| Author | Message | ||
     M2me |
Now in socialized medicine countries, there's no incentive to keep people alive, because it doesn't pay.....so they don't. Look at life expectancy for America compared to other countries including "socialized medicine countries", which basically means all countries besides the U.S. We rank 38th, one notch below Cuba. So I'd be careful about bragging about how well our health care system keeps people alive. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Life expectancy, as discussed earlier, isn't just about healthcare. We also have more smokers, more fat people, more disposable income for high risk activities. We abuse more drugs. Healthcare isn't just about access, technology, or life span. All the healthcare in the world can't fix someone who smokes like a chimney, weighs 400lbs, and is rotting their liver with whiskey. Are you REALLY going to bring up the "two notches above Cuba" crap again? How many CAT Scan devices do they have in Cuba? How many MRI machines? How many new drugs come out of Cuba? How many pacemakers are implanted in Cuba every year? You REALLY believe we are only two notches above Cuba? | ||
| Ceejay |
here's a stat from the entertainment software association-11.7 billion dollars were spent in the US in 2008 on computer and video gaming software. The average age of a "gamer" is 35 and has been playing for 12 years. Using that age group, I wonder how much was spent on sports equipment, gym memberships, running shoes? I'm sorry, but as I see it they system is not the problem, and just like our public schools we are going to throw more money at a system without looking at the root of the problem. In fact we could probably kill two birds with one stone by asking the parents to play with thier kids-outside(gasp) thus teaching them some valuable life lessons to which they could apply in school, and getting mom and dad away from the damn computer screen and doing something about thier poor health... Carry on... | ||
| Hootowl |
The left love quoting that debunked 10 year old UN report. They're still using it on the talk show circuit. Leftists guests on the talking head political shows bring it up all the time. I'd trust a ranking based on cancer survival rates etc. over one based on "fairness of payments" to judge the effectiveness of health care in a country. But I guess if you're just trying to hoodwink America, you'll use any old BS study that aligns with your party's mantra. | ||
| Blake |
America leads the world in cancer and heart disease survival rates. Jeff is right, as those are the two leading causes of death in America, they are truly the most vital measures of the quality of our health care system. I dare you John, to compare the health care and life expectancy of each American state to those of other states/nations in the world. Question: Where do our leading ten states in life expectancy rate compared to other nations? Please state the actual numbers. Our top 20% states rank right at the top you say? Then the idea that our health care system is indicted by the national average stat is proven bunk. Lifestyle greatly affects life span. To pretend that lifespan is mainly dependent upon quality of health care is dishonest. But dishonesty is one of the primary means to the ends employed by Progressives/Socialists/Communists. (Message edited by blake on March 09, 2010) | ||
| Ceejay |
I also think it is sad that I, as well as the folks I work with, just received a letter in the mail stating that I was going to receive another letter in the mail which would be the census questionaire-Did we(as in the US) need to spend 50+ million dollars to tell me in a letter that I was going to receive another letter? | ||
| Blake |
You are babbling nonsense or are really dumb. What is your point? To redirect the debate off-course? With the so-called federal "fair tax" as I understand it, everyone pays the same sales tax and everyone gets a standard set rebate at the end of the year. So in your example, Jim paid less tax because he purchased fewer goods and services. D'UH! What is the tax rate? Without knowing the income, there is no way to know. You seem stuck on the idea that tax rate is synonymous with tax burden. It isn't. As I understand it, tax burden is the amount in dollars that one pays per year. Tax rate is a ratio, namely the percentage of tax paid versus income earned. They are two completely different measures of tax. Two physically fit men who are each toting a 100 LB pack are bearing the same exact burden. If one man weighs 150 LB and the other weighs 220 LB, then they are being physically taxed at different rates, but again, their burdens are identical. The bigger man simply has more capacity for carrying that burden than the smaller man. | ||
| Hootowl |
Good, I'm not the only one pissed off about that. If this passes for logic at the federal level, lets let them control our health care too. | ||
| Blake |
Ceejay, I also think it is sad that I, as well as the folks I work with, just received a letter in the mail stating that I was going to receive another letter in the mail which would be the census questionaire-Did we(as in the US) need to spend 50+ million dollars to tell me in a letter that I was going to receive another letter? I agree. It was also strange to see all the different languages. | ||
| Hex |
It was also strange to see all the different languages. I disagree with that as long as English was the first one on the list. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_Unit ed_States "The United States does not have an official language; however, the majority of the population speaks English as a native language (some 82%)...." All politics all the time? | ||
| Drkside79 |
Never has never will. Incluso menos probablemente ahora que una buena porción de los Estados Unidos habla español | ||
| Hootowl |
I am also against having an official language. Most of the American Southwest spoke Spanish (and several other languages before that) prior to those areas becoming States. There is a long history of Spanish influence in the culture, food, and people here. A significant portion of the legal residents of America speak Spanish, and have for generations. They also speak English. I do not feel that we need to declare English as the official language, just because the folks who populated the East Coast only speak one language, nor do we need to declare Spanish as the official language. I think both Spanish and English should be taught in K-4. We are a multi-cultural and multi-lingual nation. I don't want that to change. I think it would diminish us as a nation and as a society. | ||
| Drkside79 |
It would be beneficial I will be enrolling my daughter in Spanish classes as soon as possible. No hablo español bien | ||
| Milt |
In Switzerland, many people speak English, German, French and Italian. Which reminds of an old joke - Q: What do they call someone who speaks 2 languages? A: Bilingual Q: Three languages? A: Trilingual Q: Lots of languages? A: Multilingual Q: Only one language? A: American (Message edited by milt on March 09, 2010) | ||
| Hex |
Yo hablo Español, un poquito. Und, Ich spreche Deutsch, ein bistien! And, I can read some French and Latin. Started practicing Japanese writing, but lost interest for now. (Message edited by hex on March 09, 2010) | ||
| Hootowl |
I know all the languages except Greek, and they're all Greek to me, but I'm trying to school myself. Learning another language as an adult is nearly impossible. Wish I had been taught Spanish in elementary school when my brain was still willing to creating new pathways in the language center. | ||
| Moxnix |
Hex. Hello, what's this? Our president is bent on ending sport fishing? http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/saltwater/news/ story?id=4975762 Hmm. Has Obamarx just shut down your fly rod business? | ||
| Hex |
Obviously a personal taunt Moxnix? I too have serious reservations about killing fish. That's why I practice capture and delicately release. | ||
| Strokizator |
I think you mean torture and release. | ||
| Hootowl |
Airbording a fish is not torture. It is thrown back before it suffocates. No harm done, just scares it a little. It's OK to eat fish 'cause they don't have any feelings...Nirvana | ||
| Hex |
Strokiz's right. But it's interesting how the ones that survive become smarter. That's why it's a sport. One fisherman competes against the other through the fish. I still eat them, and it would be a shame to loose the opportunity. But at some point they become the Buffalo and the Bald Eagle, and I'm glad they're still around. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The smartest fish is the one with all the holes in it's lips.  | ||
| Aesquire |
I can tell you that delivering many pounds of special mail....and it just being the warning that heavier mail is coming, is annoying. Monday's suck enough without census letters. ( also, because of the mass mailing, and because they said so, it's real cheap postage ) On the other hand, it's actually one of those jobs that the government is supposed to do, so I'm proud to be a small part of it all. I'm not even in Acorn. We do need to let the fish stocks replenish. Commercial fishing has fed a planet, and can kill off entire populations. Catch & release is fine with me. Take a picture, briefly interrogate, then return to wild. ( "where are the big fish? talk! or I'll go Jack Bauer on your fins!" ) Everyone should learn multiple languages, but it's lots easier when you are young. High school is too late. 1st grade is fine. | ||
| Moxnix |
No, Hex, it just came across as a cheap taunt as I could think of no good way to bring up the Prez going after anglers, of all people. I think you've got a great product in the perfect sport. Send me some flyers. I'll take them around to the posh angling shops here in St. Louis, if anyone has enough money to live large anymore. | ||
| Aesquire |
I'm all for Hex selling great gear. Why does this clip remind me of a shamwow ad? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE1R-xH5To | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I hope Hex becomes a giant corporation. | ||
| Blake |
Expand the market. If better (stiffer, lighter, stronger) for fishing poles, why not also vaulting poles? Tent poles? | ||
| Hex |
Yeah, vaulting poles, I've thought of them. I've got one design based on my architecture that actually limits flexibility to a single plane very efficiently. I predict the vaulter can run faster and be sloppier with his form because the rod corrects his subtle mistakes. Then I think of the liability, not enough money in that market to persue its design, and if successful, potential outlaw by the sport...That's why it works in fishing, no rules on rod design. Same with golf shaft, but guess what, PGA outlawed asymmetrical flexture, but there's always the duffer and training markets to persue. The design has not proven to be stiffer yet, but it has proven to be stronger--meaning that it can flex further and lift more weight than an equally materialed hollow shaft. That's good for fishing big fish. The rod that flexes only in a plane is interesting for fly casting, and for clutching extra strength in a fight. Moxnix, pm me your address, and some flyers will be in the mail the next day. | ||
| Hex |
I'm not a devout democrat. I've voted all over the board. I pretty much hate career politicians, just like career anybody's. Some say focused, I say narrow minded. Nancy's creepy. They all scare me a lot. Vote the bums out! I got lucky rooting for Obama this time, personally I just wish he would end our wars. Just win. Take victory. Own it. Reconstruction sucks, but at least your building something, not destroying it. WTC, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. I just read an article about how Detroit is returning suburbs to farm land. It's about time for that town, good job. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
If we are lucky, they will be able to scrub all evidence of Detroit from the map. Sad town. |
