Are you a victim, too?

“Yes, Y2, you're so good at reading people's minds. /sarc”

“Hmm, so that's a what c.1500% increase in premiums as you lose your income and move to unemployment benefit?”

“COBRA for us was about $560 per month. That sucked.”

“If I understand it correctly COBRA simply allows you to stay in the same group by having you pay the part of the premium that the employer used to pay.”

“the COBRA system rwquires you to pick up the entire tab, your own previous contribution as well as whatever the employer was contributing.”

“I'm with the same insurance company, but went with a different policy: now 350/month.

We'll see how that works out.”

“SS - it's not rocket science - Here Hyway says that the majority of in 'poverty' are in that predicament due to their choices.

“I have to disagree with that. Not all people are in their situation by no fault of their own, but the majority are. When you drop out of school you make a choice. When you decide that crime pays better than working at McDonald's, you make a choice (in reality, for most people, it doesn't pay better). When you have unprotected sex you make a choice. When you get someone pregnant and don't man up to raise the child, you make a choice. When you decide that a welfare check is better than a job, you made a choice.”
hyway
4:14:36 PM
8/28/07

He then makes a play on Tilt's line about it being a national disgrace.

“I remembered when 32 million disgraced themselves by not having insurance. Now 47 million have disgraced themselves.”
hyway
8:19:49 AM
9/04/07

I’m not sure how this is a sarcastic post – please explain it to me?

The only thing I can think is that you agree with Highway, but you’ve had your conscience pricked when confronted with how this situation might affect someone you know and like?
last edited: 9/04/07 9:41:51 AM”

“I chose a path and got mugged once. It was one of 4 paths to get home. Guess I made a choice. I apologize for filing a police report.”

“So much for 'Compassionate Conservatism'.”

“Geez Bearmagnet, what a prickly fellow you are!

And as for Tilt, well.............just go to hell!

Rev, I checked the "properties" and that was it!
I want one of those to stick on XLOL's Toyota..............or maybe across his cake hole.”

“compassion does not mean blind acceptence of big government”

“LOL
Y2 is so silly.”

“I made a choice to quit my benefits providing job and take care of my kids. My wife was self employed so no benefits package for her. Never once in the 10 years that I worked part time did we ever go without insurance. Then when our insurance premiums got so high due to our inability to shop around since my son's Down Syndrome was considered a "pre-existing condition" I, gasp, took a full time job with a company that provided free insurance for me and a rate for my family that was much lower. It was lower because as an employee the insurance company had to take my son because of the group plan.

So, you STFU, I know what it is to pay for premiums. I know what it is to be shafted by insurance companies. and instead of whining that I wasn't being taken care of from womb to tomb by Mommy Sam I did something about it.
last edited: 9/04/07 10:38:46 AM”

“I don't recall a break in your internet services.”
Sarge
12:02:16 PM
9/04/07

So judgmental....

I'm not sure if I spelled that right, but I know who will point it out if I didn't.”

“Whats wrong with what sarge said? Internet service isn't a basic need. If you get to the point where you can't pay medical premiums then cancel the non-essential items. Unless, which is more likely, you believe that not having Trail Talk is more of a challenge than getting medical service at free clinics and emergency rooms.”

“Why do Libbies always feel the need to use the 'F' word on a board open to all ages?”

“So judgmental.... - ductape

Right back atcha.”

“I can think of 10 ways to access TT without paying an internet bill.”

“Oh come on SS, I learned that word my first day of kindergarten on the school bus form another kindergartener. ;-)”

““I can think of 10 ways to access TT without paying an internet bill.” - ductape

That doesn't mean he did.”

“.... forgetting about all of the Personal Responsibility Crowd who post from work --- at taxpayer or stockholder expense.”

“What does that have to do with going without healthcare so you can have internet access?”

“That doesn't mean he did.”
Sarge
1:52:53 PM
9/04/07

It doesn't mean anything really, does it?

Reading your comment, it just sounded like you've already gone through his finances and judged his decisions.”

“Reading your comment, it just sounded like you've already gone through his finances and judged his decisions.

Or, I read his post, and I know he posted on here during the period in question. There's a great chance he paid for internet while he was considering dropping his healthcare. It's simple really. Nothing magic about it.”

“Hey tiltypoo! Turned in any peeps to their employers yet, as you threatened?”

“Why can't we judge his financial decisions, he was the one who used his own situation to support that people can't afford insurance.”

“- and wants us to pay for it as a consequence.”

“Once you get into the uncomfortable area of financial hardship, keeping one or two things that give you comfort ends up saving your sanity. When I was a door-to-door collection agent for Comcast I can't count the number of times the customer told me they were going to cut off their phone service and/or healthcare and/or something else important... just to keep the cable.

On the face of it, it sounds really dumb and at the time I thought they were all stupid. Looking back I see how it was probably the only good thing going for them at the time.”

“That's very true. It's also a good indication of the mindset of the people who "think" they are in poverty.”

“making personal choices on what you need to survive isn't the issue here. Its making those choices and expecting someone else to pay for you the things you don't value enough to pay for yourself that is the issue.”

“Reminds me - I used to get furious when I worked at a store. People would come in literally with food stamps in one hand, and cash in the other. They'd buy over priced food with the food stamps, then buy cigarettes with the cash.

Why are we supporting people's smoking habits?

If you receive public assistance, drop the habit or loose your assistance. Also drop the cable, video games, magazine subscriptions, movie nights, restaurant visits, etc etc...”

“Again, on the surface its easy to say "drop all extras", but from a psychological standpoint its necessary. Even credit counselors and bankruptcy courts allow for some money in the "entertainment & extra" category, recognizing that absolutely no one can live like a monk - except a monk.”

“Honestly, most credit counselors I've known are morons. Bankruptcy courts are ... government.”

“WWJD?”

“He'd give from himself without being forced by the government.”

“I guess alcohol and tobacco are now libbie constitutional rights for 'poor' people.”

“I am sure he would pay your cable bill for you.”

“Hey Jesus ... can you spare a cigarette and some money for lotto?”

“The USA has the very fattest 'poor' people on earth.”

“I wonder if he'd be as harshly judgmental?”

“Who is judging? I'm just saying I don't want to live in a country where everybody "else" has to pay for people's cigarette and Playboy channel habits. That's using reason, not being judgmental.

I hope we don't have to live in a country where it's wrong to question our government's spending habits because it might be interpreted as "judging" somebody, and therefore offensive. Is that what you want?”

“Nimblefoot - if I open up a P.O. Box, will you send me a certified check for $2,000?

If you want to know how I'm going to spend it, I'll tell ya - but I don't think you care about such things, right?

Let me know and we'll talk.”

“What part of being able to afford $40 for internet but not $500 for health insurance don't you understand.”

“



Who knows what re-spon-si-bil-i-ty means class?



last edited: 9/04/07 12:09:42 PM”

“I understand that I would let it drop along with my cable, watch yard sale videos and mow my neighbors lawn before I left my family unprotected.”

“you forgot a pony.
I want a pony too.”

“Put me down for 2 government provided ponies.

I'm gonna need a monthly check to buy the food and vet care they will need.
last edited: 9/04/07 12:17:28 PM”

“LOL....I love it!!! This subject came up at a meeting today and a girl said, "you guys keep talking about freedom from Government control, but without the government where would the virtue of helping the poor be?"


Okay is there anyone here who does not understand you can't HAVE virtue withOUT freedom?

Oh and guys, the husband dropped the FAMILY insurance (I know the company he works for) but is still covered under the "free" company insurance.”

“Ok, I spell it out for you.

Lose your job with insurance. Take waiting jub in big US city taking home $2k a month if you're lucky.

1K a month in rent that you are contracted to.
$200 on bills
$100 on metro to work
Say you have a couple of credit cards with a few hundred dollars on, $100 a month.
where are we there - $600 left.
Food, damn that food bill, $200-$250 a month (you need to shop at more expensive store that are in the city)
Where are we, $350 left?

Cobra costs $500, maybe you can shift things around to cut back on food, but you'll have no money left for even mailing job applications, or getting to the job interview.

You remain in the city because it offers the best chance of a new job.

So you skip the Cobra - you'll get a job with insurance soon. Leaves you $350 a month to live on and to cover any emergency that comes up. With that you pay for internet. You're using it for research and because you work when the library is open. Maybe you even want to keep a phone so a potential employer can call you.”