Political Discussion

[schel]

It definately looks as though Obama or Clinton will be the next president...

Hope your right, all this bickering between the 2 could land the McCain in office and you think things are bad right now with Bush in office well vote for McCain and we'll just enjoy another 4 years of bad economy.

Best thing they could do quit fighting and join forces and go from there.

Schel

[schel]

Oh and another thing politics and religion should never be mixed.

Schel

[HRx]

Oh and another thing politics and religion should never be mixed.

Schel

I definately agree that politics should never been mixed with politics, and that's a major reason why many people despise Bush too.

[HRx]

It's still tough to say whether it will be Mcain and Clinton or Obama right now because the numbers are changing so fast and seem to be different from one source to another. Whether it's Clinton or Obama...I still think a Democratic will be the next President based on all the nuetral polls that have been taken.

[schel]

I sure hope the democrats get in office also. If they don't, we may be in for the worst time of our lives. Now I know why my grandparents who lived through the depression, hoarding, & using sparingly of everything. Times are so tight now that I can't immagine things being any worse than they are now. Just wait till gas is up another 1-2 dollars a gallon.
Sigh.....
Schel

[millerc507]

Amen to gone with drug reps. . . my husband and I were talking about this the other day. Basically our health insurance stinks so with my sons asthma and chronic allergies, we are going to have to start paying for them out of pocket till we meet our $2500 deductible. At $850/mth. just for meds, I don't guess it will take long to meet but I can't figure out how we are going to pay for it. Drug reps make six figures. I understand these companies have to pay their R&D to keep looking for new drugs. But, what is the real purpose of these reps/pushers? We had to take our son to the ER two weeks ago on a Sunday, $1800 for 4 hours, including $141 for a strep test and $551 for respiratory therapy. The dude came in for 10 minutes and gave him a breathing treatment--I could have done that. We don't even have the physician's bill yet--that is always separate. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!

[schel]

Amen to gone with drug reps. . . my husband and I were talking about this the other day. Basically our health insurance stinks so with my sons asthma and chronic allergies, we are going to have to start paying for them out of pocket till we meet our $2500 deductible. At $850/mth. just for meds, I don't guess it will take long to meet but I can't figure out how we are going to pay for it. Drug reps make six figures. I understand these companies have to pay their R&D to keep looking for new drugs. But, what is the real purpose of these reps/pushers? We had to take our son to the ER two weeks ago on a Sunday, $1800 for 4 hours, including $141 for a strep test and $551 for respiratory therapy. The dude came in for 10 minutes and gave him a breathing treatment--I could have done that. We don't even have the physician's bill yet--that is always separate. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!

Should I tell you the bad news now?? Do you know how much that strep test really cost? About $25.00 for a rapid and another 25.00- 50.00 if they grow it out. What do they charge you on your bill? At least over a hundred! Minute clinic charges $50.00 to go in for a rapid strep and the doctors office... $100.00 to 200.00 for an office visit, to have him look in the throat and the clinical assistant has already swabbed the throat and sent it to lab where they do the rapid strep test and it basically is like a pregnancy test where they put 4 drops of one solution and 4 drops of another solution into a tube, mix the swab, let it sit for 60 seconds and then drop the solution into a window and wait for it like a pregnancy test for 5 minutes if you have 2 red lines its positive if you have 1 it's negative.
And...that neb treatment... that is basically very cheap to do since the nebulizer is used over and over and the med cost very little but the mark up in the ER is HUGE!!! And how long did you have to wait before you got into a room and then how long before you got to actually see a doctor?

And your question to

"But, what is the real purpose of these reps/pushers?" To promote the brand name drug, kind of like a designer piece of clothing with a big name, thats the same for the drug version vs a generic which is the same for most. Not all drugs, but most. Certain drugs in generics do work the same, however certain drugs such as coumadin vs the generic warfarin does get a different result. Also antidepressants can be the same in that catagory (generic vs brand name). Bottom line MORE MONEY they get to charge, if there is not a generic.

You can bet that bill from the ER is going to be sky high. And for what? Something that could have been a fraction of the cost had we had socialistic medicine or better straight accross the board equal cost HMO's. Because if Patient #1 has Health Partners and Patient #2 has Blue Cross and Patient # 3 has Medica and they all need the same things done, the cost on all of them is going to be different on what you pay. Now tell me how is that fair? It's not. Everything should be the same and not out of this world as far as how much it cost to get care.

Our clinc has banned drug reps and samples for just anyone. They have a program called medication assistance that you can get help with samples, but don't make more than 12,000 in income per year gross or "We can't help you!" What a ****ing joke!!

Ok I'll get off my high horse now and move on. That's what will affect my voting in the future as far as presidnet, Obama has great thoughts on universal health care, however I worry that he is "dreamy" with "I'm going to do this when I get elected" and then it doesn't happen.

I remember when Bill Clinton was in office one of the things they said that no one should be without health care in America, however that never happened. Don't get me wrong, things were great when they were in office, but we need action not just not talk.

Sorry if I come across angry about this subject, I am not mad at you, I am mad at this countrys system on health care and the politicians that have no clue on what it is like to need care and you can't afford it. Only way they would understand is to send them to the opposite side to experience it for themselves. Kind of like that movie with Eddie Murphy Trading Places... Maybe they should remake the movie with a insurance plan just to show what it is like to have crap for coverage with a HMO.

Ok, I'll quit griping now and close.
Lets just hope that the right canidate gets elected, otherwise I feel this country is headed for the toilet if things keep going the way they are going.

Schel

[millerc507]

Schel. . . absolutely no offense taken. I believe we are on the same page. I never felt your anger directed at me but at the system--same as mine.
The $141 was just for the step test. I got an itemized bill. It was ridiculous.
Thankfully, his pediatrician has helped us out a lot with the samples. She knows I am not abusing the "sample" system and that I have incurred my fair share of medical expenses.

[schel]

Schel. . . absolutely no offense taken. I believe we are on the same page. I never felt your anger directed at me but at the system--same as mine.
The $141 was just for the step test. I got an itemized bill. It was ridiculous.
Thankfully, his pediatrician has helped us out a lot with the samples. She knows I am not abusing the "sample" system and that I have incurred my fair share of medical expenses.

Hope your clinic doesn't go to NO samples like our clinic did. Do you know that when we did have samples, any that expired used to go to 3rd world countries. What about our country and those who can't afford meds but make more that the measly 12,000 and can't get samples.. I even suggested we go to vouchers to bring to the pharmacys and that was a no go for the clinic also. Why? $$!

Bottom line, if the samples are in the clinic, staff, docs, and patients will not come in for visits and would call to get samples left at the front desk for what they needed. So the clinic is out a $100 - $200 dollar bill because the clinical assistant left samples at the front desk and the patient comes to the doctor less often.

I know this country's medical system is in the toilet!

I had a long talk with my doc today when I went in since I was sick and found out how bad things have gotten for them also. (The doc's) She told me that bottom line for them is the mighty dollar also. They used to make 80% on the patients they used to see now they make 20% and the HMO's and the coorporation take the rest. She said the way they set up the billing, she makes less than a male physician. It's kind of confusing how she explained it but it is true.

I don't know what the answer is, but I do know "The system is broke and needs to be fixed!"

Schel

[HRx]

Did anyone else watch the video clip of Chelsea Clinton responding a college student's questions about how her mother handled the Lewinsky scandal? She should've been prepped well in advance about the likelihood off being asked this question and how to best respond. Her snippy response definately didn't help her Hillary's efforts any. A well prepared answer would've been an excellent opportunity for Chelsea to articulate how her mother's emotional, and mental strongs and resilience would be great characteristics to have as a President.

You can read about this at: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/poli...on_says-2.html

[Bandit]

I agreed with Chelsea as it is no ones business. No matter what she would have said good, the question being asked, to me, has nothing to do with politics & she probably felt that any answer would have been used against her. Not by the person asking but the media in general...so now she can just look like a snobby child without a bunch of hysteria.

She could have said it with a little more grace or better choice of words but then again that is the kind of stuff we say when we are in our twenties. She was over the top rude & that is what made her look bad for someone campaigning. JMHO

[HRx]

It is "our" business though...lol the question wasn't remotely close to being inappropriate. The kid didn't ask about sexual specifics involving the scandal. Lacking class/tact seems to run in the Clinton family. lol

[Bandit]

I guess it is your business if you want to be nosey or keep something that is over & dead going forever. She had nothing to do with what her husband did or did she?

What two consenting adults do behind closed doors is no one elses business as far as I am concerned. However, if this were something happening right now & she was doing the cheating then I would agree that it is our business because I do not like leaders who cheat on their spouses.


so if you cheated on your spouse 15 years ago does that make it my business? or only if you want to be president & or only if it was your spouse who did the cheating?

[danaf]

I beg to differ with you Bandit - that scandal was totally our business. We were paying the President's salary and we payed for the ads he aired on tv where he lied, and then later apologized for lying. Now his wife is running and if she wins, he'll be the 'First Man?". Totally our business.

And yeah - Chelsea could have turned this negative into a positive for her mother.

To be honest, as a woman - I have to question her 'forgiveness' of that situation esp since it was so public. I don't know any woman who would have forgiven that bs unless there is a greater prize in eye. I mean, let's be realistic - when your spouse disrespects you that much - it's hard not to be resentful. I believe she did so because she had presidential aspirations back then and she thought 'forgiving' him would look better in the public eye. And - well, if she had divorced him over it - she would have been shut out of the very circles she needed to be where she is at now. Ambitious? Yes. But she's a woman without integrity.

[FLBK7]

I beg to differ with you Bandit - that scandal was totally our business. We were paying the President's salary and we payed for the ads he aired on tv where he lied, and then later apologized for lying. Now his wife is running and if she wins, he'll be the 'First Man?". Totally our business.

And yeah - Chelsea could have turned this negative into a positive for her mother.

To be honest, as a woman - I have to question her 'forgiveness' of that situation esp since it was so public. I don't know any woman who would have forgiven that bs unless there is a greater prize in eye. I mean, let's be realistic - when your spouse disrespects you that much - it's hard not to be resentful. I believe she did so because she had presidential aspirations back then and she thought 'forgiving' him would look better in the public eye. And - well, if she had divorced him over it - she would have been shut out of the very circles she needed to be where she is at now. Ambitious? Yes. But she's a woman without integrity.

The details of the scandal were very public, so public that most of us eventually got sick of the constant coverage. But what we don't know, and will never know, is what REALLY happened in the aftermath between the husband and wife, behind the scenes. None of us knows. And therefore I think that none of us should jump to conclusions and much less, judge.

I think your statement that Hillary is "a woman without integrity" may be little hasty, presumptuous, and also harsh. You don't KNOW exactly why the Clintons remained together. Maybe they do love each other deeply? We just don't KNOW.

My mom didn't have a "greater prize in the eye" to quote you. But my mom did forgive my dad an affair he had 12 years into their marriage, which produced an illegitimate child. In the small town they lived in, this was a full-fledged SCANDAL in capitals. They loved each other and weathered it out. It took a few years, but my mom finally fully forgave my dad, accepted the child (whom he supported totally), spent time rebuilding their relationship, and remained quite happily married for 37 years until he passed away. No one ever questioned my mom's integrity for remaining with my dad, who was a well-known attorney and councilman.

I've learned to be very, very slow to judge others. If ever.