America's No. 1 Killer: Cardiovascular Disease. How Americanized do you really want to become?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

That doesn't sound legally watertight, Shani...

Which, in a nutshell, is short for bankruptcy or death. Exactly what I said before, and exactly what you denied you were saying

You said death, not bankruptcy. You asked about death not bankruptcy.

when did I deny someone should file bankruptcy? bankruptcy? where does this stuff come from? If someone has a poor health lifestyle and it results in big medical bills, NO he should not die...YES he sould pay them or he should file bankruptcy. what is the problem with this now? If one incurs high expense and cannot pay for it, then a bankruptcy will insue. And what?

Edited February 21, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[Peikko 1,575]

Presumably oh clever one, the reason why did you not ever buy health insurance was because you took that gamble that you could live your life without having to pay for any expensive surgery not because of some ideological rationale that wouldn't make sense to the pragmatic person. You lost that gamble and now you likely can't afford the premiums. Had you paid into an American health insurance scheme, the chances are you still would pay less in your life time for all your treatments, assuming you didn't get caught in some legal loop hole. However, I can guarentee that you would definitely have paid less in a universal health care system, you wouldn't have been waiting for an insurer to 'approve you' and you would still have $130,000 in the bank while not penalising those paying health insurance to boot.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

You are introducing a bunch of silly tangents in order to cover up for that fact that all those who pay into health insurance contribute towards your health care. You do not pay your way as you seem to believe so stop trying to bludgeon everyone with your stella personal responsibilty.

YOU introduced tangents. I merely acknowledged my thankfuness for their existance. For example, it would be a very difficult place to live were it not for the dysfunctional Canadian health care system right nearby creating all this good medical care on THIS side of the border.

[Peikko 1,575]

You said death, not bankruptcy. You asked about death not bankruptcy.

when did I deny someone should file bankruptcy? bankruptcy? where does this stuff come from? If someone has a poor health lifestyle and it results in big medical bills, NO he should not die...YES he sould pay them or he should file bankruptcy. what is the problem with this now? If one incurs high expense and cannot pay for it, then a bankruptcy will insue. And what?

Someone pays, responsible people pay, those that pay into the flawed system as it stands, those who would like a much better system that doesn't result in insolvency should one get sick.

YOU introduced tangents. I merely acknowledged my thankfuness for their existance. For example, it would be a very difficult place to live were it not for the dysfunctional Canadian health care system right nearby creating all this good medical care on THIS side of the border.

You are thankful for the existence of tangents? How emminently practical.

[Ali G. 37]

YOU introduced tangents. I merely acknowledged my thankfuness for their existance. For example, it would be a very difficult place to live were it not for the dysfunctional Canadian health care system right nearby creating all this good medical care on THIS side of the border.

What about France or Japan's system? Are they dysfunctional too?

Ultimately, does the reality that no other first world nation having the US style system not mean anything to you?

Edited February 21, 2010 by Booyah

[Peikko 1,575]

watch out gary, someone's dug out the caps lock.

Are moderators encouraged to indulge in baiting as well? Good to know.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Presumably oh clever one, the reason why did you not ever buy health insurance was because you took that gamble that you could live your life without having to pay for any expensive surgery not because of some ideological rationale that wouldn't make sense to the pragmatic person. You lost that gamble and now you likely can't afford the premiums. Had you paid into an American health insurance scheme, the chances are you still would pay less in your life time for all your treatments, assuming you didn't get caught in some legal loop hole. However, I can guarentee that you would definitely have paid less in a universal health care system, you wouldn't have been waiting for an insurer to 'approve you' and you would still have $130,000 in the bank while not penalising those paying health insurance to boot.

Exactly, I was duly punished for my unhealthy lifestyle and bad financial choices (just like I tell shani) and you should feel sorry for me for losing all that money due to no fault of my own, right? But, yet, strangley, you have no compassion for someone that pays for themself. wierd. It is preposterous to suggest I would still have an additional $178,000 (I do not know where the $130,000 figure comes from) in the bank if we had universal health care to confiscate it from my earnings. Are you serious? Do you really think universal health care is free? Do you believe in fairy tales? Leprechauns? Man made Global warming? You think wealthy people (and I am not wealthy) will pay for their heallthcare AND your healthcare and still have all their money in te bank?

Many pragmatic people provide their own insurance...that is why we have tax sheltered Health savings Accounts (HSAs), it wasn't for me alone that legislation was passed. In fact, I not only saved all the premiums all those years, I saved 50% on the medical bill (an insured person would likely still be liable for 20%) AND saved ALL the tax I would have paid on that money I earned by putting it in an HSA instead. I am SOOOOOOO stupid sometimes, aren't I? I have no clue how I even dress myself. And I can still pay educational costs at top private colleges for two students, own my home and cars payment free and work part itme to do it. I am such an idiot, yes? And now I will be considered conceited for pointng your erros with facts. Better that we just live in a fantasy world and leave it at that, right? Obama will save me soon. I hope.

and then I will retire early and live off the interest until I croak off and leave the rest to my hot, hot Russian wife. Life is a b1tch...and then you die! Do you feel sorry for me now?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I own two paid for houses. In two countries. whichever country I am in when I run out of cash, I will live in that house. Why would I live in a box? worse case i would do without electricity, but why would I run out of cash? I mean this is getting silly now.

What bothers people so much about someone being independent? Does it really offend you I do not need the government teat?

We humans are social animals and in the animal kingdom, social animals rely on one another for survival. Maybe you should have been born as one of those loner animals like a crocodile? Well, even the croc enjoys a symbiotic relationship with certain birds. Also, I'd like to know if you as a croc actually paid for the swamp you swim and hunt for food in?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

What about France or Japan's system? Are they dysfunctional too?

Ultimately, does the reality that no other first world nation having the US style system not mean anything to you?

Don't know. Don't care. Has no effect on me. There is no demand in northern Vermont to provide medical care to French and Japanese people. why are we discussing that? I stated a fact. we have much more health care available here that the population of the area would normally demand because of a huge monstronsity of dysfunctional healthcare in Canada just a few minutes away. You do not have to like it. It is a fact. I am thankful for it. The healthcare facilities here operate for a profit, they make a profit because Canadians come and pay the going rate in US dollars for their services, rather than wait for them fo rfree in Canada. Deal with it. I'm just the messenger.

If you wish to explain some other country's system, then do so. My guess is that Japan, being an island, and France, otherwise surrounded by other socialist health systems, have no choice. Canadians have a choice. They have a very functional free market based health system 30 minutes drive (or less) from their homes. They make good use of it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We humans are social animals and in the animal kingdom, social animals rely on one another for survival. Maybe you should have been born as one of those loner animals like a crocodile? Well, even the croc enjoys a symbiotic relationship with certain birds. Also, I'd like to know if you as a croc actually paid for the swamp you swim and hunt for food in?

Actually I live on an island. It is surrounded by a lake, not a swamp. a very beautiful lake, crystal clear and surrounded by mountains on both sides. Really beautful. I choose to make this one of my homes because it is beautiful and I can live wherever I want and pay for it. Yes I paid for the land I attach my pier to and fish from. I paid the rate for lakefront property. So, yes, I paid for that. Also, yesterday I bought a new boat...a big one. It was sold at auction, seized from drug dealers running that good Canadian hydroponic pot into Vermont on MY lake...can you believe it? I wrote a check for the boat too. Super deal. Front Cabin, sleeps four, full canvas, with trailer. Alla is going to look SOOOOO good stretched out in the sun on that deck this summer. Damn I am glad I didn't die when I had the heart attack. Aren't you? I will fish from it this summer. Aren't you happy for me? Oh #######, now you will say I am conceited for answering your questions.

Due to paying for my own medical though, I am forced into buying big boats in US Marshal auctions rather than retail. Dammit. Oh well, the price you pay for an unhealthy lifestyle.

[Anh map 2,098]

Gary I am pretty sure that you allowed me to order cheese on my lunch. Therefore you will be billed accordingly when the medical consequences of that meal come due. You should have slapped the offending bits off my sandwich!

And don't try to mitigate your responsibility by saying that you encouraged me to order Diet Coke.

[Peikko 1,575]

Exactly, I was duly punished for my unhealthy lifestyle and bad financial choices (just like I tell shani) and you should feel sorry for me for losing all that money due to no fault of my own, right? But, yet, strangley, you have no compassion for someone that pays for themself. wierd. It is preposterous to suggest I would still have an additional $178,000 (I do not know where the $130,000 figure comes from) in the bank if we had universal health care to confiscate it from my earnings. Are you serious? Do you really think universal health care is free? Do you believe in fairy tales? Leprechauns? Man made Global warming? You think wealthy people (and I am not wealthy) will pay for their heallthcare AND your healthcare and still have all their money in te bank?

Many pragmatic people provide their own insurance...that is why we have tax sheltered Health savings Accounts (HSAs), it wasn't for me alone that legislation was passed. In fact, I not only saved all the premiums all those years, I saved 50% on the medical bill (an insured person would likely still be liable for 20%) AND saved ALL the tax I would have paid on that money I earned by putting it in an HSA instead. I am SOOOOOOO stupid sometimes, aren't I? I have no clue how I even dress myself. And I can still pay educational costs at top private colleges for two students, own my home and cars payment free and work part itme to do it. I am such an idiot, yes? And now I will be considered conceited for pointng your erros with facts. Better that we just live in a fantasy world and leave it at that, right? Obama will save me soon. I hope.

and then I will retire early and live off the interest until I croak off and leave the rest to my hot, hot Russian wife. Life is a b1tch...and then you die! Do you feel sorry for me now?

Why do you insist on personalizing this? I don't feel sorry for you, I don't envy you, I don't give to hoots about you personally. However the generic you, the people like you are part of the reason why perfectly responsible, reasonable and rational people are having to pay more for health care than is reasonable or rational. Eradicate all the emotional clap trap from your posts and you got nothing Gary, boohoo.

[Fandango 1,440]

Everyone's getting really stupid by nitpicking Gary on his personal choices. Calling him a sponge is completely out of line.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Someone pays, responsible people pay, those that pay into the flawed system as it stands, those who would like a much better system that doesn't result in insolvency should one get sick.

You are thankful for the existence of tangents? How emminently practical.

I am a practical guy. I look for good return on investment. I find ways to save money, yes. OMG more problems! I just realized what I said. Sorry.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Gary I am pretty sure that you allowed me to order cheese on my lunch. Therefore you will be billed accordingly when the medical consequences of that meal come due. You should have slapped the offending bits off my sandwich!

And don't try to mitigate your responsibility by saying that you encouraged me to order Diet Coke.

Diet coke negates cheese, they cancel each other out. I quit smoking, so I no longer pay all that tax. OH NO!!!!! More bad things I do...I reduced my tax by quitting smoking! NOW who will pay? I am sponging again!

LOL and we ate at "Big Fatty's Bar-B-Q" And I would do it AGAIN, just to thumb my nose at the healthcare Gods! Walk on the Wild side...have a pulled prok sandwich!