Politics

[NDFANnSouthWest]

what a disaster..if this was a corporation everyone would of been fired! even the CEO!

 

[ab2cmiller]

Anyone get some free pizza at the Opt-Out tailgate this weekend?
Generation Opportunity brings its “Opt-Out” tailgate to Notre Dame

 

[phgreek]

Anyone get some free pizza at the Opt-Out tailgate this weekend?
Generation Opportunity brings its “Opt-Out” tailgate to Notre Dame

... it looked pretty fun/funny. I love the Creepy uncle Sam.

 

[phgreek]

Obama: Republicans...hostage taking terrorists

Obama: Iran...let's give them the benefit of the doubt

Found on twitter today

...must have inspired this:

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Mr. Fundamental Transformation might have his lowest approval ratings in 5 years, but he sure as hell still has himself convinced.

Obama On Obamacare: "The Product Is Good And People Want It" | Video | RealClearPolitics

 

[phgreek]

And a day removed from more rhetoric...here we go: More delays, but more burden upon small business to get a tax credit...GREAT.

From the Washington Post...

With this new delay, small businesses will likely see little change in the way they purchase health insurance until 2015. They will, however, need to purchase one of the plans sold on the SHOP marketplace, through a broker, if they want to access a health law tax credit available to employers with fewer than 25 employees.

That tax credit first became available in 2010 regardless of where a company purchased coverage. Beginning in 2014, companies will need to buy through the marketplace to continue receiving that financial assistance, worth as much as 50 percent of their workers' premiums. In years past, the tax credit was capped at 35 percent of workers' premiums.

The federal delay effects the 36 states where the federal government is running the health insurance exchange. It does not change the small business options in the 14 states and the District of Columbia that are running their own exchanges.

The White House announced last April a one-year delay to the "consumer choice" function in the SHOP exchange, which would allow each employee to pick their own insurance plan, pushing that functionality back until the 2015 open enrollment season.

That delay was followed with another setback in September when the White House announced that online shopping in the small business exchange would not be available when open enrollment started in October.

Under the new Obama administration proposal, small businesses will now have to "go directly to an agent, broker or to an insurance company with plans certified by the Marketplace," the Q&A document states. "The insurer must agree to offer direct enrollment in SHOP coverage and to conduct enrollment according to HHS requirements."

The agent or broker will "help the employer fill out a paper application for SHOP eligibility and send it in to the SHOP Marketplace."

 

[Bluto]

what a disaster..if this was a corporation everyone would of been fired! even the CEO!

Actually, upper management and BOD's would get huge severance packages and new jobs/ positions running other companies into the ground.

Anybody that compares the private sector to the public sector as an apples to apples type comparison lacks a basic understanding of civics and or public policy in my opinion.

As to the ACA. The website shortcomings say more about the federal procurement and contracting process than anything. Cluster f*$ks like some of what is happening now come with the territory. Instead of looking for solutions however, the GOP per usual wants to stamp its collective feet and throw the baby out with the bathwater. As to the States that failed to set up their own exchanges they should share in the culpability of this being a mess and put all that "States" right BS they've been spewing to bed. Here was a chance to shine and show they didn't "need the Fed" holding their hands every step of the way and instead they chose to do nothing.

I personally know five or six families that have obtained affordable policies through the California exchange website.

 

[johnnycando]

I love it.

Thanks to obamacare, my insurance has skyrocketed in cost.

 

[connor_in]

And a day removed from more rhetoric...here we go: More delays, but more burden upon small business to get a tax credit...GREAT.

From the Washington Post...

With this new delay, small businesses will likely see little change in the way they purchase health insurance until 2015. They will, however, need to purchase one of the plans sold on the SHOP marketplace, through a broker, if they want to access a health law tax credit available to employers with fewer than 25 employees.

That tax credit first became available in 2010 regardless of where a company purchased coverage. Beginning in 2014, companies will need to buy through the marketplace to continue receiving that financial assistance, worth as much as 50 percent of their workers' premiums. In years past, the tax credit was capped at 35 percent of workers' premiums.

The federal delay effects the 36 states where the federal government is running the health insurance exchange. It does not change the small business options in the 14 states and the District of Columbia that are running their own exchanges.

The White House announced last April a one-year delay to the "consumer choice" function in the SHOP exchange, which would allow each employee to pick their own insurance plan, pushing that functionality back until the 2015 open enrollment season.

That delay was followed with another setback in September when the White House announced that online shopping in the small business exchange would not be available when open enrollment started in October.

Under the new Obama administration proposal, small businesses will now have to "go directly to an agent, broker or to an insurance company with plans certified by the Marketplace," the Q&A document states. "The insurer must agree to offer direct enrollment in SHOP coverage and to conduct enrollment according to HHS requirements."

The agent or broker will "help the employer fill out a paper application for SHOP eligibility and send it in to the SHOP Marketplace."

Let's see here...the new delay (wonder if that's legal considering it is based on a congressionally passed law? but that's another story)..is until November of 2014...wonder why they chose that date? I wouldn't cynically suggest trying to get past election day day...would I?

 

[irishff1014]

Yet another set back. Get use to this.

Obamacare small business online sign-up delayed

 

[irishff1014]

Yet another set back. Get use to this.

Obamacare small business online sign-up delayed

 

[phgreek]

Actually, upper management and BOD's would get huge severance packages and new jobs/ positions running other companies into the ground..

...only the ones working for companies deemed by uncle dumbass as too big to fail...

Anybody that compares the private sector to the public sector as an apples to apples type comparison lacks a basic understanding of civics and or public policy in my opinion. ..

the problem with public policy and its purveyors is lack of accountability...as a general rule accountability exists in the private sector.

As to the ACA. The website shortcomings say more about the federal procurement and contracting process than anything. Cluster f*$ks like some of what is happening now come with the territory. Instead of looking for solutions however, the GOP per usual wants to stamp its collective feet and throw the baby out with the bathwater. As to the States that failed to set up their own exchanges they should share in the culpability of this being a mess and put all that "States" right BS they've been spewing to bed. Here was a chance to shine and show they didn't "need the Fed" holding their hands every step of the way and instead they chose to do nothing.

Yup...uncle dumbass is too stupid to procure much of anything without SETA support or an integrating contractor...regardless of what you think the GOP is doing...or not doing...the simple fact of the matter is, there isn't much wisdom in railroading major legislation on a partisan basis...and if they thought they needed the GOP to be successful implementing it...it was MONUMENTALLY STUPID to pass the legislation that way....now wasn't it. Further if you didn't have the backing of the governors, and again you needed them to execute it was MONUMENTALLY STUPID to pass legislation like that.

NO ONE is going to try and save this POS because it was a bad plan...and all the deflection in the world won't change how it happened. Success or failure ..its all Democrat and Liberal Doing...if it works they get all the credit...if it fails it'll be the anchor hanging on them at the bottom of the ocean. And honestly I'd have been a little more plugged-in and concerned if I were "the whitehouse"...WTF?

I personally know five or six families that have obtained affordable policies through the California exchange website.

...all of you share the same rock? Many...many...many more people negatively impacted by this...

 

[GoIrish41]

We all know there have been problems with the website and other parts of the rollout. What good comes of posting every new article that states what we already know? I don't recall the Dems naming each soldier who was killed in the Iraqi war that was started by the GOP president. How 'bout we talk about this in 6 months when the hyperbolic nonsense fades a bit. By then, we'll know how many actually signed up and if it is helping or hurting. This is pointless.

 

[ACamp1900]

Obamacare crisis can’t be fixed; flaws are fundamental - Opinion - The Boston Globe

 

[irishff1014]

We all know there have been problems with the website and other parts of the rollout. What good comes of posting every new article that states what we already know? I don't recall the Dems naming each soldier who was killed in the Iraqi war that was started by the GOP president. How 'bout we talk about this in 6 months when the hyperbolic nonsense fades a bit. By then, we'll know how many actually signed up and if it is helping or hurting. This is pointless.

You are right Obamacare is worthless good job!!!!

 

[phgreek]

We all know there have been problems with the website and other parts of the rollout. What good comes of posting every new article that states what we already know? I don't recall the Dems naming each soldier who was killed in the Iraqi war that was started by the GOP president. How 'bout we talk about this in 6 months when the hyperbolic nonsense fades a bit. By then, we'll know how many actually signed up and if it is helping or hurting. This is pointless.

Not sure what you are talking about...most of the discussion today was directed at the fact that the administration released more/additional/new bad news about further delays...but oh yea...small businesses...go figure it out by finding a broker, submit paper, and do it anyway...and you KNOW that is a cluster fvck waiting to happen...so yea, my A$$ is a bit Red Today...and no it isn't a rehash...I realize it all seems like the same thing...or One invested on the other side of this might hope its the same thing...its not.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

Obamacare crisis can’t be fixed; flaws are fundamental - Opinion - The Boston Globe

ACA and the Dems are in serious trouble if the friggin Boston Globe prints this lol...are you friggin kidding me

 

[Buster Bluth]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/98BIu9dpwHU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've said a lot about automation and technology replacing jobs on here. Goodbye deliverymen.

 

[phgreek]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/98BIu9dpwHU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've said a lot about automation and technology replacing jobs on here. Goodbye deliverymen.

well this and autonomous transportation ala Google car. Think about public transit jobs in places like NY city. If I can climb in my own vehicle, fire up my laptop, drink a cup of coffee and conduct business or just sleep...and it delivers me to my office...w/o requiring me to pay attention...why would I take the train/bus?

 

[NDFan4Life]

well this and autonomous transportation ala Google car. Think about public transit jobs in places like NY city. If I can climb in my own vehicle, fire up my laptop, drink a cup of coffee and conduct business or just sleep...and it delivers me to my office...w/o requiring me to pay attention...why would I take the train/bus?

Get one of these, and you're all set:

Self-Driving Nissan Electric Car Takes to Highway

Nissan Motor Co. said a self-driving version of its electric Leaf car made its first foray onto public roads. Its guidance system, called Autonomous Drive, senses road conditions and operates the car’s steering, acceleration and braking as it merges into traffic, changes lanes and makes adjustments to keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

The Leaf drove on Japan’s Sagami Expressway in Kanagawa prefecture, southwest of Tokyo. Nissan vice chairman Toshiyuki Shiga and the prefecture’s Governor, Yuji Kuroiwa, rode in the car during the test, which marked a major step toward Nissan’s goal of selling self-driving cars to consumers by 2020.

A bigger step might be getting today’s drivers to accept them. Indeed, the technology allowing cars to drive themselves has essentially been in place for years, waiting for motorist culture to catch up.

Many car makers have experimented with autonomous passenger vehicles in part as a way to increase safety and efficiency. Technology company Google has a fleet of self-driving cars that have been on the road for years. Some safety experts have long said our highways would be much safer if cars drove themselves, cutting the chance of human error.

Self-Driving Nissan Electric Car Takes to Highway - Speakeasy - WSJ

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/98BIu9dpwHU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've said a lot about automation and technology replacing jobs on here. Goodbye deliverymen.

What if we took the same approach to Henry Ford and the automobile? We'd still be in horse and buggies.

So delivery guys 10-15 years from now might no longer be needed. What about the people needed to design and build these droids? The people to maintain them? The people required to negotiate the contracts/ pricing on them? The people required to manage the logistics?

I don't know if this is a good or bad idea for the long term, but I'm all for innovation. If companies (big or small) find new ways to save money, they will. We're not at I Robot...yet.

 

[Buster Bluth]

What if we took the same approach to Henry Ford and the automobile? We'd still be in horse and buggies.

That's just not at all what I'm saying.

So delivery guys 10-15 years from now might no longer be needed. What about the people needed to design and build these droids? The people to maintain them? The people required to negotiate the contracts/ pricing on them? The people required to manage the logistics?

That doesn't mean it's still not a net negative in terms of the number of jobs.

If you reduce 1,000,000 uneducated jobs to 100,000 uneducated jobs, and in the process create with 200,000 educated jobs and 100,000 uneducated jobs (for all of the things you just mentioned)...there are still 800,000 jobs lost. What will those people do for a living while the GOP is simultaneously saying they're unemployed simply because they're lazy?

I don't know if this is a good or bad idea for the long term, but I'm all for innovation. If companies (big or small) find new ways to save money, they will.

Nor should they stop.

We're not at I Robot...yet.

I've never seen it or read it. But the question is simple, what happened when the unemployment rate is 25%?

 

[Bluto]

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/98BIu9dpwHU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've said a lot about automation and technology replacing jobs on here. Goodbye deliverymen.

Drug smugglers are stoked. Lol.

 

[Bluto]

I've never seen it or read it. But the question is simple, what happened when the unemployment rate is 25%?

What happens when unemployement gets that high? Crime and lots of it.

 

[Wild Bill]

If you reduce 1,000,000 uneducated jobs to 100,000 uneducated jobs, and in the process create with 200,000 educated jobs and 100,000 uneducated jobs (for all of the things you just mentioned)...there are still 800,000 jobs lost. What will those people do for a living while the GOP is simultaneously saying they're unemployed simply because they're lazy?

Probably provide some sort of good or service to the 200,000 educated employees.

 

[Bluto]

Probably provide some sort of good or service to the 200,000 educated employees.

You mean like McDonalds? Lol

 

[BobD]

Just checking out my new avatar and Sig.

Oh yeah and the ACA site is working

 

[tussin]

If you reduce 1,000,000 uneducated jobs to 100,000 uneducated jobs, and in the process create with 200,000 educated jobs and 100,000 uneducated jobs (for all of the things you just mentioned)...there are still 800,000 jobs lost. What will those people do for a living while the GOP is simultaneously saying they're unemployed simply because they're lazy?

In this scenario you'd turn 1M uneducated (with little buying power) into 100K uneducated and 200K educated (with substantial buying power). There would be an influx of money poured back into the economy. This would trickle into retail and other industries that can increase hiring for the uneducated. So really the net effect of jobs lost would not end up that great (but still negative).

One thing to note, US manufacturing is slowly on the rise because of an increased focus on technology advances like that Amazon delivery robot. If we don't continue that focus, we will just lose ALL of those jobs to companies overseas.

 

[Wild Bill]

You mean like McDonalds? Lol

No. I mean, like, construction, sales, retail, banking, transportation, education, miscellaneous services like food preparation, etc.

These educated people have to live somewhere, right? Someone has to build these dwellings. A real estate agent, for a price, helps them find a place to live. They probably can't pay cash for their home so they may ask a bank and/or a banker for a little help. Probably need a ride to work too. Maybe a car salesman makes a commission from a car they purchase. Hell, maybe they'll take public transportation and catch a ride from a bus driver who used to work for the same company but lost his job as a result of the technology they helped create. And maybe you're right, on the way home, they may pick up a burger from McDonald's prepared by the driver's teenage son who is learning a skill and earning a buck.

 

[ACamp1900]

Just checking out my new avatar and Sig.

Oh yeah and the ACA site is working

I guess the republicans finally let it happen then.....