Politics

[Bluto]

Good for California. THEY'RE BROKE! They can't AFFORD all the fancy schools and everything else they have.

Your point is analogous to a $40,000 factory worker buying a Rolls Royce and then pointing to his car as an example of how successful he is. It doesn't count if it's built on a mountain of debt.

(Regardless, state universities are within the scope of state governments. There are plenty of things that states and municipalities have the right to do that the federal government does not.)

Actually, since the GOP went the way of the dinosaurs the State has balanced its budget. So no the State is not "broke" and yes it can afford its fancy schools.

 

[irishpat183]

Actually, since the GOP went the way of the dinosaurs the State has balanced its budget. So no the State is not "broke" and yes it can afford its fancy schools.

Ahhhh if by "balanced budget" you mean cities filing for bankrupcy...than you are correct.


Come on. The reason CA is in the mess it's in, is because of the overwhelmingly leftist views of that state when it comes to spending money on garbage.

 

[Buster Bluth]

The reason CA is in the mess it's in, is because of the overwhelmingly leftist views of that state when it comes to spending money on garbage.

Elaborate please.

 

[Bluto]

And like a typical misinformed liberal, blaming Cuba's woes on us....LOL

You forget the Castro government talking all that money from the soviets and ****ing over their people??

You want to educate yourself (probably not) read PJ Orourke's "Eat the rich" and his article on Cuba and their constant whining and bitching about the US...it's pathetic and a crutch when it's been their OWN fault they suck.

Dude you need to re-read some history books. Castro reached out to the US post revolution (as did Ho Chi Min in Vietnam shortly after WW2) but we slammed the door in his face due to financial interests leaning on the Kennedy administration. Then the Bay of Pigs and repeated attempts to assassinate Castro didn't help the situation.

I'm not saying Castro was some good guy in a white hat. He did a lot of terrible things but so did the US and due to a bunch of kooks in Florida the US continues its cold war stance on Cuba, which is completely counter productive. In this particular dance of suckiness both sides are accountable, but in my opinion the US built the dance floor and hired the band.

 

[Bluto]

Ahhhh if by "balanced budget" you mean cities filing for bankrupcy...than you are correct.


Come on. The reason CA is in the mess it's in, is because of the overwhelmingly leftist views of that state when it comes to spending money on garbage.

Nope, it was a mess is because of Proposition 13, which requires a 2/3 majority to pass any revenue increases. This would include the State budget, bond measures, taxes on cigarettes, adjusting property taxes to reflect real market values and on and on.

There are a whole bunch of books written about this so before claiming to be an expert on California politics and its history please do everyone a favor and at least read California for Dummies or something similar. Thanks.

As to the State being "overwhelmingly leftist" you have obviously never been to the Central Valley or Riverside County.

 

[irishpat183]

Dude you need to re-read some history books. Castro reached out to the US post revolution (as did Mao in Vietnam shortly after WW2) but we slammed the door in his face due to financial interests leaning on the Kennedy administration. Then the Bay of Pigs and repeated attempts to assassinate Castro didn't help the situation.

I'm not saying Castro was some good guy in a white hat. He did a lot of terrible things but so did the US and due to a bunch of kooks in Florida the US continues its cold war stance on Cuba, which is completely counter productive. In this particular dance of suckiness both sides are accountable, but in my opinion the US built the dance floor and hired the band.

They lost their asses after the Soviet unions collapsed. They had no interest in us prior to that as they were happy dealing with commies. Then they come, hat in hand??? Oh poor pitiful us!!! Please US, help us!!

And you're blaming us?

LOL. Again, YOU need to educate yourself.

 

[Bluto]

Any real higher-ed metric would have to measure ROI, which I don't think anyone has access to. (And my hunch is that, if we did, gov't higher education wouldn't look too good...)

I'm guessing it would have to be specific to the degree awarded. So you would be comparing apples to apples. If that was the case I'm guessing med grads from USF, engineering grads from Cal Berkeley, Irvine ect. would see a great ROI.

 

[Buster Bluth]

They lost their asses after the Soviet unions collapsed. They had no interest in us prior to that as they were happy dealing with commies. Then they come, hat in hand??? Oh poor pitiful us!!! Please US, help us!!

And you're blaming us?

LOL. Again, YOU need to educate yourself.

And helping Cuba would create another market for American goods. Since we don't it's really hurting us a bit.

 

[irishpat183]

Nope, it was a mess is because of Proposition 13, which requires a 2/3 majority to pass any revenue increases. This would include the State budget, bond measures, taxes on cigarettes, adjusting property taxes to reflect real market values and on and on.

There are a whole bunch of books written about this so before claiming to be an expert on California politics and its history please do everyone a favor and at least read California for Dummies or something similar. Thanks.

As to the State being "overwhelmingly leftist" you have obviously never been to the Central Valley or Riverside County.

Who are being stepped on by the rest of the overwhelmingly leftist state.

Highest taxes in the land..yet you still blame prop 13? Which, you should love as it was really geared to protect older people from being taxed outta their homes. It's saved CA taxpayers BILLIONS.

And you act as if it's a problem to demand that 2/3 of your elected officals must agree before adding to your debt??


Your problme is SPENDING. Not more revenue. What is it with you people out there??

 

[Bluto]

Elaborate please.

They just suck, cause commies suck, cause they're left wing and share all their BBQ wings equally on game day! And the wings can't be extra spicy because it might offend some damn vegan who showed up uninvited! And, they are all Lady Gaga fans! Don't be so ignorant and God Bless Texas!!!!

 

[irishpat183]

And helping Cuba would create another market for American goods. Since we don't it's really hurting us a bit.

I'm not saying I agree with the continued embargo today...I'm simply explaining why they're in that situation.

But I agree it would help us now.


Cuba did this to Cuba. They picked our Cold War opponent and lost.

 

[irishpat183]

They just suck, cause commies suck, cause they're left wing and share all their BBQ wings equally on game day! And the wings can't be extra spicy because it might offend some damn vegan who showed up uninvited! And, they are all Lady Gaga fans! Don't be so ignorant and God Bless Texas!!!!

You forgot GUNS!!!!


MURICA!!


LOL

 

[ACamp1900]

The few red strongholds just recently went through redistricting... by a crazy coincidence all the of the redistricting seemed to favor the left...

Basic summary of why this state sucks

55 Reasons Why California Is The Worst State In America

Number 1 worst run state in the Union,…

The best and worst run states in America - NBC News.com

A state where tax dollars go to die…

2014 State Business Tax Climate Index | Tax Foundation

and of course the whole delta smelt fiasco has been just that…

Water Supplies Curtailed Once Again to Protect Delta Smelt | Association of California Water Agencies

But this is all due to the fact republicans had a say in this state back in 1987…

Different strokes for different folks obviously… but Cali is far from the utopia it was decades ago, idk how anyone could even argue that.

Anyway, if anything is to really be taken from this argument it should be that certain states work for certain people... and the more states are able to work on thier own behalf the better... keep the fed the hell out.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Cuba did this to Cuba. They picked our Cold War opponent and lost.

First of all, Castro did this to Cuba. Would you blame America for ACA?

I think Bluto's point is that Castro had no other choice in the face of negative American influence (I.e. trying to kill him left and right). I hear the same thing happened with Chavez and Iran, kicked out American oil business because of the raw deal Venezuelans got, and consequently had no other option as the US and US allies turned their back. Not saying it's true, I'm no expert on the matter, it's just what the Venezuelan I know says. It sorta makes since when you see the US topple countries and installing puppets in Latin America simply for business interests.

The US hasn't ever had a problem with a dictator running another country, he just needs to be our dictator, which Castro and Chavez weren't. That'd be the difference.

 

[Wild Bill]

Dude you need to re-read some history books. Castro reached out to the US post revolution (as did Mao in Vietnam shortly after WW2) but we slammed the door in his face due to financial interests leaning on the Kennedy administration. Then the Bay of Pigs and repeated attempts to assassinate Castro didn't help the situation.

I'm not saying Castro was some good guy in a white hat. He did a lot of terrible things but so did the US and due to a bunch of kooks in Florida the US continues its cold war stance on Cuba, which is completely counter productive. In this particular dance of suckiness both sides are accountable, but in my opinion the US built the dance floor and hired the band.

I believe your opinion would change if Cuba could do to us what we can do to them.

 

[Bluto]

Who are being stepped on by the rest of the overwhelmingly leftist state.

Highest taxes in the land..yet you still blame prop 13? Which, you should love as it was really geared to protect older people from being taxed outta their homes. It's saved CA taxpayers BILLIONS.

And you act as if it's a problem to demand that 2/3 of your elected officals must agree before adding to your debt??


Your problme is SPENDING. Not more revenue. What is it with you people out there??

I do not love prop 13. Here's why. It has artificially inflated my property tax rate so some guy with multiple holdings purchased pre 1978 (I believe that is when the law was passed) can effectively have the same property tax rate he had in 1978. Thus I am subsidizing Mr. Landlords use of the State's resources, which he wants to keep but does not want to pay for. So yes as a homeowner I can honestly say Prop 13 sucks butt and it has not saved me jack.

 

[Ndaccountant]

So most of us should have our health insurance increases in hand by now. Mine was up 12% and is about the same price for the worst/cheapest Obamacare option. $750/month for a family of five. If we could have dropped our maternity rider without losing grandfathered status we would have saved about $200/month.

Curious what others are seeing.

Family plan here (all families pay the same rate where I work).

I am contemplating switching plans next year. This year, I had a plan with a MOOP of $5000 for family, $2500 for individual, 80/20 with no deductible. My monthly premium was about $175. If I stay with this plan, my premium goes up to $209. No change in everything else.

If I switched to a new plan, it would have a deductible of $250/$500 and a MOOP of $2,500 (inclusive of deductible) for family and $1,250 for the individual. Still 80/20 and the family premium will be $390. Since the premium is before tax and I can use my FSA (pre-tax) for the $2,500, I could end up saving as much as $600 by going with the new plan depending on my actual medical bills. Wife and I are planning on adding to the family next year, and based on prior experience, it is very likely that we would realize those savings IF the baby would arrive in 2014.

So, based on my math, it would be about a $1,000 swing on whether or not we have another kid next year. The kicker is, due to some other events, we really wouldn't want to have the baby any earlier than late November. I am not sure on what I will do.

 

[Wild Bill]

My plan design wasn't so far off so incorporating the ACA BS wasn't overly expensive, thus "only" a 12% increase. Plus they put a lot of the provisions in last year so the cost was spread over two years. We had to qualify for these rates three years ago, we are/were healthy so we qualified for good rates for a fairly comprehensive plan. If I had taken a plan at about half the cost, I suspect the ACA requirements would have led to an increase more along the lines of the horror stories we all hear.
re
I'm interested in hearing first hand comparisons for what people had and paid versus what their options are now.

If I could have another chance at it, I would have dropped the maternity rider and upped my deductible before losing grandfathered status.

My employer told me they haven't received a price quote yet. I called BC/BL and they didn't have any information either. I already pay $440/month for my group policy HMO and I have no dependents. I can't imagine I'll see a significant increase, but at this point, I have no idea.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

I'm guessing it would have to be specific to the degree awarded. So you would be comparing apples to apples. If that was the case I'm guessing med grads from USF, engineering grads from Cal Berkeley, Irvine ect. would see a great ROI.

Y'all were debating whether the public schools do just as well as private, so I meant an ROI competition in that regard. [Total Public Dollars Spent] versus [Return].

 

[irishpat183]

My employer told me they haven't received a price quote yet. I called BC/BL and they didn't have any information either. I already pay $440/month for my group policy HMO and I have no dependents. I can't imagine I'll see a significant increase, but at this point, I have no idea.

Same here....I haven't received anything yet. I have both my wife and the two kiddos. I pay around $550 a month and have really good benny's.

 

[irishpat183]

I do not love prop 13. Here's why. It has artificially inflated my property tax rate so some guy with multiple holdings purchased pre 1978 (I believe that is when the law was passed) can effectively have the same property tax rate he had in 1978. Thus I am subsidizing Mr. Landlords use of the State's resources, which he wants to keep but does not want to pay for. So yes as a homeowner I can honestly say Prop 13 sucks butt and it has not saved me jack.

Wait a min...wasn't it BobD that said the other day that CA prices were inflated because "people want to live in CA"??

And he doesn't have the same rate...it allowed for no more than a 2% increase. So it's likely gone up.

 

[wizards8507]

Trolling healthcare.gov is a blast.

[4:45:16 pm]: Thanks for contacting Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat. Please wait while we connect you to someone who can help.

[4:45:19 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.

[4:45:53 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.

[4:46:06 pm]: Welcome! You're now connected to Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat.

Thanks for contacting us. My name is Ronald. To protect your privacy, please don't provide any personal information, like Social Security Number, or any other sensitive medical or personal information.

[4:46:31 pm]: Ronald
How may I help you?

[4:47:14 pm]: CALLER
Hello. I'm wondering why female "sterilization procedures" are covered, but "services related to a man's reproductive capacity, like vasectomies" are not covered.

[4:48:14 pm]: Ronald
Thank you. One moment please while I look that up.

[4:52:02 pm]: Ronald
Plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace must cover contraceptive methods and counseling for all women, as prescribed by a health care provider. These plans must cover the services without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider.

All Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods prescribed by a woman's doctor are covered in Marketplace plans. Some of the approved contraceptive methods include birth control pills, diaphragms, sponges, and intrauterine devices, also known as IUDs. Emergency contraception, such as Plan B and the prescription drug ella, are also included. Marketplace plans must cover sterilization procedures for women, as well as patient education and counseling.

Plans aren't required to cover drugs that induce abortions or services related to a man's ability to have children, such as vasectomies.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:16 pm]: Ronald
If your insurance plan is sponsored by certain exempt "religious employers," such as churches and other houses of worship, your plan does not have to cover contraceptive methods and counseling. If you work for an exempt religious employer and use contraceptive services, you may have to pay for them out-of-pocket.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:45 pm]: Ronald
Some nonprofit religious organizations do not have to pay for contraceptive coverage. However, if you receive insurance from a nonprofit religious organization, you will still have access to contraceptive services without a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider. In such cases, an insurer will make separate payments for the contraceptive services that you use.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:51 pm]: CALLER
That seems to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it treats men and women differently.

[4:54:29 pm]: Ronald
I apologize for the inconvenience.

[4:54:38 pm]: Ronald
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?

[4:54:55 pm]: CALLER
You didn't answer my first question.

[5:00:40 pm]: Ronald
Thank you for your patience. I am still researching that information.

[5:03:34 pm]: Ronald
Plans aren't required to cover drugs that induce abortions or services related to a man's ability to have children, such as vasectomies.

[5:05:59 pm]: CALLER
Yes, I'm aware of that. Why are women's reproductive procedures covered, but men's procedures are not?

 

[phgreek]

Trolling healthcare.gov is a blast.

[4:45:16 pm]: Thanks for contacting Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat. Please wait while we connect you to someone who can help.

[4:45:19 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.

[4:45:53 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.

[4:46:06 pm]: Welcome! You're now connected to Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat.

Thanks for contacting us. My name is Ronald. To protect your privacy, please don't provide any personal information, like Social Security Number, or any other sensitive medical or personal information.

[4:46:31 pm]: Ronald
How may I help you?

[4:47:14 pm]: CALLER
Hello. I'm wondering why female "sterilization procedures" are covered, but "services related to a man's reproductive capacity, like vasectomies" are not covered.

[4:48:14 pm]: Ronald
Thank you. One moment please while I look that up.

[4:52:02 pm]: Ronald
Plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace must cover contraceptive methods and counseling for all women, as prescribed by a health care provider. These plans must cover the services without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider.

All Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods prescribed by a woman's doctor are covered in Marketplace plans. Some of the approved contraceptive methods include birth control pills, diaphragms, sponges, and intrauterine devices, also known as IUDs. Emergency contraception, such as Plan B and the prescription drug ella, are also included. Marketplace plans must cover sterilization procedures for women, as well as patient education and counseling.

Plans aren't required to cover drugs that induce abortions or services related to a man's ability to have children, such as vasectomies.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:16 pm]: Ronald
If your insurance plan is sponsored by certain exempt "religious employers," such as churches and other houses of worship, your plan does not have to cover contraceptive methods and counseling. If you work for an exempt religious employer and use contraceptive services, you may have to pay for them out-of-pocket.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:45 pm]: Ronald
Some nonprofit religious organizations do not have to pay for contraceptive coverage. However, if you receive insurance from a nonprofit religious organization, you will still have access to contraceptive services without a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider. In such cases, an insurer will make separate payments for the contraceptive services that you use.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:51 pm]: CALLER
That seems to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it treats men and women differently.

[4:54:29 pm]: Ronald
I apologize for the inconvenience.

[4:54:38 pm]: Ronald
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?

[4:54:55 pm]: CALLER
You didn't answer my first question.

[5:00:40 pm]: Ronald
Thank you for your patience. I am still researching that information.

[5:03:34 pm]: Ronald
Plans aren't required to cover drugs that induce abortions or services related to a man's ability to have children, such as vasectomies.

[5:05:59 pm]: CALLER
Yes, I'm aware of that. Why are women's reproductive procedures covered, but men's procedures are not?

You dropped Con law on a tech support rep...that is seriously trolling....I laughed though. The response time was certainly below commercial standards...must be experiencing high call volume...hmmm...what caused that?

One thing that confused me though...was "Ronald" saying you could go around your employer to get free contraceptives anyway...and how is that funded...is the group premium cheaper...if not, then really WTF is the difference...

here is what I'm talking about..."Some nonprofit religious organizations do not have to pay for contraceptive coverage. However, if you receive insurance from a nonprofit religious organization, you will still have access to contraceptive services without a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider. In such cases, an insurer will make separate payments for the contraceptive services that you use."

WHAT?

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

55 Reasons Why California Is The Worst State In America

This is the craziest site I've ever read.

 

[palinurus]

Got word today from my employer that they are increasing my share of healthcare cost by 5% next year. I thought these costs were supposed to go down.

 

[wizards8507]

You dropped Con law on a tech support rep...that is seriously trolling....I laughed though. The response time was certainly below commercial standards...must be experiencing high call volume...hmmm...what caused that?

One thing that confused me though...was "Ronald" saying you could go around your employer to get free contraceptives anyway...and how is that funded...is the group premium cheaper...if not, then really WTF is the difference...

here is what I'm talking about..."Some nonprofit religious organizations do not have to pay for contraceptive coverage. However, if you receive insurance from a nonprofit religious organization, you will still have access to contraceptive services without a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider. In such cases, an insurer will make separate payments for the contraceptive services that you use."

WHAT?

My favorite part was:

"This seems like a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

 

[Bluto]

Wait a min...wasn't it BobD that said the other day that CA prices were inflated because "people want to live in CA"??

And he doesn't have the same rate...it allowed for no more than a 2% increase. So it's likely gone up.

Prices are inflated because California is pretty much built out in regards to its scarcest natural resource, water. I guarantee the same scenario will play out in Texas within 10 years.

Right, increases are set at 2% maximum, but only after the rate was reduced by reassessing properties at their 1975 values at a rate of 1% I believe. So yeah, I am subsidizing a bunch of landlords who bought property prior to Prop 13. This is by far one of the worst pieces of public policy to ever see the light of day.

 

[phgreek]

My favorite part was:

"This seems like a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

I laughed...

 

[BobD]

Trolling healthcare.gov is a blast.

[4:45:16 pm]: Thanks for contacting Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat. Please wait while we connect you to someone who can help.

[4:45:19 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.

[4:45:53 pm]: Please be patient while we're helping other people.

[4:46:06 pm]: Welcome! You're now connected to Health Insurance Marketplace Live Chat.

Thanks for contacting us. My name is Ronald. To protect your privacy, please don't provide any personal information, like Social Security Number, or any other sensitive medical or personal information.

[4:46:31 pm]: Ronald
How may I help you?

[4:47:14 pm]: CALLER
Hello. I'm wondering why female "sterilization procedures" are covered, but "services related to a man's reproductive capacity, like vasectomies" are not covered.

[4:48:14 pm]: Ronald
Thank you. One moment please while I look that up.

[4:52:02 pm]: Ronald
Plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace must cover contraceptive methods and counseling for all women, as prescribed by a health care provider. These plans must cover the services without charging a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider.

All Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods prescribed by a woman's doctor are covered in Marketplace plans. Some of the approved contraceptive methods include birth control pills, diaphragms, sponges, and intrauterine devices, also known as IUDs. Emergency contraception, such as Plan B and the prescription drug ella, are also included. Marketplace plans must cover sterilization procedures for women, as well as patient education and counseling.

Plans aren't required to cover drugs that induce abortions or services related to a man's ability to have children, such as vasectomies.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:16 pm]: Ronald
If your insurance plan is sponsored by certain exempt "religious employers," such as churches and other houses of worship, your plan does not have to cover contraceptive methods and counseling. If you work for an exempt religious employer and use contraceptive services, you may have to pay for them out-of-pocket.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:45 pm]: Ronald
Some nonprofit religious organizations do not have to pay for contraceptive coverage. However, if you receive insurance from a nonprofit religious organization, you will still have access to contraceptive services without a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible when they are provided by an in-network provider. In such cases, an insurer will make separate payments for the contraceptive services that you use.

For more information about specific contraceptive services your plan covers, check your plan's materials or ask your employer or benefits administrator.

[4:53:51 pm]: CALLER
That seems to violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it treats men and women differently.

[4:54:29 pm]: Ronald
I apologize for the inconvenience.

[4:54:38 pm]: Ronald
Do you have any other questions that I can help you with?

[4:54:55 pm]: CALLER
You didn't answer my first question.

[5:00:40 pm]: Ronald
Thank you for your patience. I am still researching that information.

[5:03:34 pm]: Ronald
Plans aren't required to cover drugs that induce abortions or services related to a man's ability to have children, such as vasectomies.

[5:05:59 pm]: CALLER
Yes, I'm aware of that. Why are women's reproductive procedures covered, but men's procedures are not?

There's this new healthcare law to attempt to help people that I don't agree with, and I hope will fail, so I'm gonna crank call an hourly employee that works there and waste their time....what is this Bevis and Butthead?

 

[ACamp1900]

There's this new healthcare law that attempts nothing more than to consolidate power over people that I don't agree with, and I hope will fail, so I'm gonna crank call an hourly employee that works there and waste their time....what is this Bevis and Butthead?

Fify