Litchfield Independent Review - Comments

Ok, your proposal makes more

LitchRes — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:52:07 -0500

Ok, your proposal makes more sense to me now. Govt healthcare as an option, not as a requirement or the only option. Depending on how it is set up, it MAY be a viable option.

I do disagree with part of your latest post. Quote, "And I hate to break it to you, but we have all kinds of socialized things in our country, schools, roads, water systems, parks... These have been socialized almost as long as they have existed in our country, and we still enjoy all of the same freedoms and rights that we have in the past and we still enjoy our democracy." ---you are correct, these are essentially "socialized" programs in our country. But they are also some of the most screwed up. Look at the constant money problems that all the programs you mention have. We just went thru a school levy because of it. Most school systems are in hard financial times and they receive a large bulk of the overall State budget. Park systems are underfunded. Roads..well take a long drive and count how many potholes you hit. The answer is not an increase in taxes either, the answer lies in our legislators being fiscally responsible and putting the money where it is needed, not into special interests or pet projects.

Yes I am in favor of a

Slater — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:27:12 -0500

Yes I am in favor of a government run health care option (not system). As long as that option is effective and affordable. I am familiar with MN care and have personal experience with that system. My problem with MN care is that it is not an effective alternative.

I would like to see a government option that is actually attractive to the people that need it. I believe that is the only way to create competition in the healthcare marketplace. I know in America we love capitalism and the dream that anyone can go from rags to riches. That is a great story and everyone has an example of someone who has made it. Also thanks to the mighty free market (which is sometimes spoken of as a religion, or magical force in the universe) we know that we never pay too much for anything. The problem is that the free market is not always right.

Wal Mart and Target (and countless others) compete for my business because I have the choice to shop at either store for goods that I may or may not need. In that situation the free market protects me from paying more than I should for a pack of underwear or a toaster. The problem with health care is that I can chose MN care, whatever options my job will give me, or got to the local insurance agent. The problem with all of these is that we are buying from the same big players in the industry. They set the pricing and they are ultimately more about profit than providing you with healthcare (because that is what capitalism is all about).

Now it is my belief and theory (this is my opinion and you can, and have every right to disagree) that if the government where allowed to shop for the citizens they would have more buying power than whatever group rate is allowed. And if there is an exodus from employer based health care to government based health care than ultimately the premiums will fall. They will fall not only because of the competition that is created, but because more people will receive the care that they need and will not be racking up ER bills.

The fact is this. Capitalism is a great system and opens up many opportunities that are not created in other countries. However capitalism goes south when a monopoly enters into the system, which is what healthcare is at the moment. All of a sudden the profits get large and the quality of the product decreases. Our healthcare providers are the only ones on the block and they control the game. But we as consumers have no where else to turn to. It's like buying a $5 hotdog at a Twins game. YOu know you are paying more than you should, but where else are you going to go?

As for socialism being the end of democracy... That is my favorite right wing fear mongoring tactic. I don't know if we as Americans have noticed that you can blend the two. Throughout most of Europe, and most industrialized nations democratic socialism exists. You still get to keep all of your laws and voting power, it doesn't mean an end to the right to bear arms or anything like that. It just means that you get to vote on what the society views as necessary for the good of the country. And I hate to break it to you, but we have all kinds of socialized things in our country, schools, roads, water systems, parks... These have been socialized almost as long as they have existed in our country, and we still enjoy all of the same freedoms and rights that we have in the past and we still enjoy our democracy.

Quote "Furthermore if I can

LitchRes — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:10:00 -0500

Quote "Furthermore if I can chose between the two (premiums/private companies, or taxes/government care, which by the way is the plan put forth by President Obama) I would chose the one that gives me the best bang for my buck, and true competition would finally be in the marketplace."

Even though you dont clearly state it, it is pretty clear that you are supportive of a government run health care system. Where is the competition that you desire in that sort of set-up?

I am still convinced that a completely govt run health care system is nothing more than the first steps to a socialist country. Kiss your democracy good bye ! We are already heading in that direction and have been for several years.

I agree with you that we cant place all the blame on the illegals or people that cant afford or more importantly those that choose to abuse the system. It is way more in depth than that, but it is part of the problem, whether you want to admit it or not.

You may not be aware that MN has a health care system that people can enroll in, it is called MN Care. Working people that can not afford insurance can get "insurance" thru the state, they pay premiums every month based on their income.

My point is three fold (and

Slater — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:59:54 -0500

My point is three fold (and I have done my homework)....

1. First you cannot blame minorities (legally here or not) for all of socities plights. To bring that into the conversation is a fallacy of reasoning. Hasty generalization is what that particular fallacy is called thus rendering any arguement based on that premise illogical and invalid.

2. You do pay for others health care! By having insurance you do pay for the people who wait until the last minute, because they lack health care and go to the emergency room. This is a documented fact and because they go to the emergency room the cost is beyond what they can afford and the cost gets shifted to those with insurance. Based on that fact, wouldn't you rather have the money, that you spend on others healthcare anyway (through your premiums) go to preventive care which is ultimately less expensive?

3. I would rather pay taxes than premiums. The fact is that we as a society can control the level of taxes we pay through our right to vote. However we can't control the amount of premiums that we pay, and we are at the mercy of the health care industry, which is for profit (therefore they will always try to increase their profit, and not necessarily their product). Those facts make me lean towards taxes as opposed to premiums. Furthermore if I can chose between the two (premiums/private companies, or taxes/government care, which by the way is the plan put forth by President Obama) I would chose the one that gives me the best bang for my buck, and true competition would finally be in the marketplace.

I to have worked hard to get where I am at. I have had a job since I was 16 and have always provided insurance for my family. However the fact that an MRI to see if my wife had a brain tumor (certainly not an optional procedure) was not covered by the insurance that I pay for, and now we are slowly paying a large bill... knowing that I would have been forced to choose between care, or financial ruin if she had the tumor (thankfully she did not). Knowing those facts has helped form my opinion that my American dream (what I have worked hard for) should not be broken down and taken away because my insurance would make me chose between losing a family member, or my food, clothing, and shelter.

I hope you can see I have done my homework.

My point is that universal

Perry Piehl — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:33:53 -0500

My point is that universal health care is not in the relm of reality.
Total health care can't be totally administered in the emergency room; and I certainly don't want the government to regulate my healthcare. I worked hard to get where I'm at, I'm not going to pull the dead weight of society along. Do your homework. I'm taxed enough already.

Anyone know who was hired

wrangle — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:51:29 -0500

Anyone know who was hired for the Jail Seceratary?

Quote "Right now, there are

realrural — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:15:36 -0500

Quote "Right now, there are many folks looking for work who would be delighted to work for 2,080 hours at the salary and benefits that teachers receive." Well then RUN, don't walk to your nearest college and enroll for 4 years (at least), pay tens of thousands and you, too, can have it sooooo easy! Some people will never get it.

We have two senators!

Slater — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:15:48 -0500

We have two senators! Amazing!

I think that the right decision was made legally. Coleman could have continued to appeal and it was growing apparant that he did not stand a chance legally. As for the voters making the right decision... I would have liked to see Jack Nelson Pallmeyer (to quote a great reporter), but, "that's a whole 'nother blog post."

I think Franken will be a better senator than most are ready to give him credit for. For example it is obvious that the left side of the political aisle is ready to try and tackle health care again. I know from 2 different pre-election coversations with candidate Franken that he has had plans in place that would appeal more to the right in case of a republican president. I think his success will be measured by when people begin to introduce him as Senator Franken, as opposed to, Former Comedian and Senator Al Franken.

I don't think anyone will miss Coleman. I'm not saying that because I did not care for him as a senator. I am saying it because I can imagine him regaining his political capital over the next 6-8 months and then pursuing a run at the Governor office. If you thought it was fun to watch the senate recount wait until the wide open race for governor begins.

WOW! According to your

Slater — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:14:26 -0500

WOW!

According to your statement all crime and welfare problems are because of Somali, Hmong, and Latino people (Who are assumed to be, in your post, all here without legal permission to be here).

Remember that you are paying for others health care already, because you have health insurance. The fact that some people do not have health care means that they go to the ER for care. In the emergency room costs are higher and care cannot be refused. If the system could be changed to allow people the care they need then one could assume health insurance premiums would go down which would make it easier to take care of your family.

The debate in my mind is not whether or not we are paying for it, because we are... for everybody... already! The debate is how can health care be more open to all of the people in our country to reduce my cost.

Socialized medicine? Why

Perry Piehl — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:18:25 -0500

Socialized medicine?

Why should I pay for your healthcare? Another thorn in the side of socialized medicine is the illegal immagration the goverment allowed to let happen. I refuse to pay for anybody's healthcare other than my own family's. Go to the Twin Cities sometime and look for yourself at the number of Somali,Hmong,Latino people who burden our welfare system. And look at the type of people who cause most of the crime in North and South Minneapolis and ask yourself why should you cover their healthcare?
Our wonderful government chased away our good manufacturing jobs with N.A.F.T.A. . It was with those jobs that families had good healthcare.
I had to leave Litchfield to get a good job,which I've done. I won't beg someone else to take care of me. Maybe you should do the same.

What's wrong with socialized

Slater — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:39:32 -0500

What's wrong with socialized medicine?

Most industrialized countries have some form of socialized medicine and we do not. Last time I checked the United States had the second worst infant death rate among industrialized countries. Maybe that is a statistic we would like to change.

I've heard all of the horror stories about living in Canada and having to wait for years to get treated, but if you ask a Canadian (and I do, everytime I meet one) they love the system and say that those stories are urban legends.

Ask yourself, is healtcare a right or a privilege? If you answered privilege than ask yourself this question. How is it possible for every citizen to have life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness if they are sick with a disease that the insurance company doesn't cover, and the bill collectors are calling. Sure some hospitals have hardship programs, but the ones who pay their bills, or can afford excellent coverage end up paying for that in the long run.

isnt that leading down the

LitchRes — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:16:05 -0500

isnt that leading down the path to socialized medicine??

Our gutless legislators

Slikweasel — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:39:38 -0500

Our gutless legislators refuse to regulate the giant profits of HMO's and drug companies. Nearly all other westernized counties put price controls on these companies. Not us, and if you wonder why, look at the campaign contributions. I think the first key to fixing health care is using public money in a standardized amount in all elections.

Of the three "big guys" the

Lyle Diekmann — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:23:50 -0500

Of the three "big guys" the T-Wolves got, I'm not sure any of them will see significant minutes for them in 2009-10.

Etan Thomas can buy out his contract and become a free agent. Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov will battle for spots on the bench next to the new coach - whoever that will be.

This trade was all about getting rid of Foye. Minnesota would have had to offer him another contract after next season and how sure can you be that he's a big-time player.

I'm not convinced he's a starter on a championship contender, so why pay him like one.

Now the Wolves get a chance to pick another young player and build around Al Jefferson and Kevin Love.

In other related news- The U

Slater — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:13:46 -0500

In other related news-

The U of M has also announced a tuition hike. It is essentially the same story as above only with bigger numbers and info about the grad program. More signs of the times of our prosperous conservative state.