Take jobs as they come -- and we'll never be under the heel of nobody ever again. No matter how long the arm of the Alliance might get, we'll just get ourselves a little further.

Mal ,'Out Of Gas'


Natter 58: Let's call Venezuela!  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Miracleman - Apr 17, 2008 5:28:44 am PDT #2270 of 10001
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020

(PS, under socialized medical care, lattes and sushi will be mandatory.)

They're not now?

Can I still be a Democrat if I stop drinking lattes and eating sushi?


tommyrot - Apr 17, 2008 5:29:46 am PDT #2271 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Medical care could be paid for by advertising. Just think, if instead of putting you under for three hours or whatever for surgery, they could immerse you into a virtual reality infomercialtainment system....


Jessica - Apr 17, 2008 5:30:22 am PDT #2272 of 10001
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

Jars, it's from this 2004 political ad.


Fred Pete - Apr 17, 2008 5:30:49 am PDT #2273 of 10001
Ann, that's a ferret.

Wisconsin is pretty wild. About a third of my high school graduating class ended up dying from attacks by cougars or the Wisconsin Fresh-water Shark....

Which part? The northern part, I can see. The southern part, you're more likely to be killed by a falling corn stalk.


Gudanov - Apr 17, 2008 5:33:47 am PDT #2274 of 10001
Coding and Sleeping

I think the problem is the general public wants socialized medical care, except they don't want it if you call it that....

I don't think that's it. I think there is a desire for medical care to work like other sectors of the economy. You have independent medical providers competing against each other for your health care dollars providing incentives for both quality of care and reduced costs. Sounds like the way to do it.

The problem, of course, is that we don't want to turn away people from getting basic health care because they can't afford it. Also, we don't want to shop for the best deal when we get a compound fracture or heart attack. Even for non-emergency care, when so much is at stake, you don't probably want to go with crazy Eddie's discount medical care even if that is the most affordable option.

So we limp along with a system that tries to do both and we end up with frustrating insurance and employers getting stuck with providing coverage to form risk pools.


Gudanov - Apr 17, 2008 5:34:59 am PDT #2275 of 10001
Coding and Sleeping

Can I still be a Democrat if I stop drinking lattes and eating sushi?

Yeah, no problem, you just can't be an elitist liberal Democrat.


tommyrot - Apr 17, 2008 5:39:11 am PDT #2276 of 10001
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Which part? The northern part, I can see. The southern part, you're more likely to be killed by a falling corn stalk.

The central part....


Frankenbuddha - Apr 17, 2008 5:39:33 am PDT #2277 of 10001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

Wisconsin is pretty wild. About a third of my high school graduating class ended up dying from attacks by cougars or the Wisconsin Fresh-water Shark....

Was this Sunnydale, WI by any chance?


Miracleman - Apr 17, 2008 5:41:03 am PDT #2278 of 10001
No, I don't think I will - me, quoting Captain Steve Rogers, to all of 2020

Yeah, no problem, you just can't be an elitist liberal Democrat.

Oh, well, that works out then.

Being elitist is too taxing on my slothful self. I'd much rather read sf than keep up to date on why moderates should be treated with the same disdain as lepers and people going through third stage syphilis.


Gudanov - Apr 17, 2008 5:45:42 am PDT #2279 of 10001
Coding and Sleeping

Oh, well, that works out then.

Yeah, I thought about being an elitist liberal Democrat, but I can't afford a Volvo.