anyone but the young and healthy. Most people who have health care through the VA or Medicare (government-funded programs) are happy with it.

    Oh, and birthers? Shut it. You lost. I know you're sore, but at least be honest. You're racist. Even if you try to sugar coat it by calling it something else, your only beef with Obama is that he's black and has a funny name and that freaks you out. Join the 21st century, it's really not that scary unless you're an ignorant, small-minded toad.
     Reply
    willwriteforfood was starred willwriteforfood was unstarred
    Image of gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    As the wife of a Family Practice doctor, let me tell you why they (doctors) are up in arms over some of this. Nancy Pelosi, in all her infinite fucking wisdom, want to cut, yes cut, Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements to doctors. What that means is this: there is a shortage of FP's already. The amount of reimbursement they receive is already ridiculously low, hence the fewer doctor's that take these programs. Cut even further, the doctors will now be forced to provide care for next to free, which is absolutely fucking ridiculous to expect from anyone. Pretty soon, no one will see these people, and health care will further decline.

    Every time M/M reimbursements are cut, private insurance lowers their reimbursements; hence, doctors make even less. FPs are already on the lower end of income spectrum, hence the shortage of them in the first place.

    My husband does see a large number of M/M patients, against his partners' wishes - if they further cut reimbursements, he will have to stop. He is a professional, with eight years of college, four years of residency, ten years of service to the country and he works 60 hours a week. Who the hell has the right to expect him to provide his knowledge, expertise, and education for free?

    BTW, we are still paying off his med school loans. And we are in our late 40's.
     Reply
    gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was starred gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was unstarred
    Image of funnyface funnyface
    07/24/09

    @gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy: Wife of a pediatrician here. Part of the reason medicare/caid disbursements are so low is because doctors refused to be part of the process when these programs were created, so non-doctors decided how payment would work. Personally, I'm hoping that the desire to shift toward preventative care will mean better reimbursement for PCPs like family practice, peds, and geriatrics over other more specific specialties. And boy do I feel ya on the loans. We're in our last year of residency, and are not looking forward to starting to pay on nearly $100k in loans next year.
     Reply
    funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred
    Image of gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy
    07/24/09

    @funnyface: My husband has always been a huge proponent with his patients on preventive care. However, the number one cause of such high costs in medicine? Patient non-compliance. I hope your husband is ready for that, because if patients actually complied with medical directives, like stop smoking, lose weight, take your meds, etc., our insurance costs would go down considerably.

    Good luck on the loans - they never seem to go away.
     Reply
    gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was starred gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was unstarred
    Image of thePrototype thePrototype
    07/24/09

    @gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy: I am curious, when you say you are in your 40's and paying off loans, what was the initial cost of his tuition in that time period?
     Reply
    Trulymadlyme promoted this comment thePrototype was starred thePrototype was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    @funnyface: I am confused about what has happened and what remains in the reform legislation. I thoguht increasing medicare and medicaid payments was a major focus.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of funnyface funnyface
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: What *I* was talking about was when Medicare/caid were initially created. I hadn't heard about Pelosi cutting reimbursements so maybe gerbils can provide a source? I thought they were just trying to shift reimbursement so that PCPs didn't get such a short end of the stick. It would be STUPID to cut reimbursements across the board, because providers would just refuse to see Medicare/caid patients.
     Reply
    funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred
    Image of MissFiFi MissFiFi
    07/24/09

    @gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy: Part if the problem is that the general public has no clue what it takes to become a doctor and how insurance and pharma can make it hell. People blame the physician when stuff is not covered, when actually, you should have checked your plan, called the plan, etc. I wish your spouse's the best with their practices
     Reply
    HarpMadness promoted this comment MissFiFi was starred MissFiFi was unstarred
    Image of HarpMadness HarpMadness
    07/24/09

    @MissFiFi: I don't know that I would agree with that. I think most people DO blame the insurance companies when something isn't covered. Maybe I hang out with a different crowd, but honestly, I've never heard anyone blame their doctor for anything except medical mistakes.
     Reply
    HarpMadness was starred HarpMadness was unstarred
    Image of buymecandy buymecandy
    07/24/09

    @MissFiFi: This is the thing that really bugs me about this debate - it's that they talk about how the government will stand in the way of good care and prevent people from getting things they want, but don't insurance companies do that already?
     Reply
    funnyface promoted this comment buymecandy was starred buymecandy was unstarred
    Image of gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy
    07/24/09

    @thePrototype: In 1985, it was approximately $25,000 a year. What it is now, I don't know, but I assume even higher.
     Reply
    gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was starred gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was unstarred
    Image of gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent:Pelosi wants to actually cut reimbursements for M/M. What a great idea! Try to recruit more FPs while simultaneously cutting their pay even more! Brilliant!
     Reply
    gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was starred gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was unstarred
    Image of funnyface funnyface
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    If only the Birthers knew how easy it is to get birth certificates. I changed my name (ok, same name different spelling) OVER THE PHONE and the State of Arkansas sent me a brand new birth certificate for $15. They didn't ask me to prove that it was really ME on the phone either.
     Reply
    funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred
    Image of BearDownCBears BearDownCBears
    07/24/09

    @funnyface: Did your name used to be Phunneephayce?
     Reply
    funnyface promoted this comment BearDownCBears was starred BearDownCBears was unstarred
    Image of funnyface funnyface
    07/24/09

    @BearDownCBears: How'd you know? Gotta love the public schools in AR-- my poor parents can't spell!
     Reply
    funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred
    Image of EkaterinaBallerina EkaterinaBallerina
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    Would someone please, please, please rub the Hatch Amendment in these crazy birthers' faces? For fuck's sake, it was the Republicans' idea to doing away with the natural-born requirement in the first place.

    And I love how that horrible woman in the video went off about how he wasn't American. By virtue of having an American mother he was. And how her family had served in WWII and were "true Americans". Again, crazy, his grandfather served too!

    And by definition, a "true American" would be a Native American. This entire country was founded by illegal aliens. Heck, I found out last year my great-grandfather was an illegal alien.
     Reply
    EkaterinaBallerina was starred EkaterinaBallerina was unstarred
    Image of funnyface funnyface
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: And even if he HAD born elsewhere, he'd still be an American, right? I mean, if I am prego and on vacation, and have my kid in a different country, that kid is still a citizen, is s/he not?
     Reply
    funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred
    Image of Sputnik_Sweetheart Sputnik_Sweetheart
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: Ok, the embed didn't work, but here is Jon Stewart's takedown of the birthers:
    http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-22-2009/the-born-identity
     Reply
    Edited by Sputnik_Sweetheart at 07/24/09 10:40 AM Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred Sputnik_Sweetheart was unstarred
    Image of EkaterinaBallerina EkaterinaBallerina
    07/24/09

    @funnyface: Yes. But the natural-born requirement is that you have to have been born on American soil to be president. I've heard celebs who've had their babies abroad joke "Well he can't be president, but whatever!" He's still an American regardless of where he was born, it's just that if he'd been born in Kenya, he'd have been disqualified from serving as Prez.

    The likelihood of that is about as good as me becoming master of the universe, of course. A pregnant teen decides to hop a plane to Kenya to give birth and then flies back quickly? His father didn't even return to Kenya until he was like 2 or 3! It's not even a remotely plausible story.
     Reply
    EkaterinaBallerina was starred EkaterinaBallerina was unstarred
    Image of HarpMadness HarpMadness
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: And I think that's why it just goes on and on. I mean, please, this has been MORE than settled, but these people won't accept it. They are proposing the most ridiculous scenario -- it's so far out there that really, how can you argue against them? It's like trying to argue that the sky is blue to someone who is saying it's green.
     Reply
    HarpMadness was starred HarpMadness was unstarred
    Image of slowpoke.r slowpoke.r
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: Apparently, even a child born out of the country may still be eligible to run for president:
    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/us/politics/28mccain.html
     Reply
    Edited by slowpoke.r at 07/24/09 11:01 AM slowpoke.r was starred slowpoke.r was unstarred
    Image of utensil42 utensil42
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: Actually, this is part of the fun. Neither the Constitution nor SCOTUS has ever actually defined what a "natural born citizen" is. Everyone just assumes it is someone born in the US and/or born to US parents.
     Reply
    funnyface promoted this comment utensil42 was starred utensil42 was unstarred
    Image of samethingwedoeverynightpinky samethingwedoeverynightpinky
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: Remember, these are people who idolize Sarah Palin. Taking a long plane trip while nine months pregnant,because you want to have your baby someplace else, is normal and logical to them. Besides how else were Obama's parents going to get him blessed by the Kenyan witch doctor?
     Reply
    samethingwedoeverynightpinky was starred samethingwedoeverynightpinky was unstarred
    Image of sportz.star sportz.star
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    Birther is both an absurd movement and a funny word, which leads me to believe that it should be a new dance craze and not a rallying cry for crazy disgruntled Americans.
     Reply
    sportz.star was starred sportz.star was unstarred
    Image of redqueenmeg redqueenmeg
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    Sorry about the tonsils. My sister was pushed around by insurance till she was nearly 30 before they let her get hers out. She would usually get antibiotic-requiring tonsillitis two or three times a year.

    For me the worst insurance thing was my wisdom teeth. Oral surgeon said they all had to come out. Cigna said "let's hedge our bets." So I had all four out... in three different operations... in three different years... in three different states.
     Reply
    Cafezinha promoted this comment redqueenmeg was starred redqueenmeg was unstarred
    Image of EkaterinaBallerina EkaterinaBallerina
    07/24/09

    @redqueenmeg: Yeah one of my close friends has been fighting her doctors and her insurance to get her tonsils removed electively. When she gets tonsilitis,it's bad, as in out of work for a week bad. She has to get this surgery because it cripples her when she gets sick and yet it's still considered elective.
     Reply
    EkaterinaBallerina was starred EkaterinaBallerina was unstarred
    Image of redqueenmeg redqueenmeg
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: That's a terrible, stupid thing. I'm sorry. I had a friend who's 33 who just got hers out but the ONLY reason she could was because she owns her own business so she controls the insurance!
     Reply
    redqueenmeg was starred redqueenmeg was unstarred
    Image of Grim Reaper of the Forest Grim Reaper of the Forest
    07/24/09

    @redqueenmeg: So, I had a nurse practitioner that I thought my insurance accepted as a PCP. Turns out, she is only accepted for ob-gyn services. Long story long, she referred me to get physical therapy. It turns out my insurance wouldn't pay for it unless I got a new appointment with another doctor and then he could refer me. I understand the point of referrals, but basically my insurance would have to pay for another doctor's visit while in the meantime my injury is getting worse, costing them more in the end. Whatever.
     Reply
    Grim Reaper of the Forest was starred Grim Reaper of the Forest was unstarred
    Image of redqueenmeg redqueenmeg
    07/24/09

    @Grim Reaper of the Forest: The point of referrals is to throw obstacles in your way so that you will either drop the issue entirely, agreeing not to be treated for it, or you will wait long enough that they can stamp "preexisting condition" on you and drop you completely.

    Voila, enhanced shareholder value! Which is precisely what they are in the business of providing.
     Reply
    redqueenmeg was starred redqueenmeg was unstarred
    Image of Jen82 Jen82
    07/24/09

    @Grim Reaper of the Forest: Once I went to the GYN and I called my insurance to make sure the office (I didn't know what doctor I would be seeing yet because there were many and I was new) was in network and was told that they were. Cut to me with a $400 bill and an explanation that THE BULDING and ALL OTHER DOCTORS BUT MINE were in network. Sigh.
     Reply
    la.donna.pietra promoted this comment Jen82 was starred Jen82 was unstarred
    Image of la.donna.pietra la.donna.pietra
    07/24/09

    @Jen82: Oh, you too?
     Reply
    la.donna.pietra was starred la.donna.pietra was unstarred
    Image of dianersb was bit by a zombie dianersb was bit by a zombie
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    I have made a Friday Crappy Hour theme song:

    It's Megan and her Brain
    Yes, Megan and her Brain
    One is a genius
    The other's a genius
    To prove their mighty worth
    They'll parse all the news
    It's Megan...it's Megan and her brain, brain, brain, brain. BRAIN!
     Reply
    dianersb was bit by a zombie was starred dianersb was bit by a zombie was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    What the FUCK is up with the AMA??? Every actual doctor I know is normal, fairly progressive and wants health care reform. What is its whack agenda????
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of SkokieGuy SkokieGuy
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: The AMA is effectively a union for doctors. Their goal is not protecting the health of Americans, their goal is protecting the financial interests of their members.

    The AMA controls the accredation of medical schools and controls the numbers of new doctors produced every year (kind of the human equivalent of DeBeers and diamonds).

    Anything that has the potential to hurt doctors economically (such as low cost alternative medicine, increasing the supply of doctors, limiting malpractice liability, reducing healthcare costs) is fought tooth and nail by the AMA.

    Progressive? Ha!
     Reply
    SkokieGuy was starred SkokieGuy was unstarred
    Image of funnyface funnyface
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: My hubs called them and asked to be removed from their membership and the JAMA subscription, because he says they no longer represent him.
     Reply
    funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    @funnyface: I'm trying to get all the docs in my family to agitate but they seem to be congenitally driven to mumbling rather than shouting their opinions.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    Fucking George Mason dude. "Break character?" Weird, I thought we liked Obama for his authenticity, which I've seen more of this week than in ages.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of SarahMC SarahMC
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: Oh, George Mason.

    Obama has snapped fuckin' white America out of the fantasy that we're "post-racial" now and they're PISSED about it. He let us down, man!
     Reply
    Edited by SarahMC at 07/24/09 10:14 AM SarahMC was starred SarahMC was unstarred
    Image of BearDownCBears BearDownCBears
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: I think what makes Gates pretty awesome in this situation is that he must have said something that really cheesed off Crowley. Because I'm trying really hard to think of a way that arresting Gates would have made the good sargeant's position ANY BETTER, as opposed to, you know, either sucking it up and giving his badge number or just WALKING OUT OF THE HOUSE. In the Post last night Crowley claimed Gates said he'd "talk to your mama outside", which, if perhaps not the most tactically deft approach, takes stones.
     Reply
    Cafezinha promoted this comment BearDownCBears was starred BearDownCBears was unstarred
    Image of Maritsa Maritsa
    07/24/09

    @SarahMC: I'm doing this!: Now that we have a black president, I thought I didn't have to think about how racist I am any more. Aren't we done with that now?!
     Reply
    Maritsa was starred Maritsa was unstarred
    Image of Casquivana Casquivana
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: And "race-neutral"? As in... he should act white, because he's black, and now he totally broke the illusion?
    I'm confused.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent promoted this comment Casquivana was starred Casquivana was unstarred
    Image of yellow_dog yellow_dog
    07/24/09

    @BearDownCBears: I agree. Crowley is apparently very intelligent and professional, from what I hear. Why oh why didn't it occur to him that he should just leave this angry man alone in what he knew by this time was the man's own home.

    From reading the police report I think it was that Gates continued to yell at him in front of a bunch of people. Sometimes face is just not worth saving.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent promoted this comment yellow_dog was starred yellow_dog was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    @Casquivana: what, that's not the contract you signed with america? "only the white half, please?"
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    @yellow_dog: why oh why can't cops seem EVER to DE-escalate a situation? even for the best of them, it seems establishing their authority is the number one goal at all times. on NPR this morning they said that Crowley gave Gates three chances ("more than he would have given someone else") -- the 2nd chance included gesturing with handcuffs. I would have slapped that cop SILLY if he waved handcuffs in my face in my own home.

    That said, Gates is having quite a field day with the whole thing too. Drama queens ALL around. I want some video!
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: That was my impression of the entire situation.

    I am more annoyed about the drama and the utter lack of professionalism. On everyone's part.
     Reply
    Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
    Image of EkaterinaBallerina EkaterinaBallerina
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: Andrew Sullivan had a bunch of lawyers who all wrote in to discuss whether or not arresting someone for yelling at a cop is even legal. Technically it's not but they do it all the time anyway, even though it NEVER stands up in court. It's just the cop abusing his power. But one reader pointed out that in order to arrest Gates, he had to do it outside, because according to the law he would have needed a warrant to do it in his home. So they are suggesting that he "lured" or got Gates to leave the house so he could arrest him. If that's true, the cop is a fucking asshole to the Nth degree.

    Plus, his response to Obama's criticism was unbelievably condescending. He was "disappointed"? Dude, he's the President, have some respect. He's not a child.
     Reply
    EkaterinaBallerina was starred EkaterinaBallerina was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: That's what pisses me off. I mean if Gates had physically threatened the officer in any way, I would be the first in line to tell him to shut the hell up. You don't threaten the police. They need to protect their safety. It's an underpaid, difficult and dangerous job.

    But what I find troubling is that this officer was well trained in dealing with diverse communities, profiling, and police harassment and was by all means an upstanding officer and he basically failed to handle the situation in a professional manner. The arrest was nothing more than him getting control of a situation, which he could have handled if he actually applied any of his admittedly stellar training and experience.

    Sigh.
     Reply
    Edited by Trulymadlyme at 07/24/09 11:17 AM Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    @EkaterinaBallerina: Don't I know it girl. I have NEVER had a disorderly conduct charge that the government didn't drop immediately the next day; never. It's just a way for cops to lock up someone for the night who is pissing them off, for whatever legitimate or illegitimate reason. If there is an actual threat it will be charged up as assault on a police officer or, you know, a threat.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    @Trulymadlyme: you should see the shit that goes down with (unarmed) mentally ill people. i don't know if it is just a lack of training on de-escalation or if it is just easier to tackle, tase, shoot, and arrest people, but the arrival of cops rarely calms a situation down in my experience.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: Right? I mean race has nothing to do with my being annoyed by the entire affair. If anything, I'm mad that the police department is not using this as a teaching opportunity and being so damn defensive. Nothing is going to get better until we learn from our mistakes and right now, it seems like no one is willing to step up and admit where they went wrong.
     Reply
    Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
    Image of CurtCole CurtCole
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    Can we just build a fence around Lou Dobbs? I'm pretty sure I have enough in my account to bankroll it.
     Reply
    CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred
    Image of SomeAuthorGirl SomeAuthorGirl
    07/24/09

    @CurtCole: Make sure you put up a sign that says TV CAMERAS PROHIBITED.
     Reply
    SomeAuthorGirl was starred SomeAuthorGirl was unstarred
    Image of CurtCole CurtCole
    07/24/09

    @SomeAuthorGirl: Getting out my stencils for it as I type this.
     Reply
    CurtCole was starred CurtCole was unstarred
    Image of Sputnik_Sweetheart Sputnik_Sweetheart
    07/24/09

    In reply to Wingnut Racist And Birther Nonsense Is Making Everyone's Head Hurt
    There was someone on the radio this morning going on about how there are very long waits to see specialized doctors in Canada, thanks to Universal Healthcare. I recently had to see a specialist and it also took months to get an appointment and I have private healthcare.
     Reply
    Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred Sputnik_Sweetheart was unstarred
    Image of Maritsa Maritsa
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: Yeah, exactly. Try seeing a dermatologist for a non-cosmetic (i.e., non-cash-payment) service. It takes three months where I live. Infertility doctors - two months.
     Reply
    Maritsa was starred Maritsa was unstarred
    Image of sportz.star sportz.star
    07/24/09

    @Maritsa: Precisely. And, in the end, in Canada, you get the care you need with NO COST. Here, the first and last interaction you have with any medical provider is about payment, not about your health.
     Reply
    sportz.star was starred sportz.star was unstarred
    Image of TheFormerJuneBronson TheFormerJuneBronson
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: Even primary-care appointments are nearly impossible in some areas. I used to book my annual exams six months out. Physical with an internist, easily the same or more.
     Reply
    TheFormerJuneBronson was starred TheFormerJuneBronson was unstarred
    Image of SarahMC SarahMC
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: Have all these anti-Universal Healthcare assholes lived lives of perfect health or something? Because how on earth can they think there are not delays in America or there is not rationing in America? Are they telling us you can just waltz into a medical center and demand an MRI on the spot? It makes me so angry; they need to STFU because they clearly have no idea.
     Reply
    SarahMC was starred SarahMC was unstarred
    Image of dianersb was bit by a zombie dianersb was bit by a zombie
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: I just love that (in the good old U.S. of A.) when you have the flu, and you call up your doctor for an appointment, you are told that the next appointment is in July 2032.

    Because really, I don't think I'll have this particular strain of ick then, but thanks.
     Reply
    dianersb was bit by a zombie was starred dianersb was bit by a zombie was unstarred
    Image of TheFormerJuneBronson TheFormerJuneBronson
    07/24/09

    @SarahMC: I'm doing this!: All of the people I know who are anti-reform of any kind are either wealthy enough to afford the best of everything, or beneficiaries of solid union health plans, or politicians whose health insurance (better than mine) is paid by the taxpayers. It infuriates me.
     Reply
    TheFormerJuneBronson was starred TheFormerJuneBronson was unstarred
    Image of Sputnik_Sweetheart Sputnik_Sweetheart
    07/24/09

    @SarahMC: I'm doing this!: I want to confine them in an ER waiting room for a week. Then we'll take about healthcare and waiting times.
     Reply
    Sputnik_Sweetheart was starred Sputnik_Sweetheart was unstarred
    Image of SarahMC SarahMC
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: I mean my god. I once spent 9 hours in an ER with excruciating back pain; I thought I was dying. For a few years I thought I was dying, actually. "Growing pains." "Pulled a muscle." "Take some Ibuprofen." Yada yada yada. Finally after I asked for an MRI MYSELF one doctor discovered I have a spinal cord tumor. Whoops. This country is a fucking joke and so is it's "world class medical system."
     Reply
    SarahMC was starred SarahMC was unstarred
    Image of dianersb was bit by a zombie dianersb was bit by a zombie
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: Also, the whole argument about the evils of social healthcare is ignoring the fact that (according to WHO) France has the best medical system in the world.

    The US? Ranked #36. Behind Canada.
     Reply
    Edited by dianersb was bit by a zombie at 07/24/09 10:28 AM dianersb was bit by a zombie was starred dianersb was bit by a zombie was unstarred
    Image of J.D.Regent J.D.Regent
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: I am so confused as to what health care the people who make these arguments have. I have zero choice over what doctor I use and always have to wait weeks for an appointment even for a regular ob/gyn visit.
     Reply
    J.D.Regent was starred J.D.Regent was unstarred
    Image of Maritsa Maritsa
    07/24/09

    @SarahMC: I'm doing this!: Holy shit! That definitely makes my "two hospitalizations to figure out APPENDICITIS" pale in comparison. P.S. Don't ever go to Georgetown's ER.
     Reply
    Maritsa was starred Maritsa was unstarred
    Image of curiousgeorgiana curiousgeorgiana
    07/24/09

    @dianersb was bit by a zombie: This point is not stressed enough. Of course, you got your data from WHO, so you're obviously a communist. GO TO EUROPE ALREADY.
     Reply
    funnyface promoted this comment curiousgeorgiana was starred curiousgeorgiana was unstarred
    Image of gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy
    07/24/09

    @TheFormerJuneBronson: See my reason above. FPs make the least amount of money, making them scarcer. Pelosi wants them to make even less? If that passes, you'll have an even harder time, because FPs will run for the hills.
     Reply
    gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was starred gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy was unstarred
    Image of SarahMC SarahMC
    07/24/09

    @Maritsa: Oh jeez, good to know. No, this was in Boston years and years ago. My primary care is at Georgetown now though and it's been fine. But damn if the patient doesn't have to be a friggin' expert, pretty much anywhere you go. Once I was getting my annual MRI and I noticed the prescription called for a brain scan rather than thoracic spine. I was like, uh, excuse me, I don't think I need this. They were like oh sorry.

    :shakes head:
     Reply
    SarahMC was starred SarahMC was unstarred
    Image of dridirtitini dridirtitini
    07/24/09

    @SarahMC: I'm doing this!: i hear you on the spinal cord tumor deal. my cousin went through the same back pain and had to wait a year before his insurance kicked in. everyone told him to take ibruprofen. by the time he saw a doctor, he was in the final stages of cancer. he died last year a week before his 25th birthday. i hold on to that story with everything i have to remind of the injustices of the united state's healthcare system and it still tears me to pieces. i live in france now and the care they get is incredible. i don't know the terminology or technical aspects or medical jargon, but america needs what france has... stat
     Reply
    SarahMC: I'm doing this! promoted this comment dridirtitini was starred dridirtitini was unstarred
    Image of SarahMC SarahMC
    07/24/09

    @dridirtitini: Oh wow, I'm so sorry to hear that.
     Reply
    SarahMC was starred SarahMC was unstarred
    Image of dridirtitini dridirtitini
    07/24/09

    @SarahMC: I'm doing this!: i just wish there was something I could do to change america's point of view (read: ignorance) of universal healthcare.
     Reply
    dridirtitini was starred dridirtitini was unstarred
    Image of westvillagegirl (exiled in chicago) westvillagegirl (exiled in chicago)
    07/24/09

    @gerbilsoutofexile...is cheap and easy: When you say run for the hills, I know you're joking, but I really want to know what you think they'll do. Quit and become stockbrokers? Do you honestly think that will happen? Somehow, I think not. Most doctors I know aren't really in it for the money. Hell, most 'em don't even have time to spend their money.

    I'm thinking if a doctor is in it purely for the money, maybe that person shouldn't be a doctor. I'm not saying doctors should live in poverty. But I don't think they need to be millionaires either.
     Reply
    funnyface promoted this comment Edited by westvillagegirl (exiled in chicago) at 07/24/09 11:30 AM westvillagegirl (exiled in chicago) was starred westvillagegirl (exiled in chicago) was unstarred
    Image of funnyface funnyface
    07/24/09

    @westvillagegirl (exiled in chicago): By the hills, I think she meant higher paying specialties. It's increasingly difficult for PCPs in primary care to break even if they run their own practice. It's a big reason I'm glad my husband is going to do a fellowship in ER, so we won't have the headache of trying to run a practice and still make a living. My husband worked with an FP who had to see 25 patients a day just to break even and pay his staff. Any patients he saw over that were his personal pay. I'm sure you can do the math and see how seeing that many patients per day = little face time with the doc, which is bad for patients.
     Reply
    funnyface was starred funnyface was unstarred
    Image of Sev Sev
    07/24/09

    @J.D.Regent: I really think people who make the argument that socialized medicine is a terrible idea are people who really truly believe that it's the government's way of taking their money to pay for "lazy" people. Sadly, my father is one of these people. The only reason he opposes national healthcare is because he doesn't want to pay more taxes. That's it.
     Reply
    veronykah promoted this comment Sev was starred Sev was unstarred
    Image of MilointheMeadow MilointheMeadow
    07/24/09

    @SarahMC: I'm doing this!: Have you seen the TV ad with the Canadian woman talking about her brain tumor and how she had to go to the US to get the procedure done or SHE WOULD HAVE DIED OMG.

    It's ridonkulous and makes me mad as hell every time it comes on.
     Reply
    MilointheMeadow was starred MilointheMeadow was unstarred
    Image of veronykah veronykah
    07/24/09

    @Sputnik_Sweetheart: As someone with no insurance I say SO WHAT!
    I made an appointment to get into a free/sliding scale program here in LA in April, know when the first appointment they had was?
    August.
    4 months. For any sort of health care I can afford.
    Know how long I sit in the office at planned parenthood to get services? Usually AT LEAST 3 hours.
    If I could go to the dentist and the eye doctor but still had to wait 4 months what would be different?
    Oh yeah, I could get my teeth looked at and a new prescription for my contacts.
    Worth it I think.
     Reply
    veronykah was starred veronykah was unstarred
    Image of veronykah veronykah
    07/24/09

    @Sev: I always want to bring up this point to people like your father:
    If we had single payer healthcare, everyone was covered the same, do you think you'd be paying MORE in taxes than you already pay for your healthcare?
    I find it hard to believe that everyone would be paying hundreds of dollars more a month in taxes.
     Reply
    Edited by veronykah at 07/24/09 2:57 PM veronykah was starred veronykah was unstarred
    Image of miss_swiss miss_swiss
    03/23/09

    In reply to Elle MacPherson To Play Model Agency Director; Barack's Watch Selling Briskly
    i sort of sit on the outside and think most models are 'better than me' for being prettier, skinnier, etc but i wonder if there is an whole other divide within the modeling community of higher paid/lower paid models. now there's your reality show - rich model, poor model. of course, both classes would have the same meal budget of $10/week.
     Reply
    miss_swiss was starred miss_swiss was unstarred
    Image of megscissorhands megscissorhands
    03/23/09

    @miss_swiss: Erm, $10.00 a week? Really?


    A. That'll buy you maybe one container of sliced fruit at Whole Foods.


    B. Way to generalize/judge the entire modeling industry.

     Reply
    megscissorhands was starred megscissorhands was unstarred
    Image of lilbobbytables lilbobbytables
    03/23/09

    In reply to Elle MacPherson To Play Model Agency Director; Barack's Watch Selling Briskly
    ...dropping $100 on cabs to take you to and from a job that's gonna pay $200 (after your agency's cut, when you get paid in three months, if other expenses your agency assesses in the meantime don't eat it up entirely)...


    Egads! I assumed that photographs = bank! and that all models used $100 dollar bills to roll cigarettes that are then lit with $20 dollar bills. I knew that it could be tough to be a model, but man! That sounds terrifying.

     Reply
    lilbobbytables was starred lilbobbytables was unstarred
    Image of Trulymadlyme Trulymadlyme
    03/23/09

    @lilbobbytables: Modeling and stripping are share one interesting characteristic: the ability to make money greatly varies and the overhead for working is directly passed onto the models/dancers in fees.
     Reply
    Trulymadlyme was starred Trulymadlyme was unstarred
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