Political Roundtable Part XV

[Wizardspride]

So Trump is ending the subsidies for the ACA.

Kinda ironic that the people who depend on these subsidies the most live in states that voted for Trump.

I guess the whole "Real and Replace" line is basically just "Repeal".

But ya know, he's "DRAINING THE SWAMP, MAGA" etc etc

[cammac]

5 million + Americans purchase there prescriptions in Canada getting significant savings.

45k is what % of the Canadian people?

45k*7 or 315k is what % of Americans?

I have a silly story. Back in 1980 I used to attend college in Flint, Michigan. Two friends from my school (Kettering, was called GMI back then) and I took a road trip to Detroit; and from there to Windsor, Ontario. Being 19 year olds we checked out the sites. Meaning we probably looked for bars and strip clubs. I'm sure we got something to eat I don't really remember...All I do remember is that around dusk I wasn't driving with my headlights on. In passing a Canadian guy yelled "Turn your lights on ****!".

End of story. (We went on our merry way back to Flint).

The tie-in is if we had gotten in a fight, my friends and I probably would have found out about Canadian healthcare first-hand!

My personal opinion is that healthcare costs are high because of prescriptions. Doctors over-prescribe medicines and medicines cost too much. Too seldom they do not use generic drugs. Too often they over medicate. Having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder many years ago I know about medicines. What I also notice is the reluctance for US doctors (got to disclose I only use the VA medical) to use holistic methods and naturopathic cheap cures. Sunlight, lots of water, walks, aromatherapy, swimming, eating vegetables, limiting sugar intake, practicing mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, and just improving social skills would keep a lot of prescriptions down. And health care costs down...

1tenth of 1%
Well sorry you had people yell at you typically not Canadian.
You are right that taking care of yourself is important but things happen I was 57 I was running 5K everyday and cycling 10 to 20K and had a heart attack. That's why these crap plans that the Republicans are pushing sound lovely but totally worthless when something happens. Many people on this board are younger and play sports and yes mostly 100% healthy but what is the cost of a sports injury? I quite sure that those policies are worthless.





Sent from my Moto G (4) using RealGM mobile app

[cammac]

How destructive has Trump been this week!
#1 He illustrated that the USA can't be trusted in international deals by not renewing the Iranian Deal it shows every country that to the Trump Administration treaties are just pieces of paper.
#2 His assault on OCA will hurt hundreds of thousands of Americans with preexisting conditions and allowing young adults to buy useless healthcare insurance products.
#3 His myopic need to build a wall which the vast majority of border legislators feel isn't required and using it to doom DACA applicants to become illegal.
#4 His contempt for PR while supporting aid to Texas for many years.
#5 His attack on the 1st amendment when it comes to freedom of the press.
#6 Lack of any diplomacy with North Korea also look #1

[Wizardspride]

Just confirming what was apparent...

Read on Twitter

[dckingsfan]

I tend to agree statistics can be used to prove anything as was substantiated by the ravings of Nate.
I selected the American study simply because any bias would likely favor a USA position and I don't know the origin of all the studies selected and whether they were done by Physicians or Academics but in this case unlikely a Economist simply because it isn't identifying medicine and outcomes as a cost factor.

The group you choose has been very vocal in their support of single payer... and for quite some time. They have some good arguments - but they definitely take the side of single payer.

NIH would get a tremendous funding bump on many of their initiatives with the implementation of single payer.

Would you please supply backup/link for your comments from both paragraphs.

Go listen to David Himmelstein speak sometime and tell me he is balanced Pretty sure he was part of the “Mad as Hell Doctors” campaign for single payer.

In his talks, he makes very good points - but balanced wouldn't be one of them.
http://www.pnhp.org/resources/speakers-bureau

You second one is difficult and my information may be dated. They were the main drivers of a single EHR system... they want that data. And they didn't want private software companies to develop the software - they wanted that to be done by NIH - but they lost that battle.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088297/

Hope that helps - figure you are trying to figure this one out too? Or have you already decided that anyone not for single payer is nuts?

BTW, interesting read on the study:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/canada-has-as-good-or-better-healthcare-than-united-states/

Love to hear your take and why my comments put you off?

[montestewart]

Just confirming what was apparent...

Read on Twitter

Executive branch intentionally sabotaging administration under the law, sabotaging a law. What are the precedents for this?

[Pointgod]

Just confirming what was apparent...

Read on Twitter

Executive branch intentionally sabotaging administration under the law, sabotaging a law. What are the precedents for this?

Seriously these people aren't smart. You'd think that they would be more discrete with their blatant attempts to hurt American people.

[Pointgod]

ok, um,i got sumtin' for yoos guys to git all hot and bothered up about.

EPA is considering mining in natural Salmon "farms" in alaska. dont let them build a mine here. write your congressmen/women!!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/10/politics/bristol-bay-salmon-invs/index.html

I saw this on CNN...it was hillarious. The CEO of the mine meets with the newly assigned director of the EPA for 30 minutes and the director of the EPA says...”yeah we will consider your mine” after the career people at the EPA said it will KILL the environment and NONE of the people in the area want the mine there. One of the problems with our political system is that the president and congress ASSIGN the head of a department and that HEAD of the department doesnt need to know JACK SHEET about the department thier mandate or anything to get the job...but now he is the boss. Its like if I buy the Spurs and make my girlfriends cousins niece the coach and make Pop listen to her when its time to run plays...but she doesn’t like Pop so she calls all the plays...but we expect to win...its broken man...”DRAIN THE SWAMP”

Don't get me started about the EPA in this administration.

It's basically a race to see how many "job killing regulations" (life saving regulations actually) they can get rid of.

But as you say, they're "DRAINING THE SWAMP".

It's amazing that this is exactly what we knew would happen by electing Trump. You can't rail against regulations and talk about bringing back coal without having a disregard for the environment and people's health in general. Yet you have people who care about the environment that voted for Trump.

[dckingsfan]

Just confirming what was apparent...

Read on Twitter

Executive branch intentionally sabotaging administration under the law, sabotaging a law. What are the precedents for this?

Yes it is sabotage but they have cover... the CSRs are (and have been ruled) unconstitutional (money can be taken out of the treasury if not provided by act of Congress).

Funny that it was the Rs that sued - they wanted Hillary in a bad place when she came to office. Instead they got Trump. And now the same payments that they need to keep the marketplaces stable in their states are gone.

I think the marketplaces are going to struggle from this but more so from the lack of advertising for the marketplaces - that has somehow gone unnoticed.

[Wizardspride]

My biggest issue is the "Repeal WITHOUT Replacing" aspect.

Ok. You don't like the ACA. Fine.

I'm willing to hear what your alternative is.

Trump said he had a plan that would cover more people than Obamacare, be more cost friendly and would be "just wonderful".

That sounds great.

So where is it?

[stilldropin20]

I saw this on CNN...it was hillarious. The CEO of the mine meets with the newly assigned director of the EPA for 30 minutes and the director of the EPA says...”yeah we will consider your mine” after the career people at the EPA said it will KILL the environment and NONE of the people in the area want the mine there. One of the problems with our political system is that the president and congress ASSIGN the head of a department and that HEAD of the department doesnt need to know JACK SHEET about the department thier mandate or anything to get the job...but now he is the boss. Its like if I buy the Spurs and make my girlfriends cousins niece the coach and make Pop listen to her when its time to run plays...but she doesn’t like Pop so she calls all the plays...but we expect to win...its broken man...”DRAIN THE SWAMP”

Don't get me started about the EPA in this administration.

It's basically a race to see how many "job killing regulations" (life saving regulations actually) they can get rid of.

But as you say, they're "DRAINING THE SWAMP".

It's amazing that this is exactly what we knew would happen by electing Trump. You can't rail against regulations and talk about bringing back coal without having a disregard for the environment and people's health in general. Yet you have people who care about the environment that voted for Trump.

this can easily be stopped. just write your congressmen. and get your friends to do the same. some "mines" are not as damaging as others. This particular one in alaska is potentially very damaging.

but you guys need a different approach. this trump is "dr evil" approach doesn't work on anyone. especially wont work on trump. his admin will listen. but you guys come off as sore losers. respectfully and passionately write and ask to be heard. get a petition going.

[Wizardspride]

Don't get me started about the EPA in this administration.

It's basically a race to see how many "job killing regulations" (life saving regulations actually) they can get rid of.

But as you say, they're "DRAINING THE SWAMP".

It's amazing that this is exactly what we knew would happen by electing Trump. You can't rail against regulations and talk about bringing back coal without having a disregard for the environment and people's health in general. Yet you have people who care about the environment that voted for Trump.

this can easily be stopped. just write your congressmen. and get your friends to do the same. some "mines" are not as damaging as others. This particular one in alaska is potentially very damaging.

but you guys need a different approach. this trump is "dr evil" approach doesn't work on anyone. especially wont work on trump. his admin will listen. but you guys come off as sore losers. respectfully and passionately write and ask to be heard. get a petition going.

I haven't seen any indication that his administration will listen to anyone other than their base,

I understand that you're a fan of Trump and feel he's going to "drain the swamp" but to me he's "of the swamp" himself.

Both in terms of policy and as a person.

[cammac]

I feel sorry for the coal miners but have no sympathy for mine owners but obviously some coal production is required especially metallurgical coal while thermal coal is on the decline. For years miners have given their lives in the mines and suffered diseases that effected health and longevity. Canada produces 62 million tonnes basically a even split between metallurgical and thermal. If you look at 10 the Provinces only 4 utilize coal in the production of electricity with Alberta 50% ( largest coal producer in Canada), Nova Scotia 45%, Saskatchewan 42% & New Brunswick 18% . One Province Prince Edward Island gets 95% of power from wind but overall solar and wind only provide 4.2% of electricity requirements. The dominant electrical power comes from hydro electricity and nuclear with coal a distant 3rd. Canada exports 9% of it's electricity to the USA or approximately 2% of USA usage that excludes non monetary transfers through treaty obligations. Please note some of those treaty obligations also come into place such as in Florida after the hurricane Canadian utilities sent 100s of workers and equipment to help in reestablishing the power grid. Solar and Wind are growing at about 35% annually but still have not made a major impact except in Prince Edward Island with is Canada's smallest province.Of the 4 major economic drivers of the economy BC, Ontario, Quebec only Alberta uses coal generation plants.

The USA still generates in 2016 30.4% of its electricity from coal, 33.8% by natural gas, 19.7% nuclear, 14.7% renewable with 5.6% wind and .9% solar.

Coal is still a significant player in the USA electrical grid and I highly doubt that it will increase but rather decline. If even 1/2 could be converted to renewable energy many more jobs than the miners would be created. If government action would give some incentives to replace those coal jobs in those areas with renewable technology it would grow those economies that are struggling. Canada is blessed with renewable resources in hydroelectricity but it still needs to increase wind and to a lessor degree solar to our power grids.

Metallurgical coal is still important to the world economy and the largest producers are Australia, USA & Canada and are good export markets for those countries.

Trying to make coal king again is like bringing back the horse and buggy. My 10 years in China taught me the effects of burning coal. In places I visited on business you could taste the air and literally not see more than 100ft. I was lucky in Shenzhen since they produced power from local nuclear stations. China is realizing how destructive coal is to the environment and has become the leader in clean technology. Yes they have a long road but they are trying not living by the mantras of the past. Donald Trump in Star Wars terms has become Darth Sidious.

[CobraCommander]

My biggest issue is the "Repeal WITHOUT Replacing" aspect.

Ok. You don't like the ACA. Fine.

I'm willing to hear what your alternative is.

Trump said he had a plan that would cover more people than Obamacare, be more cost friendly and would be "just wonderful".

That sounds great.

So where is it?

If you replace thats the opposite of the standard conservative line of being anti universal healthcare... so trump is going to deliver on a better socialist program than Obama?

Like i said...i dont have a party...i have causes that i want to see advanced. But i like the balance of power and being able to tie a cause with a leader. This circus we got going on right now has elephants on the trapezes...which is confusing as hell

[stilldropin20]

It's amazing that this is exactly what we knew would happen by electing Trump. You can't rail against regulations and talk about bringing back coal without having a disregard for the environment and people's health in general. Yet you have people who care about the environment that voted for Trump.

this can easily be stopped. just write your congressmen. and get your friends to do the same. some "mines" are not as damaging as others. This particular one in alaska is potentially very damaging.

but you guys need a different approach. this trump is "dr evil" approach doesn't work on anyone. especially wont work on trump. his admin will listen. but you guys come off as sore losers. respectfully and passionately write and ask to be heard. get a petition going.

I haven't seen any indication that his administration will listen to anyone other than their base,

I understand that you're a fan of Trump and feel he's going to "drain the swamp" but to me he's "of the swamp" himself.

Both in terms of policy and as a person.

accept trump for what he is. stop fighting him.

all trump wants to make a deal. thats all he wants. so make him a deal. make both your liberal and conservative congressmen work with him. thats all he wants. a deal. a deal that he feels americans win. become part of his "base." stop working "against" him and negotiate (better).

all the whining and fauxrage? he just sees that as very weak and childish negotiating tactics. and its mostly bull crap. he knows its bull crap. give him something real. and negotiate with him.

all this man wants to do is go down as a great american president. and he believes he can "cut deals" to get there. he is fully committed to the working class. I assume every damn one of falls into that category. so he wants to make america "work better" for you.

stop resisting and obstructing and start negotiating and asking for things. make your reps work with him. This man is begging to work across the aisle. begging for it. he wants to make a deal with dems sooooo badly. you can smell it in the air his desperation for it is so thick and heavy. so make your reps work with him. he will cut a deal with them.

[Pointgod]

My biggest issue is the "Repeal WITHOUT Replacing" aspect.

Ok. You don't like the ACA. Fine.

I'm willing to hear what your alternative is.

Trump said he had a plan that would cover more people than Obamacare, be more cost friendly and would be "just wonderful".

That sounds great.

So where is it?

Republicans have no alternatives and no policies besides cutting taxes for the 1%. I mean the whole situation with the affordable care is an exercise in circular logic. Republicans have run on repealing it the past 8 years as a political talking point only to realize that a lot of their constituents would be worse off with whatever their free market solution, but if they work with Democrats they'll be voted out of office for not repealing Obamacare. It's a Mexican standoff off of stupidity.

[cammac]

My biggest issue is the "Repeal WITHOUT Replacing" aspect.

Ok. You don't like the ACA. Fine.

I'm willing to hear what your alternative is.

Trump said he had a plan that would cover more people than Obamacare, be more cost friendly and would be "just wonderful".

That sounds great.

So where is it?

Republicans have no alternatives and no policies besides cutting taxes for the 1%. I mean the whole situation with the affordable care is an exercise in circular logic. Republicans have run on repealing it the past 8 years as a political talking point only to realize that a lot of their constituents would be worse off with whatever their free market solution, but if they work with Democrats they'll be voted out of office for not repealing Obamacare. It's a Mexican standoff off of stupidity.

I look at 7 Billionaires Warren Buffet, Charles & David Koch, Sheldon Adelson, Jacqueline Mars, John Mars and George Soros in the top 20 all except Jacqueline Mars 79 in there 80s and all have a chance of dying in the next 3 years of the Trump administration. A inheritance tax of 75% would generate 196 billion in revenue. Especially when you consider the Koch Brothers and Mars sibling inherited fortunes to begin with. I understand that Buffet is already giving away most of his money but I think the US treasury should get its share.

[stilldropin20]

My biggest issue is the "Repeal WITHOUT Replacing" aspect.

Ok. You don't like the ACA. Fine.

I'm willing to hear what your alternative is.

Trump said he had a plan that would cover more people than Obamacare, be more cost friendly and would be "just wonderful".

That sounds great.

So where is it?

Republicans have no alternatives and no policies besides cutting taxes for the 1%. I mean the whole situation with the affordable care is an exercise in circular logic. Republicans have run on repealing it the past 8 years as a political talking point only to realize that a lot of their constituents would be worse off with whatever their free market solution, but if they work with Democrats they'll be voted out of office for not repealing Obamacare. It's a Mexican standoff off of stupidity.

I look at 7 Billionaires Warren Buffet, Charles & David Koch, Sheldon Adelson, Jacqueline Mars, John Mars and George Soros in the top 20 all except Jacqueline Mars 79 in there 80s and all have a chance of dying in the next 3 years of the Trump administration. A inheritance tax of 75% would generate 196 billion in revenue. Especially when you consider the Koch Brothers and Mars sibling inherited fortunes to begin with. I understand that Buffet is already giving away most of his money but I think the US treasury should get its share.

now we are talking!!!!!!!!!!!! go get that money!!!!!!!

[stilldropin20]

Watch on YouTube

you guys dont watch fox but check out the first 6 minutes of this show. you have to deal with this because even my far left friends are feeling similarly as what is expressed in this show's first 6-7 minutes.

[Wizardspride]

Watch on YouTube

you guys dont watch fox but check out the first 6 minutes of this show. you have to deal with this because even my far left friends are feeling similarly as what is expressed in this show's first 6-7 minutes.

What exactly am I supposed to deal with?

I mean Harvey Weinstein apparently is a predator. Same as Bill Cosby.

Hell, the current president has been accused of the same.