jasonxctf

here's what i dont understand... why wouldn't creating a very, very, very generic basic plan, that has high deductibles that would really only be used in emergency situations for all citizens be a bad idea? Then you and i can go to a BCBS or Humana, etc and buy riders that would cover us the way that we'd like to be covered. So the govt basic plan, would cover anyone/everyone who say gets into a car accident and has no other insurance. (but not for day-to-day stuff) That eliminates those uninsured rolling into emergency rooms without insurance and getting jacked on costs that gets passed along to taxpayers. This plan, the govt would not manage but coordinate and sell off into pools with existing insurance companies. (basically allowing all citizens to buy in bulk at lower costs.) Then, either employers or individuals would get rider insurance to cover things like Dentist Costs, Periodic Checkups, General Practioner Stuff, Flus/Colds, OBGYN, etc. At the end of the day, everyone is insured for the catastrophic stuff that costs the most. We still have individual control to get better plans, upgrades, riders to provide us with the coverage we all want.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Mar 9, 2010 -> 03:35 AM) $710 billion wasted on Iraq. Makes me sick to my stomach. Taxpayers in Congressional District 14 (Foster) will pay $2.5 billion for total Iraq war spending since 2003. For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided: 1,047,264 People with Health Care for One Year OR 51,586 Public Safety Officers for One year OR 43,725 Music and Arts Teachers for One Year OR 253,699 Scholarships for University Students for One Year OR 451,722 Students receiving Pell Grants of $5550 OR 18,177 Affordable Housing Units OR 1,727,741 Children with Health Care for One Year OR 371,086 Head Start Places for Children for One Year OR 38,533 Elementary School Teachers for One Year OR 3,333,958 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Feb 27, 2010 -> 03:18 PM) http://www.costofwar.com/ $710 billion wasted on Iraq. Makes me sick to my stomach.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Mar 8, 2010 -> 08:38 PM) I actually think the DNC was really worried by Palin because I bet they had little to nothing on her. Remember, Plain hurt herself more than the DNC hurt her. on a side note, read the book Game Change. Awesome insight into the 2008 election. Including some crazy stories about Palin.

both her and Romney. Whomever runs will be hit with the flip-flop alligations, (aka Kerry)

QUOTE (Stocking @ Feb 28, 2010 -> 07:33 AM) This. Thx for the thoughts too. Kailua? lihue, marriott beach club.

im here right now. In Kaluai. Outstanding prep job done by everyone. (hotels, emergency response, governor, etc) I've never seen everyone so calm during the sh*tstorm, I was convinced was coming. Landed last night. Woke up at 4am, ran around the hotel trying to buy every bottle of water/food that I could. I was convinced we were going to be evacuated to shelter.

gotta love Captain Jenks

QUOTE (lostfan @ Feb 25, 2010 -> 01:21 AM) The answer to your question is no. so do puerto rico citizens (business or personal) pay any federal taxes? To say, cover their portion of military protection costs?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 09:53 PM) The big problem is your numbers are WAY off. The average income PER FAMILY down there is 27k. They have a near 50% poverty rate. That is from their tourist page http://welcome.topuertorico.org/economy.shtml fair point.

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 22, 2010 -> 08:03 PM) I'd rather the market dictated the rates, but that doesn't seem to be working. lack of competition plus i suspect a backroom cartel to a certain extent. (think airlines back in the 70's)

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 10:07 PM) If you are making $20k, you aren't paying federal income taxes. 15% average too. Obviously those with taxable incomes of $200k or more, are in the 25-33% range too.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 10:07 PM) If you are making $20k, you aren't paying federal income taxes. key word was taxable income. thus you're probably making $35k or so before deductions. (mortgage interest, property taxes, student loan deductions, etc)

do they pay federal income taxes in Puerto Rico? I would guess no, since their House Rep is a non-voting member and they can't vote in Presidential elections or have a senator. 4 million people x Avg Taxable Income of $20,000/person x 15% taxable Rate= $12 billion in Federal Tax Income (not to mention corporate taxes)

never realized how large the population was in Puerto Rico. If made a state, its population would rank #27. (in between Kentucky and Oregon)

QUOTE (Tex @ Feb 24, 2010 -> 07:35 PM) How is the Senate unequal? unequal representation. California= 37 million residents, 2 senators. Wyoming= 522 thousand residents, 2 senators. i think that was the point he was making. thus the difference between the house and senate.

funny you posted that. I was just saying to a co-worker today, that the Marines are really kicking butt recently in Afghanistan. Didn't they just capture #2 Al Qaeda in Pakistan too?

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Feb 19, 2010 -> 08:43 PM) http://www.rollcall.com/news/43349-1.html?...a:&st=email Another R gain, eventually, but maybe only temporarily. political suicide for a republican governor in a democratic state, to appoint a republican interim if something happens. he'll be Robert Byrd/Tim Johnson/Ed Kennedy'd.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 19, 2010 -> 01:55 AM) You are right. Leaving the country completely vulnerable to attack is way worse. you mean the Detroit Underwear Bomber?

Funny to see the similarities here... Reagan takes office Jan/Feb 81. 12 months later, the unemployment rate has risen 1.5%. (7.4-8.9%) GWB takes office Jan/Feb 01. 12 months later, the unemployment rate has risen 1.5%. (4.2-5.7%) Obama takes office Jan/Feb 09. 12 months later, the unemployment rate has risen 1.5%. (8.2-9.7%) Now there is a difference between the time it takes for the rates to start to decline. Reagan- Started at 7.4%. Peaks at 10.8% 23 months later. Rate starts its continual decline 24 months after inaug. GWB- Started at 4.2%. Peaks at 6.3%, 28 months later. Rate declines for next 24 months before plateau and taking off again. Obama- Started at 8.2%. Peaks at 10.1% 9 months later.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 19, 2010 -> 02:07 AM) The Dems have no problem ignoring the recession Bill Clinton left Bush and 9-11 when they talk about the Repubs wasting the "BIGGEST SURPLUS EVER"... who was left in a better situation... GWB after Clinton or Obama after GWB enough said.

asshole

Empire State Manufacturing Index Jumps To 24.9 In February 5 hours ago (RTTNews) - Conditions for New York manufacturers improved at a healthy pace in February, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on Tuesday, with the index of regional manufacturing activity rising by much more than anticipated. The New York Fed said its index of activity in the manufacturing sector rose to 24.9 in February from 15.9 in January, with a positive reading indicating growth in the sector. Economists had been expecting a more modest increase by the index to a reading of 18.0.

do you think that Rick Perry, or the 20% odd percentage of the GOP voters who want to secede from the US knows that they can't secede? In deciding the merits of the bond issue, the Supreme Court further held that the Constitution did not permit states to secede from the United States, and that the ordinances of secession, and all the acts of the legislatures within seceding states intended to give effect to such ordinances, were "absolutely null".

QUOTE (ChWRoCk2 @ Feb 11, 2010 -> 02:08 AM) This seems like the appropriate thread to post this, and I don't feel like starting my own. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010_swim...cket/?eref=sihp My Final Four: Refaeli 07 Nemcova 06 Diaz-Rahi 02 Patrick 09 Final 2: Refaeli 07 Diaz-Rahi 02 Winner: Refaeli 07 Final 4 Refaeli 07 Klum 98 Pestova 95 Brinkley 80 Final 2 Refaeli 07 Klum 98 Winner Refaeli 07