"We are now a socialist country"

[^_^ 5,021]

So which is?

It is what it always has been. Greed.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

My employer pays 25%. I believe the private sector average is in the mid-20s.

On average, employees pay 30% for family and 20% for single coverage while employers shoulder 70% and 80%, respectively, of the premium costs. If you work for a company that pays a mere 15% or 25%, then you better be getting paid a higher salary.

[^_^ 5,021]

On average, employees pay 30% for family and 20% for single coverage while employers shoulder 70% and 80%, respectively, of the premium costs. If you work for a company that pays a mere 15% or 25%, then you better be getting paid a higher salary.

If average is 30%, then I'm not sure 25% is "mere". 5% isn't exactly a lot.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If average is 30%, then I'm not sure 25% is "mere". 5% isn't exactly a lot.

If the average employee pays roughly 25% of the premium cost (30% for family or 20% for single) and you work for an employer that has you pay 75%, then the gap is 50% rather than 5%. You're getting fcuked.

Edited September 28, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog

[^_^ 5,021]

Ok I'm sorry. My employer pays 75%, I pay 25%. That's what I meant to say. I keep screwing this up.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ok I'm sorry. My employer pays 75%, I pay 25%. That's what I meant to say. I keep screwing this up.

Have some more coffee.

[^_^ 5,021]

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

At a staff meeting at my wife's place of employment yesterday, they were informed of major changes to their company-sponsored healthcare.

For the last two decades or so, employees with 15 years of seniority or more were eligible for a more generous cost-sharing arrangement with their employer. The school pays about 15% of premium cost for employees with less than 15 years of seniority, while those with 15+ years get 45% paid by the employer. Both groups of employees have access to the same set of plans (no HMO or POS, just 3 varieties of PPOs).

Starting 2011, all employees are going to have 15% of the share of premium-cost paid by the employee. Given the fact that insurance premiums have been rising steadily for years, that this would happen eventually is not very surprising. What is surprising, however, is how they spun it to their employees.

The school manager arrived at the meeting and was yielded the floor by the principal. The manager proceeds to inform the group of teachers and admin staff that "thanks to those of you who voted for the current administration, we are now a socialist country". The manager then decided to educate the group of people on what socialism means. He says, and this is verbatim according to my wife - "in a socalist country, we are no longer allowed to treat those of you who have worked harder and longer any better than a new hire." As he said this, the principal stood next to him with an exaggerated sadness to her face. She then stood up to the mic and with a trembling voice told everyone she'd love to be able to treat her senior employees better but "unfortunately in a socialist country I am no longer allowed to do that."

As is typical for that group of employees, no one said anything. No one asked any questions. That would never happen where I work, but my wife tells me that level of docility is normal there.

Do those of you who hate Obamacare condone scare tactics and lies like this?

That school manager wouldn't have been able to say that if it were a public school.

[Heracles 417]

It is what it always has been. Greed.

Sounds like it's whichever suits one's point of view.

The fundamental of socialism is to bring [not-for-profit] low cost services, at the expense of filthy wealthy greed [profit]. Yet we are now being told by the Christie lovers, that socialism is resulting in increased prices. That basically contradicts the point of socialism - it's moronic.

The same people who do not want a NHS, now cunningly complain about the cost of the private or nothing US system. What did they expect? The fact is, that NHS not only costs about 1/3 to 1/4 the price of the private US system, but also delivers equivalent or even better results.

Edited September 28, 2010 by Heracles

[^_^ 5,021]

That school manager wouldn't have been able to say that if it were a public school.

In all fairness, if it were a public school they'd be unabashedly Democratic. You know how those unions roll.

... NHS not only costs about 1/3 to 1/4 the price of the private US system, but also delivers equivalent or even better results.

Don't say that too loud, you might give some of your readers a heart attack.

[Gemmie 142]

The fundamental of socialism is to bring [not-for-profit] low cost services, at the expense of filthy wealthy greed [profit]. Yet we are now being told by the Christie lovers, that socialism is resulting in increased prices. That basically contradicts the point of socialism - it's moronic.

Agreed, I know people that are die-hard Conservatives and every time the subject of socialist health care came up, they would launch into a huff about why they can't afford that (higher taxes). Yet when they ran into a sudden need for health care, they were the first to complain about the cost of insurance and how little it even covered. So which is it?

[^_^ 5,021]

Agreed, I know people that are die-hard Conservatives and every time the subject of socialist health care came up, they would launch into a huff about why they can't afford that (higher taxes). Yet when they ran into a sudden need for health care, they were the first to complain about the cost of insurance and how little it even covered. So which is it?

You should remind them that if they got sick, they must have deserved it. Frankly, seeking out medical care to stave off the death you deserve is un-American.

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

In all fairness, if it were a public school they'd be unabashedly Democratic. You know how those unions roll.

If that school manager had said that in a public school, there would have actually been some teachers challenging him outloud, instead of acting like silent lambs.

[^_^ 5,021]

If that school manager had said that in a public school, there would have actually been some teachers challenging him outloud, instead of acting like silent lambs.

If the CIO at the non-unionized private sector company I work for said that, there would be people challenging him outloud. There is something strange about this particular school. I've met some of the teachers she works with, they're nice and cordial but I get the sense they're not actually human.

[Heracles 417]

If that school manager had said that in a public school, there would have actually been some teachers challenging him outloud, instead of acting like silent lambs.

Ironically speech protected by tenure. Tenure allows teachers to speak up against BS or idiotic parents and not fear their jobs.

I could tell my manager to go #### him self and ..... yet can acquire a new job without much drama. Due to the nature of teaching, a teacher who loses their job for something like that, would basically have to quit the industry.