so whats up with these town hall meetings

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:40 am

huskerpunk Wrote:

I'm "debating" with one of my more conservative "friends" on Facebook about healthcare. He's a big Mark Levin fan ("Liberty & Tyranny"), so in other words, he thinks all liberals are Statists. He can't stand Obama (of course). I know it's a waste of his & my time, but sometimes I just can't help myself.

Anyway, in these posts between us, he makes the claim that ALL poor people are covered by Medicaid already. I point out that approximately 60% of people classified as "poor" are NOT covered by Medicaid because they make too much money (the working poor). He then comes back with a post that actually argues FOR the public option. How can you argue against healthcare reform if you don't even know what it is? From his post, I'm sure he is talking about "single-payer" instead of "public option".

Here's what he posted:

Quote:

"Medicaid recipients CAN see anyone they want unless the doctor doesn't accept Medicaid patients, which I don't know of any, at least around here. Those who work should pay for a plan on their own, not the taxpayers. There should be a more affordable plan that covers the basics, but these folks should be paying a premium for it like the rest of us. I don't understand why our lawmakers feel it is their duty to cover everyone with tax dollars. This is a Stateist view, and history proves Stateist views don't compare with capitalist ideals and their success. There are going to be those that we just can't cover, and as unfortunate as it is, it's okay. That's how capitalism works. Those in unfortunate circumstances have the freedom to improve themselves if they will apply themselves. It should be a shame, like it was 30 years ago, to be a welfare recipient, a food stamp recipient, etc. getting govt. help. Not today. Everyone thinks the government should take care of them."

Fun times!!! I haven't responded to him because I don't have access to Facebook at work, but I already know most of what I'm going to write. Anybody want to help me by telling me what you'd write? I'm trying to make it the last post on the subject, so I don't continue "arguing with a dining room table." ;-)

Dude, you are a bulldog on FB. I gotta give it up.

nobody · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:09 am

Ya know I've always found Al Franken to be an annoying little wienie who made a few funny films on Saturday Night Live and then wrote some crappy over rated books. But, I must admit that he actually does a really good job address some people accosting him in public on health care. He may be better as a politician.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCNs7Zpqo98

jewels santana · **Joined:** Thu Nov 04, 2004 2:36 pm **Posts:** 10198

nobody Wrote:

Ya know I've always found Al Franken to be an annoying little wienie who made a few funny films on Saturday Night Live and then wrote some crappy over rated books. But, I must admit that he actually does a really good job address some people accosting him in public on health care. He may be better as a politician.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCNs7Zpqo98

this is pretty great, and pretty wonderful to see people disagree and have a conversation.

huskerpunk · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 1:18 pm

Yail Bloor Wrote:

huskerpunk Wrote:

I'm "debating" with one of my more conservative "friends" on Facebook about healthcare. He's a big Mark Levin fan ("Liberty & Tyranny"), so in other words, he thinks all liberals are Statists. He can't stand Obama (of course). I know it's a waste of his & my time, but sometimes I just can't help myself.

Anyway, in these posts between us, he makes the claim that ALL poor people are covered by Medicaid already. I point out that approximately 60% of people classified as "poor" are NOT covered by Medicaid because they make too much money (the working poor). He then comes back with a post that actually argues FOR the public option. How can you argue against healthcare reform if you don't even know what it is? From his post, I'm sure he is talking about "single-payer" instead of "public option".

Here's what he posted:

Quote:

"Medicaid recipients CAN see anyone they want unless the doctor doesn't accept Medicaid patients, which I don't know of any, at least around here. Those who work should pay for a plan on their own, not the taxpayers. There should be a more affordable plan that covers the basics, but these folks should be paying a premium for it like the rest of us. I don't understand why our lawmakers feel it is their duty to cover everyone with tax dollars. This is a Stateist view, and history proves Stateist views don't compare with capitalist ideals and their success. There are going to be those that we just can't cover, and as unfortunate as it is, it's okay. That's how capitalism works. Those in unfortunate circumstances have the freedom to improve themselves if they will apply themselves. It should be a shame, like it was 30 years ago, to be a welfare recipient, a food stamp recipient, etc. getting govt. help. Not today. Everyone thinks the government should take care of them."

Fun times!!! I haven't responded to him because I don't have access to Facebook at work, but I already know most of what I'm going to write. Anybody want to help me by telling me what you'd write? I'm trying to make it the last post on the subject, so I don't continue "arguing with a dining room table." ;-)

Dude, you are a bulldog on FB. I gotta give it up.

Mostly because I was off work for two months after my two back surgeries. Before that, I rarely spent any time on FB at all. It helps that I live in the bible belt, and that people disagree with me on almost every political issue... ;-)

But, thanks... I was actually thinking of toning it down. I'm getting exhausted being pissed off all the time about some of my dumb friends.

mugwump67 · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 1:34 pm

I saw that one and sucessfully avoided the urge to respond.

The dumb ones do get exhausting, but I've only got a couple treestumps amongst my fb group and my profile's not public, so I figure they're just embarassing themselves when they post that kind of crap on my page.

toots · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 1:39 pm

i was thinking about my hand injury, and a thought just occurred to me...

i broke my hand snowboarding with my dad in whistler BC. i didn't have insurance, i was 24, and my dad's a sink-or-swim type guy, so he wasn't gonna help if he could help it.

so we worked out a deal. he'd pay for the x-rays and tests and i'd pay for the procedure.

i got x-rayed in a canadian clinic, then scheduled a surgery for two weeks later in indiana, which cost me 5 grand.

i'm thinking that bastard got the better deal

MontyTheMongoose · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 5:36 pm

toots and the midols Wrote:

i was thinking about my hand injury, and a thought just occurred to me...

i broke my hand snowboarding with my dad in whistler BC. i didn't have insurance, i was 24, and my dad's a sink-or-swim type guy, so he wasn't gonna help if he could help it.

so we worked out a deal. he'd pay for the x-rays and tests and i'd pay for the procedure.

i got x-rayed in a canadian clinic, then scheduled a surgery for two weeks later in indiana, which cost me 5 grand.

i'm thinking that bastard got the better deal

Your father wasn't just given a licence to print money. By hook, by crook, he had to earn that.

You got played, homes -- & LooGAR, Bloor, & the rest of the money-makers, & pointedly, even their understudy, Squirrrgggle (who seeths when anything but Georgia football comes up), salute your dad. He knows how to get AND keep what is his.

toots · **Posted:** Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:30 pm

MAX TARDCORE Wrote:

toots and the midols Wrote:

i was thinking about my hand injury, and a thought just occurred to me...

i broke my hand snowboarding with my dad in whistler BC. i didn't have insurance, i was 24, and my dad's a sink-or-swim type guy, so he wasn't gonna help if he could help it.

so we worked out a deal. he'd pay for the x-rays and tests and i'd pay for the procedure.

i got x-rayed in a canadian clinic, then scheduled a surgery for two weeks later in indiana, which cost me 5 grand.

i'm thinking that bastard got the better deal

Your father wasn't just given a licence to print money. By hook, by crook, he had to earn that.

You got played, homes -- & LooGAR, Bloor, & the rest of the money-makers, & pointedly, even their understudy, Squirrrgggle (who seeths when anything but Georgia football comes up), salute your dad. He knows how to get AND keep what is his.

i imagine your avatar saying all that

seafoam · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:59 am

huskerpunk Wrote:

I'm "debating" with one of my more conservative "friends" on Facebook about healthcare. He's a big Mark Levin fan ("Liberty & Tyranny"), so in other words, he thinks all liberals are Statists. He can't stand Obama (of course). I know it's a waste of his & my time, but sometimes I just can't help myself.

Anyway, in these posts between us, he makes the claim that ALL poor people are covered by Medicaid already. I point out that approximately 60% of people classified as "poor" are NOT covered by Medicaid because they make too much money (the working poor). He then comes back with a post that actually argues FOR the public option. How can you argue against healthcare reform if you don't even know what it is? From his post, I'm sure he is talking about "single-payer" instead of "public option".

Here's what he posted:

Quote:

"Medicaid recipients CAN see anyone they want unless the doctor doesn't accept Medicaid patients, which I don't know of any, at least around here. Those who work should pay for a plan on their own, not the taxpayers. There should be a more affordable plan that covers the basics, but these folks should be paying a premium for it like the rest of us. I don't understand why our lawmakers feel it is their duty to cover everyone with tax dollars. This is a Stateist view, and history proves Stateist views don't compare with capitalist ideals and their success. There are going to be those that we just can't cover, and as unfortunate as it is, it's okay. That's how capitalism works. Those in unfortunate circumstances have the freedom to improve themselves if they will apply themselves. It should be a shame, like it was 30 years ago, to be a welfare recipient, a food stamp recipient, etc. getting govt. help. Not today. Everyone thinks the government should take care of them."

Fun times!!! I haven't responded to him because I don't have access to Facebook at work, but I already know most of what I'm going to write. Anybody want to help me by telling me what you'd write? I'm trying to make it the last post on the subject, so I don't continue "arguing with a dining room table." ;-)

Cheers to you husker on whatever response you render. I just had a measly loss of a finger tip and the health maze has been a constant battle and expanded from a finger problem to a minor cardiology problem, literally. We have great insurance, however, surgery and facility coverage has been a nightmare. I got put in a corner over ill advice etc. We are in for a fight over a finger tip. I'm ok, still healthy, but outright disgusted.

no guru · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:04 am

mugwump67 Wrote:

The dumb ones do get exhausting, but I've only got a couple treestumps amongst my fb group and my profile's not public, so I figure they're just embarassing themselves when they post that kind of crap on my page.

I have a harder time with the "intelligent" ones who are so angry and looking to blame that they have stats and resources to back up their every rant, even though the origin of same are specious and the premises they begin with false.

The clueless ones are just sad. But the conspiracy right-of-the-constitution-party ones are looking to fight and come armed with shitloads of detailed talking points, Bertrand Russell quotes and absolute contempt for disagreement.

They're very tiring because I start from the premise the bullshit is bullshit and I shouldn't have to point out obvious lies and fabrications while enduring scorn and anger management issues.

I'm not Teddy Kennedy, don't feel I should have to back you up to the beginning of every accusation tendril and go "this part here is crap thus your whole argument collapses." I'm just a dude who thinks people should already be able to see that for themselves.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:49 pm

MAX TARDCORE Wrote:

You got played, homes -- & LooGAR, Bloor, & the rest of the money-makers, & pointedly, even their understudy, Squirrrgggle (who seeths when anything but Georgia football comes up), salute your dad. He knows how to get AND keep what is his.

does it bug you that you're so incredibly wrong so incredibly often? Or is it like a warm familiar old blanket now? I'm genuinely curious. What did you do before you had Loog in your life? Different days, different windmills I guess.

huskerpunk · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:28 pm

Okay, this is a new one... not specifically tied to the town hall meetings or healthcare, but funny nonetheless.

One of my wife's "friends" on FB had posted something from foxnews.com about the whole Obama speaking to schools "controversy". She & some of her friends were going back & forth about pulling their kids from school on Tuesday, saying they didn't want their kids exposed to "liberal brainwashing", and condemning the wording of the worksheets as "something a dictator would do", and some were praising our geographic location (..."I'm so glad I live in the bible belt where our school probably won't even show it..."). My wife made a comment about it to disagree with them and being glad that our daughters will get to see it, so that opened up the posting to me. So I made a comment asking them exactly how Obama was "trampling their beliefs and values" (a phrase they had used earlier)? I got piled on by all this woman's friends calling me a liberal crazy who can't tolerate other people's viewpoints (they didn't see the irony in that attack on me). I went a little too far (I guess) by stating "... yeah, the bible belt. The highest concentration of hypocrites per capita in the U.S." Oops, then I really got lambasted. People calling me a person full of hatred for anyone with a differing opinion from mine (again, the irony of this was lost on them). I then went on to explain that I voted for Bush in 2000, and that the majority of my friends are actually conservatives whose opinions I respect.... yada yada yada..."why do people think Obama is evil?"

Anyway, today, I posted the link to the full release of what Obama was going to say, etc. on her original posting (so they could actually see how innocuous it was), and she proceeds to drop my wife as a friend so that I can't have access to make any more comments. My wife didn't care, since she really never cared for the girl anyway, she was just an acquaintance from her MOPS group....

Anyway, I guess I'm the intolerant ass in this story... ;-)

I'm going to try to refrain from posting any more political stuff for a while (it's just too ridiculous).

This is now the fourth "friend" that has dumped me or my wife just because we voted for Obama and continue to defend him.

toots · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:48 pm

toots · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:49 pm

^is that one of your wife's friends?^

saint · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:28 pm **Posts:** 4271

toots and the midols Wrote:

LOL.

huskerpunk · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:01 pm

toots and the midols Wrote:

^is that one of your wife's friends?^

Luckily, no... :-)

toots · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:03 pm

Saint Wrote:

toots and the midols Wrote:

LOL.

on the original board this was posted on, someone said the best way to read this is to imagine her checking her FB as the plane taxis, house sold, job quit...

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:25 pm

Shit that's awesome.

timmyjoe42 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 9:47 pm

Maybe she's really looking to live in a place where she won't need to shave or shower anymore.

Cap'n Squirrgle · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:28 pm

Portland is much closer than Germany

mutty · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:30 pm

I'm moving to overseas!

classic

Kingfish · **Posted:** Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:47 pm

There is a chance that she's not serious since none of us know her or her sense of humor. I mean if she knows where Bamberg is, then it's likely she knows about Germany's economy.

seafoam · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 12:33 am

About Obama hypnobamming the chilren:
Talk of the Nation(Neil Conan)
paraphrasing:

Caller: Well, I told my school I do not want him subjected to it. I will pull him out for the day and I totally object to it as forum and theatre for a President to speak to the children. He's got an agenda.

NC: Do you know other Presidents have done it in the past? Reagan and 1st G W Bush?

Caller: But he's got an agenda.

NC: As so does any President.

----------------------

This Week Round Table: Same Topic

paraphrasing

Stephanpls: Let's talk about Obama's Speech to the cheelren.

GWill: My Goodness[exasperation hands in air flopped to desk] Why does a President have to speak to kids. Why can't the Federal Government just stay away from education?

Round Table Guest Lady with Title: [nonplussed, I gather looking at a smart man with a dumb comment] He's speaking to public educated children. . . and so on

-----------

I read GWill. I respect his rationale most of the times, but that reaction stirred me pissed. He looked and sounded totally elitist at that moment.

toots · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 1:04 am

mutty Wrote:

I'm moving to overseas!

classic

i hope she has fun in to overseas

Yail Bloor · **Posted:** Tue Sep 08, 2009 8:49 am

seafoam Wrote:

About Obama hypnobamming the chilren:
Talk of the Nation(Neil Conan)
paraphrasing:

Caller: Well, I told my school I do not want him subjected to it. I will pull him out for the day and I totally object to it as forum and theatre for a President to speak to the children. He's got an agenda.

NC: Do you know other Presidents have done it in the past? Reagan and 1st G W Bush?

Caller: But he's got an agenda.

NC: As so does any President.

----------------------

This Week Round Table: Same Topic

paraphrasing

Stephanpls: Let's talk about Obama's Speech to the cheelren.

GWill: My Goodness[exasperation hands in air flopped to desk] Why does a President have to speak to kids. Why can't the Federal Government just stay away from education?

Round Table Guest Lady with Title: [nonplussed, I gather looking at a smart man with a dumb comment] He's speaking to public educated children. . . and so on

-----------

I read GWill. I respect his rationale most of the times, but that reaction stirred me pissed. He looked and sounded totally elitist at that moment.

George Will should stick to writing and talking about baseball.

so whats up with these town hall meetings

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