Dems discussing public plan with the option for states to opt out

[Heracles 417]

If property values and median salaries are an indicator of demand to live in the region, then the midwest you laud so much must be pretty undesirable while the dc suburbs and jersey and boston suburbs (which you lampoon on a regular basis) must be pretty freakin desirable

No ###### they are. Hence the house prices. Same goes with Manhattan. Jersey has some crappy areas but it also has some really expensive areas, as does DC. While east DC is dirt poor, west DC is actually really nice and I would give it an 8 out of 10.

Unfortunately rather than limiting the undesirables, this country is currently pumping in more and more. As is London. Hence the white flight from London heading to AUS. If the average American saw Australia and realized it's not some crocodile Dundee country; trust me, there would be a huge exodus to there too. Especially those from the Midwest to the South that share a similar laid back but honest attitude.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Booyah!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Even a crappy house in a crappy part of New Jersey is expensive. You get higher wages but less for your money.

[Heracles 417]

If housing takes that big a bite out of one's income, however, that takes away from one's disposable income. With the numbers provided, that would be quite a reduction in disposable income.

Well that is the median. Personally, I do not know of one person who earns under $70k. With half of the highest grossing individuals I know working in a trade of some sort, with many owning a trade business. Something almost unheard of here thanks to illegals. Not to mention all of the perks people receive there. From company paid cars (including fuel) to a range of other other electronic goodies.

You also have to put in in perspective. They pay no state taxes and no property taxes, just federal income taxes and a GST. Plus a county levy of about $1k each year to pay for county services, like weekly road cleaning, street lights in every street, sidewalks in every streets etc. No additional medical costs apart form the medicare surcharge in your federal income tax. Like Germany, Melbourne has trains, trams and buses which are quite modern and not only used by the undesirables. Trains are actually from Siemens.

As I have said before, I might be talking out of my azz. So I want people to go to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth or the Gold Coast. Live there for a bit and then come tell me BY you are wrong. However, I highly doubt they will.

PS Did I forget to mention the first home buyers receive a $32k state/federal government grant, if they live in their house for a year.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Booyah!

[Joseph & Ana 0]

Nobody cares about Australia. They're irrelevant.

Sure as hell richer than your poor azz. Their unemployment rate just drop to 5.7%, while the median house price just increased to $468K. With a median salary of $52.1K. So who is irrelevant now?

PS If they're irrelevant, then what the hell is Detroit let alone Michigan to America. A nobody, a has been. Hence why no body wants your crappy cars. You can buy homes for $55k in Michigan. 8.5 homes required to buy one median home in Melbourne. I won't embarrass you with Michigan's (aka Chernobyl 2.0) unemployment rate.

So average salary is 52K while average home price is 468K? How do you expect the average person to buy your average house there? Hmmmmmmm... Liberals have been running detroit for as long as anyone can remember. Its not really a badge of honor for your side. Now people are lining up at Cobo hall for "OBAMA money" as many have called it. When asked where he got the money to give him, they say I don't know he's the president!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So, we will leave it up to the states to deprive the folks residing there of choice and competition? What a fcuked up world we live in.

Yeah, if you want the public option you better vote Progressive.

ps. Not just Democratic, but Progressive. Not all D's are true Progressives.

It's true, as Steve keeps reminding me.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So, we will leave it up to the states to deprive the folks residing there of choice and competition? What a fcuked up world we live in. Still, it is better than not having a public option at all. If this public option does in health care what it has done in homeowners insurance here in Florida (lower insurance premiums), state governors and legislators barring people from purchasing the public option and artificially keeping the cost of private health insurance plans inflated in their states will soon find themselves out of a job.

I think the cash strapped states will most likely opt in. I know California is eager for it.

Also, I imagine this could have an impact on each state's job market as people do consider health insurance when it comes to looking for work.

Bullshit! California wants the option to opt out. As soon as Arnold is gone, we can have Single Payer in California.

2008 - Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoes SB 840. Mark Leno, who is elected to the senate in November, announces he will introduce single payer legislation in 2009. In a statement, he says, “I applaud Sen. Kuehl, the OneCareNow Campaign and all of the statewide organizations and advocates for their tireless fight for affordable, accessible health care for all Californians. We will bring this issue back again and again until everyone in California has access to high quality health care that puts people before insurance company profits.”

In the November election, the Healthy Majority Campaign helps turn three Assembly districts to Democratic from Republican. (To achieve two-thirds majorities in the future, two Senate districts and three Assembly seats must also be turned Democratic.)

2009 - Sen. Mark Leno introduces SB 810, which retains the language in Sen. Kuehl’s SB 840. There are 45 coauthors (13 Senators and 32 Assembly Members).

http://www.healthcareforall.org/background_history.html

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Nobody cares about Australia. They're irrelevant.

Sure as hell richer than your poor azz. Their unemployment rate just drop to 5.7%, while the median house price just increased to $468K. With a median salary of $52.1K. So who is irrelevant now?

PS If they're irrelevant, then what the hell is Detroit let alone Michigan to America. A nobody, a has been. Hence why no body wants your crappy cars. You can buy homes for $55k in Michigan. 8.5 homes required to buy one median home in Melbourne. I won't embarrass you with Michigan's (aka Chernobyl 2.0) unemployment rate.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So, we will leave it up to the states to deprive the folks residing there of choice and competition? What a fcuked up world we live in. Still, it is better than not having a public option at all. If this public option does in health care what it has done in homeowners insurance here in Florida (lower insurance premiums), state governors and legislators barring people from purchasing the public option and artificially keeping the cost of private health insurance plans inflated in their states will soon find themselves out of a job.

I think the cash strapped states will most likely opt in. I know California is eager for it.

Also, I imagine this could have an impact on each state's job market as people do consider health insurance when it comes to looking for work.

Bullshit! California wants the option to opt out. As soon as Arnold is gone, we can have Single Payer in California.

Whoah...you're getting flustered there, Bill! A new side of you I haven't seen before.

If it's near closing time at the bar, and there's only a few women left, you'll be happy just to be able to take one home with you, even if she wasn't your first choice.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So, we will leave it up to the states to deprive the folks residing there of choice and competition? What a fcuked up world we live in. Still, it is better than not having a public option at all. If this public option does in health care what it has done in homeowners insurance here in Florida (lower insurance premiums), state governors and legislators barring people from purchasing the public option and artificially keeping the cost of private health insurance plans inflated in their states will soon find themselves out of a job.

I think the cash strapped states will most likely opt in. I know California is eager for it.

Also, I imagine this could have an impact on each state's job market as people do consider health insurance when it comes to looking for work.

Bullshit! California wants the option to opt out. As soon as Arnold is gone, we can have Single Payer in California.

Whoah...you're getting flustered there, Bill! A new side of you I haven't seen before.

If it's near closing time at the bar, and there's only a few women left, you'll be happy just to be able to take one home with you, even if she wasn't your first choice.

Flustered? No. Just setting the record straight.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So, we will leave it up to the states to deprive the folks residing there of choice and competition? What a fcuked up world we live in. Still, it is better than not having a public option at all. If this public option does in health care what it has done in homeowners insurance here in Florida (lower insurance premiums), state governors and legislators barring people from purchasing the public option and artificially keeping the cost of private health insurance plans inflated in their states will soon find themselves out of a job.

I think the cash strapped states will most likely opt in. I know California is eager for it.

Also, I imagine this could have an impact on each state's job market as people do consider health insurance when it comes to looking for work.

Bullshit! California wants the option to opt out. As soon as Arnold is gone, we can have Single Payer in California.

Whoah...you're getting flustered there, Bill! A new side of you I haven't seen before.

If it's near closing time at the bar, and there's only a few women left, you'll be happy just to be able to take one home with you, even if she wasn't your first choice.

Flustered? No. Just setting the record straight.

How do straighten a record that hasn't been set? I believe that California's Legislature would opt in should this bill pass. Would like to wager on it?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

So, we will leave it up to the states to deprive the folks residing there of choice and competition? What a fcuked up world we live in. Still, it is better than not having a public option at all. If this public option does in health care what it has done in homeowners insurance here in Florida (lower insurance premiums), state governors and legislators barring people from purchasing the public option and artificially keeping the cost of private health insurance plans inflated in their states will soon find themselves out of a job.

I think the cash strapped states will most likely opt in. I know California is eager for it.

Also, I imagine this could have an impact on each state's job market as people do consider health insurance when it comes to looking for work.

Bullshit! California wants the option to opt out. As soon as Arnold is gone, we can have Single Payer in California.

Whoah...you're getting flustered there, Bill! A new side of you I haven't seen before.

If it's near closing time at the bar, and there's only a few women left, you'll be happy just to be able to take one home with you, even if she wasn't your first choice.

Flustered? No. Just setting the record straight.

How do straighten a record that hasn't been set? I believe that California's Legislature would opt in should this bill pass. Would like to wager on it?

Why would California opt into a much weaker Federal plan, when they are close to creating a much stronger State plan? California continues to opt out of Federal programs whenever California policy is more comprehensive, including Medicaid with the MediCal program. Wahington state is in a similar situation, hence the the Cantwell opt-out amendment.

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/...nance-committee

[mawilson 2,133]

Why would California opt into a much weaker Federal plan, when they are close to creating a much stronger State plan?

Because you're broke?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Why would California opt into a much weaker Federal plan, when they are close to creating a much stronger State plan?

Because you're broke?

Ouch.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Why would California opt into a much weaker Federal plan, when they are close to creating a much stronger State plan?

Because you're broke?

Not quite broke. The state still has income. It's just the state is trying to spend more than what is coming in. So, if you don't have the money to spend, it don't get spent. Mark Leno and his cohorts think that if all that money paid to the insurance companies was paid to California instead, they could do a better job. The bottom line, though, the plan they are proposing, puts more money in the hands of the legislature, not less. No way are they going to let the Feds get their slimy hands on California's money.