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This is a real pain
As the debate rages on in Washington whether "ObamaCare" is the right way to go or even affordable, several frequent visitors to neighboring hospitals made unexpected visits.
Former vice president Dick Cheney, who has more frequent flyer miles racked up with all his hospital stays, had "chest pains" recently. He was admitted immediately to one of America's finest hospitals, receiving around-the-clock care. Who's picking up the tab so Mr. Cheney can "rest comfortably"? The American taxpayer — many of which have no health benefits.
For more than 40 percent of Americans who feel tighness or shortness of breath, they have to work through it. Unless they want a $1,500 emergency room bill for a false alarm.
Former Sen. Bob Dole, who's also on the dole, was admitted for complications from a prior knee surgery. The U.S. taxpayer paid for his new "knee," and all follow-up treatment.
All of Congress and their families have free access to world class health care. It's available 24/7. Is that why they can't comprehend the plight of half of Americans who cannot see a doctor without the fear of filing bankruptcy?
Paul D'Argent, 37209
Send comments and letters via email to editor@nashvillecitypaper.com
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"It's just like other western democratic socialistic states can sustain themselves because they don't have to spend much on their own military. They rely on the fact that we will come to their aid and the benefit from the fact that companies are developing the weapon systems for our market that they will be able to buy at production cost sans any of the R&D costs."
All hte more reason to shut down our Empire. Close our bases in Korea, Japan and the EU, recall our DEA troops in Latin America etc
Dept of DEFENSE, not Dept of Imperial Expansion
I like the C.S. Louis book... The Abolition of Man as a counter-argument. Both are very well reasoned.
The problem with Paine's view, imo, is that he dismisses the social and cultural evolution surrounding religion and its influences as something unnecessary and on net potentially harmful; not as fundamental to society. This is not surprising given the political nature of the Church of England and the Catholic Church during his time. This was fundamental to the founders' protections of religious freedoms in this country. Louis takes a bigger-picture view and makes the counter-position very well.
Hmmm... the RNC actually tells the truth.
"Small donors, it says, are motivated by 'fear' and 'extreme negative feelings for the existing Administration.' At the higher end, fat cats are 'ego driven' and want access to the people in power."
yes brrrk... but they don't develop it for their own markets. They justify the vast expenditure on R&D etc. on OUR MARKET.
It is with that naive attitude of isolationism that every US president enters office, Kosh.
Damn, gd, that sucks a$$. Did it happen during the day? Did any neighbors see anything?
BenDover said
"yes brrrk... but they don't develop it for their own markets. They justify the vast expenditure on R&D etc."
You're wrong, the leading Japanese medical technologies that are being developed are in direct response to the demand from their own market. I suggest you pick up a copy of The Healing of America.
Dusty-U, whether in or out of a coma, makes more sense than this board, fully awake.
dargent thank you. I will tell grandpa you said that will make him laugh
"It is with that naive attitude of isolationism that every US president enters office, Kosh.
1. Isolationism is not what I meant. I mean non-interference.
2. Not all Presidents. Bush the Idiot clearly intended to expand the Empire; his intent from day one was to take Iraq and anything else he could steal.
g - Sorry to hear of the break in! That really sucks and you are probably right on getting anything back. The scumbag, total scumbag that thinks they have the right to enter any residence and take what they please should be treated just like the lowest of low that crawls on this earth. Wish they could be stepped on and squashed back in the hole the crawled out of!
Ben, religion is a tool. whether people who practice the religion are sincere or not is a moot point.
Ben, the problem with The Abolition of Man seems to be that it assumes that rational thought is amoral and that only "religion" is moral. i strongly disagree with that.
More Republican hypocrisy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/04/roy-ashburn-arrested-anti_n_485419.html
.....State Sen. Roy Ashburn (R-Calif.) was pulled over and arrested for drunk driving. Sources report that Ashburn -- a fierce opponent of gay rights -- was driving drunk after leaving a gay nightclub; when the officer stopped the state-issued vehicle, there was an unidentified man in the passenger seat of the car........
now, Kosh - don't jump to conclusions. i'm sure he was just giving the fine young man a ride to church so that they could have a special prayer meeting to turn him straight.
Blanketnazi2 said
"Ben, the problem with The Abolition of Man seems to be that it assumes that rational thought is amoral and that only "religion" is moral. i strongly disagree with that."
This clearly goes back to the ideas put forth by Russell Kirk (the man who is considered the father of the modern conservative movement) and his book, The Conservative Mind. He believed that average people are incapable of governing themselves and that control of the country would be better off in the hands of the wealthy or the religious elite. In his mind, real democracy was something to be feared.
www.tennessean.com/article/20100304/NEWS06/100304012/
Baptist+pastor+supports+distribution+of+anti-Catholic+booklets+at+school+
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpps/news/weird/dpgonc-man-undergoes-emergency-surgery-for-21-day-erection-fc-20100303_6377802
In his mind, real democracy was something to be feared.
People tend to forget that US was established as a republic not a democracy
big difference between the two.
"He believed that average people are incapable of governing themselves and that control of the country would be better off in the hands of the wealthy"
Which is what many of our Founders preferred, regardless of their rhetoric. Why else were only property-owning white men allowed to vote? Jefferson would never consider his slaves as his peers--they were just property to be used as he saw fit. Small wonder Republicans still venerate him.
Bush entered the office very critical of Clinton's foreign intervention... as Clintion entered office very critical of Bush 41's foreign intervention...
... Bush was on path to push a domestic agenda of tax cuts, leave everything else status quo and read My Pet Goat to elementary students.
That didn't work out for him; as it has not worked out for any president including Obama.
"Ben, the problem with The Abolition of Man seems to be that it assumes that rational thought is amoral and that only "religion" is moral. i strongly disagree with that."
That's a gross oversimplificaiton of his work... evidently intended to keep people from reading it.
ben not that far off
that's one grandpa gave me to read as well as Plato's Republic
Ben you are wrong. He was set on Iraq from the start.
His Treasury Secty said that the first item of the first Cabinet meeting was Iraq.
But tax cuts for his plutocrat buddies was certainly a priority as well.
Kosh yes he was mad about the attempt on his daddy
plus all that oil
We were constitutional republic of democratic states. Our government was designed that way with checks and balances and severe limitations on the powers of government to keep the federal goverment small and the people in charge of goverment; not the other way around. What has since happened is that the federal goverment has stripped itself of most of its constitutional limitations and now is the massive instrument of mob rule... where as Jefferson said, "A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine".
ben actually jefferson was quoting Cato's response after reading Plato's Republic
Cato was an interesting dude
grandpa called him the will rodgers of his time
Further, Jefferson on your panacea of Democracy... brrrrk.:
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”.
Familiar?
There is a reason we started as a constitutional representative republic... those reasons have been eroded... and we are tending toward a predictable fate.
"“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”.
Familiar?
No, not really, except that you and your dimwitted Conservative friends always assume that everyone else doesn't work or strive to suceed and just thrives for a handout.
We're not talking about only the uber poor here, it's the middle class that's being priced right out of health care.
No worry, eventually these arrogant pricks will die off and the country will be better for it.
right on gdiafante
with the government projecting that over 2.5 million adults will be unable to find work for over 2 years because of this bush junior generated depression the haters really have their work cut out for them.
We have to watch that middle class...bunch of no-good, handout seeking degenerates...all of them...
gdiafante lol
got that right, g!
I haven't read all the posts, Dusty, how's things going with your family?
g, maybe we should go out in the woods and put some rocks in a circle.
In my mood right now, blanket, I'd shoot the damn rocks then wash away the debris with a nice stream of warm piss.
gdiafante grandpa was awake monday and talking not so much yesterday but resting comfortably
no word from uncle jimmy and we are worried
My thoughts are with you, Dusty.
i'm sorry, g. maybe a good kick boxing class would help right about now. 8~) or a few beers.
BenDover said
Further, Jefferson on your panacea of Democracy... brrrrk.:
“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”.
And in Jefferson's day it was possible for a person to live completely independent of others; to be fully self sufficient.... in his world it was all about living off the land. That is no longer possible. It's all about context...
thank you I'll let grandpa know
by the way if you didn't catch it earlier I'm Dusty's grandson Brian
for everybody's information I cut and paste your comments for grandpa into an email to my cousin Joey in DC and he reads them to him when he's awake
Beers don't help...I just can't believe what happened and the cops are doing NOTHING. That's what I pay taxes for?
Hell, they'd rather pull over a speeder than take a lousy picture of my busted back door. Something's seriously wrong in this country.
Sorry, Brian, I saw the name and went on automatic pilot.
gdiafante no problem sorry about your breakin
grandpa says the cops nowadays are totally incompetent unable to solve real crimes without an informant feeding them details
Afternoon everyone...Brian, sending good thoughts to you and your family. We do, indeed miss Dusty! I pray for Jimmy/family to be okay as well.
G, I am so sorry to hear about what happened with the break in. I hope they catch the punk-ass(es) who did it!!! I don't blame you for being so mad, I've been there and can relate, brother.
Blanket, have you tried the Zumba at Hooprama? For new customers it's only $5. I don't know if that's per class or what but, sounded pretty cheap. They also teach hula hooping and other things there. It's on Gallatin Rd. over here in the 'hood. Thought I would mention it...
That sucks about the robbery gd. I'm sorry you are having to go through that.
Also, who's gonna plant the beer garden this summer???
G, get your camera out and do the pictures anyway. If it comes down to it, you would always have that for proof.
that's awesome, Brian. 8~)