Trump just doesn’t go away…..

[fasttwitch]

Why do WE deserve Health Care?!

Do any other countries have it?

No bro. It is absolutely impossible to provide health care to all citizens. That's why only 32 of 33 first world countries have universal health care!

Sure, maybe super rich countries like Estonia or Hungary can afford it, but the USA with its measly little $31,000,000,000,000 (31 trillion dollar) economy can never afford to send a sick uninsured worker to the doctor.

I mean come on , man.. We need those trillions of dollars to bomb a half dozen countries to smithereens so our corporations can take the resources of those defenseless countries. AND we can keep the military industrial complex flush with cash..

 

[Glycomann]

Why do WE deserve Health Care?!

Do any other countries have it?

I remember 40 years ago I had a job with insurance available from BCBS. I had to work 6 months before qualifying for insurance in part paid for by the company. It was a BENEFIT, not a right. It was part of the draw to have me work for the company. I earned it by being competent and consistent and in turn the company had good employees, made profit and sustained for many decades. Since then government has become involved and insurance and the medical profession have colluded in partnership with government in many instances. Health insurance is way way way more expensive now and the bureaucracy makes up a huge chunk of the cost. I don't think health insurance is a right. I think it is and should be a benefit and the cost is shared between you and the company you work for, not a socialism right whose cost is shared by the entire taxed population of a country. I would also rather see no collusion and increased competition. The situation might get closer to what it was in the 1980s, lower drug prices, lower cost for services etc.

 

[fasttwitch]

I don't think health insurance is a right.

We just disagree. And no word like "socialism" is going to make me feel like watching a productive, good citizen die of treatable conditions is a morally "good" thing to do.

 

[Glycomann]

We just disagree. And no word like "socialism" is going to make me feel like watching a productive, good citizen die of treatable conditions is a morally "good" thing to do.

That's correct. We will never agree on this sort of greater good at the point of some moral gun argument. In my world you receive what you earn not what others earn and are forced to turn it over at the point of a gun.

 

[fasttwitch]

That's correct. We will never agree on this sort of greater good at the point of some moral gun argument. In my world you receive what you earn not what others earn and are forced to turn it over at the point of a gun.

I have a LOT of my hard earned cash taken from me by the federal government and used to kill millions of people in countries around the world. People I don't know. People who did nothing to me. I would rather not kill strangers and use some of that money that I pay to save the lives of my neighbors.

But I'm kinda crazy I guess. The money is there already. America just chooses to use the money on military adventurism and corporate subsidies and NOT to take care of our own.

 

[Heady Muscle]

In the industries that I work with some commodities/raw materials just got bumped upwards of 70%, if you don't think that is going to affect consumer pricing I don't know what to tell you, because as an example, we sure don't grow coffee here in the US.

Coffee is insane right now.

I am purchasing steel piles from a US manufacturing for a project a year out, the cost is more than double than I purchased a year ago.

 

[testboner]

I have a LOT of my hard earned cash taken from me by the federal government and used to kill millions of people in countries around the world. People I don't know. People who did nothing to me. I would rather not kill strangers and use some of that money that I pay to save the lives of my neighbors.

But I'm kinda crazy I guess. The money is there already. America just chooses to use the money on military adventurism and corporate subsidies and NOT to take care of our own.

And a doubling down on this reality now, with the pentagon’s new name: The Dept of War Did you see the clip of Hegseth’s publicity comment about this new name change?

 

[Wizbang]

That's correct. We will never agree on this sort of greater good at the point of some moral gun argument. In my world you receive what you earn not what others earn and are forced to turn it over at the point of a gun.

I will point out that tax payer money, that comes out of every pocket, yours and mine, has funded much of the research which has lead to medical advancements at current, both techniques and pharmaceuticals, I would think providing healthcare should also come with that.

Why pay for research that we then have to pay again at a premium to utilize? If we use the NIH budget as a guide, 48 billion dollars of tax payer dollars, that's quite a bit, there is other research dollars that come from DARPA/DOD, HHS, etc so I imagine its ALOT more than just the 48bil.

Having a system where one can become trapped at a job because the thought of losing healthcare will be crippling is not a "good" system. No one should have to fear for their health and wellbeing in order to live, or put off medical care because of cost or access. That's not a socialistic idea as much as a humanistic idea. I do think all people should contribute to society but in return society should take care of the people, not businesses as businesses only have themselves, and ultimately profits, in mind. I am for much smaller government, way smaller than we have now, but government that actually does things that people give a shit about and where people can actual see the benefit of what they pay into and not the bloated nonsense we have currently.

 

[Littleguy]

LIkely you

You are somewhat correct, LG. I actually half agree with Trump on this issue.

Here's the problem as it affects me. Lets say me or my suppliers import a pallet or (my suppliers) a cargo container load of parts from China. We have to pay the tariffs. The amount we import can never be as small as $800. For me alone it would be at least $10,000. For my suppliers bringing in containers it will surely be $200,000+. There is no escaping tariffs. So me or my suppliers have to pay the tariff.

But, many sellers (especially Amazon Chinese sellers) were bringing in say $750 every other day. They are purposely timing their split shipments to land just under $800. Instead of large shipments like most American companies would make to resupply, they would bring in hundreds of small shipments to escape de minimis. These are prepacked in China with Amazon bar codes and go straight to FBA fulfillment centers. This was clearly hurting American companies. De Minimis ends the era of super cheap Amazon and eBay goods.

In this I agree with Trump. There has to be a way to make the field level.

I just disagree with Trump on De Minimis affecting somebody bringing in some one off item. I really wish Trump had made De Minimis tariffs so the quantity of items AND the amount of the shipment. Or figured out a way to limit shipments to a certain amount. I don't know. I'm not an expert, but there must be a solution?

Personally, the de minimis is helping my little business. The Chinese sellers have had to raise their prices. Bad for consumers, good for me!

I think this whole tariffs issue will eventually end up in the Supreme Court. Although the Supreme Court is aligned with Trump on social issues they may shoot down his tariffs. The US constitution is clear about the power to levy tariffs. "The U.S. Constitution, under Article I, Section 8, grants Congress the sole power to lay and collect duties (tariffs) on imports and to regulate foreign commerce."

Excepting emergency. Its going to be hard for Trump to make the emergency argument to a group of pro-business Supreme Court justices.

Likely you are correct the amazon types have probably rigged it to bring in 25000 $799 dollar shipments a day to skip around it the MOFOS

 

[Littleguy]

This is only until they find a way to collect the $$ according to the article.

THIS, from a somewhat well known, somewhat non-partisan news source:

Postal traffic to US sank 80% after Trump administration ended exemption on low-value parcels

The U.N. postal agency says postal traffic into the United States plunged by more than 80% after a Trump administration move to end a tariff exemption for low-cost imports.

apnews.com

 

[rawdeal]

This is only until they find a way to collect the $$ according to the article.

LG, I'm sure you're right ... they always do. I just wish the finding a way part would come before the enacting new regulations part.

 

[Glycomann]

I will point out that tax payer money, that comes out of every pocket, yours and mine, has funded much of the research which has lead to medical advancements at current, both techniques and pharmaceuticals, I would think providing healthcare should also come with that.

Why pay for research that we then have to pay again at a premium to utilize? If we use the NIH budget as a guide, 48 billion dollars of tax payer dollars, that's quite a bit, there is other research dollars that come from DARPA/DOD, HHS, etc so I imagine its ALOT more than just the 48bil.

Having a system where one can become trapped at a job because the thought of losing healthcare will be crippling is not a "good" system. No one should have to fear for their health and wellbeing in order to live, or put off medical care because of cost or access. That's not a socialistic idea as much as a humanistic idea. I do think all people should contribute to society but in return society should take care of the people, not businesses as businesses only have themselves, and ultimately profits, in mind. I am for much smaller government, way smaller than we have now, but government that actually does things that people give a shit about and where people can actual see the benefit of what they pay into and not the bloated nonsense we have currently.

Then cancel research since you can't see the multiplier effect that drives new industries that sprout from those tax dollars. That's what savior Trump has done.