Book: Afraid I might be needing a preacher. Mal: That's good. You lie there and be ironical.

'Safe'


Spike's Bitches 44: It's about the rules having changed.  

[NAFDA] Spike-centric discussion. Lusty, lewd (only occasionally crude), risqué (and frisqué), bawdy (Oh, lawdy!), flirty ('cuz we're purty), raunchy talk inside. Caveat lector.


Steph L. - Oct 18, 2009 8:38:27 am PDT #26870 of 30000
I look more rad than Lutheranism

I think ER work can exacerbate these selfish tendencies in the people who work in them. My SiL has worked in several ERs in her career and she was shocked by how many of the people they saw each day were not "sick." They were addicts looking for drugs

Yeah, I do understand that. But he doesn't want to separate that -- which is its own problem (drug-seekers) -- from people who don't have health insurance and can't afford to just go to the doctor when sick who then have no other choice but to use the ER as their only healthcare provider.

If preventive care were affordable (or free) for everyone, it would greatly reduce the numbers of people who use the ER as their only healthcare provider.

And I realize I'm preaching to the choir; I just can't stop thinking about it.

Charge higher premiums on people who "make bad choices"? How many alcoholic drinks per week can someone have before their premiun goes up because they're creating a higher risk for cirrhosis? What if they have a genetic/familial tendency to alcoholism? Then can they drink any alcohol, or does their premium go up if they take one drink, ever?

The Boy brought up the point that such nonsense would be a MASSIVE violation of privacy.

What about people who play sports? They have much higher risk of -- depending on the sport -- torn ACLs, traumatic brain injury, broken bones -- should they pay higher premiums? Or are certain sports exempt?

What about women? They're more likely to have complications of pregnancy (versus men), so clearly the possession of a uterus -- even if you NEVER GODDAMN USE IT -- should mean you pay a higher premium?

And fuck all those children who get cancer or severe asthma -- you KNOW how kids just get into all sorts of shit and bring their potentially fatal diseases on themselves.

My doctor "friend" is a gay man. I hope he's paying a higher premium because he's in the largest at-risk group to get infected with HIV.

What the fucking fuck, you know? I'm so goddamned angry.


Scrappy - Oct 18, 2009 8:50:07 am PDT #26871 of 30000
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

Yeah, the guy's a dick. I think it's sad that ER work can add fuel to dickishness.


Topic!Cindy - Oct 18, 2009 8:50:08 am PDT #26872 of 30000
What is even happening?

Ass 'em in the ear, Tep.


Barb - Oct 18, 2009 8:51:01 am PDT #26873 of 30000
“Not dead yet!”

Speaking of assing people in the ear...

The case of a giant Mylar balloon, which ascended into the sky late last week amid fears a 6-year-old boy was aboard, has been determined to be a "hoax" and a "publicity stunt," Larimer County, Colorado, Sheriff Jim Alderden said Sunday.

The family of the Fort Collins boy, Falcon Heene, engineered the incident in order to better market themselves for a reality television show, Alderden told reporters at a news conference.

[link]


P.M. Marc - Oct 18, 2009 8:51:08 am PDT #26874 of 30000
So come, my friends, be not afraid/We are so lightly here/It is in love that we are made; In love we disappear

Americans have been brainwashed, Tep. This is the only explanation I can come up with.


Steph L. - Oct 18, 2009 9:12:28 am PDT #26875 of 30000
I look more rad than Lutheranism

Americans have been brainwashed, Tep. This is the only explanation I can come up with.

My best friend's fiance (the other overweight person who got a pointed look when Doctor was suggesting higher premiums for our "poor choices") is a fierce liberal, and the only thing he asked Doctor and Other Shitbag Friend was, "If a free-market healthcare system is so ideal and is the only way to have a good healthcare system, why have NO OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS DONE IT?"

I hugged him, said, "I love you and I'm thrilled you're marrying my best friend," promised to discuss Anathem with him later, and then The Boy and I left before I started getting physically violent with the other 2 shitbags.


erikaj - Oct 18, 2009 9:23:27 am PDT #26876 of 30000
Always Anti-fascist!

You should have. really tested that private coverage. But occasionally I am callous and strange. (hopefully in the service of a good cause.)


flea - Oct 18, 2009 9:49:02 am PDT #26877 of 30000
information libertarian

Women do pay higher insurance premiums (when not employer-insured), partly because of the possession of a uterus. [link]

My neighbor is an ER doc and pro health care reform. Sure, he sees a lot of idiots (ask him about home football weekends), but he also sees the kid who fell off his bike and broke his arm, and the 4 month old baby spiking a 103 fever at 3am. Okay, maybe we should prohibit 6 year olds from indulging in the dangerous lifestyle choice of no training wheels, but the baby? What did he do wrong?


Jessica - Oct 18, 2009 9:50:07 am PDT #26878 of 30000
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

What about people who play sports? They have much higher risk of -- depending on the sport -- torn ACLs, traumatic brain injury, broken bones -- should they pay higher premiums? Or are certain sports exempt?

But Tep, sports are awesome and manly! You wouldn't want to make someone pay for being extra-awesome and manly, would you??? WHY DO YOU HATE AMERICA????

My feeling is, in America even assholes get free speech. Therefore, in America, even morons deserve health care. It's a fucking civil right.


Scrappy - Oct 18, 2009 9:55:36 am PDT #26879 of 30000
Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

What Jess said.