Phi for All

I don't think I can do a better job of ridiculing that analogy than you've done just by posting it. I'll let it speak for itself. But this part that you liked, "Because health care is something we might all need some day in an emergency"? I'm very happy that you and your family enjoy such fantastic health that you only need health insurance for emergencies. I truly hope that no one you love has any health problems, but I want you to know that I'm completely willing to pay a nominal amount in taxes, with the risks spread out among millions of my fellow taxpayers, to make sure that your family, especially your kids, are covered by a single-payer insurance policy that won't deny them when they need it most. And I'm probably like you, I haven't had much to do with doctors and hospitals in my life, thank goodness. But to me, good health is such a basic necessity of modern life, like clean drinking water, roads, libraries and education, that I'm willing to do my part as an American to help all of us enjoy living and prospering in this great country. We can pull together or we can pull ourselves apart. Yes, they are. From their website, regarding their president, John C. Goodman: Does John sound impartial and objective to you?

Scattered thoguhts. Scattered tohugsth. Scattered shottugh. Scattered ghosthut. Thoughts about ghosthut. Scattered ones.

Does switching the wallets mean that now man A's wallet belongs to man B? If so, then switching completely changes the focus of the original bet. And if switching means man B no longer has access to the other things in his wallet besides money, then he shouldn't take the bet. He needs his ID. Also, man A specified "money", which is different than "cash". A platinum credit card or a bank debit card represents a lot of "money", technically. And riddles sometimes depend on technicalities.

Auto, home, even life insurance put a fixed dollar amount on what is being insured. Health insurance can't do that. How can we know what will happen to us health-wise? This is why I think health insurance should NOT be part of a private, market-based business model. There are way too many conflicts of interest there. So, people who disagree with you get rude comments instead of conversation? Are you feeling hateful about this community too?

I would like to know the exact methodology used to determine "the way the cookie crumbles".

I think I've heard this very cusp before.

Needless to say,

As iNow points out, this analogy is beyond flawed. The success enjoyed by other countries with national healthcare systems is not a fictional entertainment, it's a well-documented fact. And the point is not to "set our standards by the rest of the world", the point is that when you're having trouble with something, it's wise to look to others who've been successful and learn from them, see what they're doing right and adapt it to your own situation. We aren't too proud to admit we can learn from foreigners, are we? Is that the problem here, that as Americans we must do everything from scratch with no help from outsiders? If so, we are wasting one of the most valuable resources we've worked so hard for, the ability to pool our knowledge with the rest of the world to make us even better.

Some people have a talent that they aren't interested in cultivating using the combination iNow mentions above (although I agree with his list). For those who truly utilize their talent, I would add a fair amount of drive and determination to what he said. Natural ability combined with a desire to cultivate that ability don't necessarily go hand in hand. I often wonder if privilege doesn't dampen this kind of desire. How many musical prodigies had everything they needed at their disposal and how many had to expend a great deal of effort just to find someone to let them practice on their piano? I think desire is stronger when there is a struggle.

+1. Can I use this in my signature, please?

I think you're letting one aspect of our system blind you to all the good it does. For every lazy slob on the dole their are many people who truly need the help that only a national risk pool can accomplish. As JohnB points out, this system we have is SO broken that it ends up inflicting more harm than cures. Just like birth control having an 18-year delayed effect on adult crime statistics, the focus on profit and power that politicians and corporate interests and conflicted private insurance carriers has had a cumulative effect on how our social programs are viewed by the people. Notice how our wars give us more enemies, our prisons give us more felons and our lack of healthcare benefits gives us more indigent people sitting in the ERs? Oh, but that's the absolute MOST inefficient way to care for people! It costs taxpayers in the US in more ways than just money to support an emergency-only type of healthcare.

If insurance was part of your employment contract, your employer would be in breach if he tried to drop it. If your contract was up for renewal, and your employer tried to remove it, wouldn't you negotiate for more wages to cover the costs? I'll try this one last time. What is it about the major US employers that makes you think they're so generous as to give such an expensive "gift" to all their employees? Why didn't the bean-counters talk them into dropping such an obvious "gift" along with less expensive "gifts" like Christmas bonuses and birthday lunches?

This thread is about how belief in the supernatural (things that are beyond what can be directly observed in nature) affected our survival capabilities through natural selection. I don't think an attempt to discredit natural selection is particularly on topic or appropriate here. Further, I don't see how morality in society comes into play either. I might be misreading the OP, but it seems as though we're talking about humans at a stage before civilization truly began. I also consider your statement about natural selection being "a dangerous idea in the hands of the stupid" to be extremely uncivil and uncalled for. I'm reporting your post for this reason.

You came to the right place. Welcome!

Believing in things you can't see did provide a level of defense for hunter/gatherer humans. If you always imagined there was a lion in every shadow, you survived longer than those who didn't because sometimes there were lions in the shadows.

You should start another thread about tort reform. I'd love to tell you why that's something else the corporate world has been salivating over lately. And why it's complete and utter bullshit. As to tort reform as it relates to healthcare, litigation costs and malpractice insurance only account for between 1 to 1.5 percent of total medical costs, according to insurance industry consultants Towers Perrin. It is not even close to being a major driver of high healthcare costs. You also shouldn't use Texas to support your arguments here. Your lack of regulations keep your insurance costs very high, you have the highest number of minimum wage workers in the US, you have the highest number of uninsured people in the US, and you rank #1 in adults without high school diplomas in the US. I'm sure you're different Justin, but it's easier to pull wool over the eyes of those who don't know any better. Edit: Rick Perry's Texas tort reform only helped reduce doctor's malpractice insurance. So far, insurance for the patients hasn't gone down, so who did Rick Perry really help? Your insurance costs are higher than national average, despite having tort reform for the last nine years. What kind of big impact are you talking about? http://wendellpotter.com/2011/09/the-mythical-benefits-of-tort-reform-in-texas/

Thanks. I've said this same thing half a dozen different ways now to no avail. I suspect I've been accidentally speaking Greek and someone forgot his Babel Fish. There are some companies that give "gifts" to their employees. Free coffee, an employee picnic, a Christmas party maybe. The way to tell if it's a gift or not is to check your employment contract. When it's in writing, like a paid parking permit or your medical insurance benefits, it's not a gift.

People used to be responsible for providing the overland route to travel by car from coast to coast. Just over the past half a century it was decided that we could pool national taxes and build the Interstate Highway System, shortening the time and expense for EVERYONE who travels. The measure passed because Americans felt they deserved it, it was much more efficient and it saved resources, not that they were entitled to it. (Almost) everyone I know calls that progress.

Niiiice. +1

The notification may be possible. I seem to recall getting messages via the notification system on reputation changes when we first switched to the new software. I can't remember if the link took you to the post in question or not, but I think it did. Perhaps this got switched off somehow.

I'm amused that you see this as substantiation. Everyone thinks your arguments are mere proselytizing except you.

I find this argument extremely hypocritical. You attempt to refute what has been explained to you by misconstruing it completely. You upbraid us for not having moral courage when you yourself haven't bothered to study what you criticize. You encourage us to think and act differently when it's abundantly clear you have no concept of what the norm in science is. I suggest you first look up what evidence means to science. Second, reread what others have written here in your thread, there have been many constructive criticisms. And third, please don't assume that what others have worked their entire lives on is mere assumptions. Established science represents the best explanations for various phenomena a planet full of clever people have found.

I think efficiency would be determined by the device that uses it. As we found with gasoline, when we have an abundant fuel source, efficiency in burning it is usually a secondary concern at best. I think it's more efficient than electricity when used in heating or cooking appliances. I've used both and natural gas flame is either on or off whereas electricity has a warm up and cool down period where it's energy isn't really being used efficiently.

That's what everyone tells me! +1

You know, I started the "wit" misdirection trend to poke fun at those who were just openly asking for positive rep, and I can see your point. It honestly never occurred to me that anyone would take it seriously on a site with so many intelligent people. Sorry you were fooled, Ophiolite, but thanks for the rep points! I am removing mine, though. When you're right, you're right.