There was never a day when I didn't know our health care system was fucked up. After my sister was born with CP and epilepsy, my parents squeezed every penny to pay for her care. Insurance from my dad's work covered hospitalization, but nothing else. My parents were audited once for medical bills, and after my dad went into the audit with all the receipts, the tax person looked them over, said, "I'm very sorry," and that was that.

We had a minister once who clearly believed that we had done something wrong, somehow, to have so many medical problems. Then he fell and broke his leg in six places. My mother just barely restrained herself from asking him what he did to deserve that.

The only people who can believe that we don't need government-paid health care and a safety net are the wealthy and people who think their children will all be healthy; they'll never have an accident; the company president will never abscond with millions and bankrupt the company they work for; and that lightning never strikes anyone.

Dana, I am so sorry about your husband's lay-off and wish him strength and peace to get through the funeral.

Steph that guy also said he'd stop arguing with me since I wasn't smart enough to understand how the world works.

People Moving to Canada Because of Obamacare

I assumed that was an onion article until I clicked. Wow

I seem to no longer be friends with republicans (at least, those who care/post on fb) as mine was just page after page of yay after the decision. And one person anticipating his feed being very split.

So sorry about the layoff, Dana. I hope he's able to take the time to find an awesome job somewhere cool?

I am with Sparky--though I might prefer to be Nina Totenburg over Dahlia Lithwick....

And I know several people who are outraged that they ahve to have car insurance, because they're terrific drivers. And car registration is just a way for the government to monitor you.

At least they're consistent in their paranoia?

Steph that guy also said he'd stop arguing with me since I wasn't smart enough to understand how the world works.

Ahahahahaha! He did you a favor. Life is too short to listen to ridiculous bullshit.

Dana, I'm sorry.

So the salutatorian(who is going to Stanford, has a JPL internship and is a Gates Millennium Scholar) has a dad who says she's a "loser" because she isn't the best??? Fun family, I'll bet.

So the salutatorian(who is going to Stanford, has a JPL internship and is a Gates Millennium Scholar) has a dad who says she's a "loser" because she isn't the best??? Fun family, I'll bet.

Now that I skimmed the article, I am more confused as she had a 4.5 GPA and the valedictorian had a 4.55?

Also, how do you have higher than a 4.0 (which is perfect?)

I worked with a student who took a large number of math classes at my university while he was in high school and received As in all of them, which is our highest grade. Since he was using these to fulfill his math requirement, they were also transferred back into the high school, but their A equivalent was a 95, so it actually lowered his GPA and he was salutatorian. That seemed ridiculous, and I even sent a letter and a copy of our student handbook explaining that A was the highest possible grade he could get, but the school board of his district would not give in. He and his family were very gracious, though, and did not threaten to sue.

Just in case anyone was wondering about phys ed in the People's Republic of Cambridge, I'm pretty sure my gym classes were pass/fail.

The grades are probably weighted so that AP Classes and the like are worth more than regular classes.

This was sort of an issue my senior year. Other classes had weighted grades (I think that's the right term) so that AP English counts as more than an regular English class and AP Chemistry counts more than a basic biology classes.

My school did not do that. One students AP Chemistry counted the same as my basic biology class or their AP Trig 9(or whatever math class) counted the same as my geometry class.

This became an issue because the student ranked 3rd in the class did not have any AP or Advanced classes. She was just in regular classes and got good grades. But I kinda knew her and I knew she worked hard for her grades, she just wan't as the same level.

The people ranked under her that took more advanced classes were pissed off.

My gym classes had a grade. I was happy to get a B.

Sophia, often now classes are weighted for honors or AP or whatever.