Gas prices! In two weeks, I watched it go from $2.13 to $2.55 yesterday. The Chinese guy at the station said he just got back from visiting China said they're paying $1.79 there now; that they're laughing at Bush, and they're actually negotiating with the oil countries instead of bombing them. He mentioned that the CEOs of the oil companies had been summoned to DC, and they agreed they weren't going to build more refineries because they liked the profits the way they are now. It was nice to meet someone in passing who was actually informed about stuff.
Posted by iamcoyote at March 22, 2006 05:48 AMPraire-wolf: Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the communist party? Send us a postcard from Guantanamo, remember to take your malaria meds.
Posted by TIKI AL at March 22, 2006 05:59 AMSpeaking of diminishing freedoms, in St. Louis if you are living as a couple but not married, certain neighborhoods are trying to deny you the right to buy a house (I guess if you are married, but cheating, that's okay).
Posted by Judith at March 22, 2006 06:20 AMAnd people say it's hyperbole to describe the emergence of an American Taliban.
I really think that the citizens of our "country" are going to have to start separating themselves geographically. Progressives may have to simply get out of the South, thus decreasing its population and representation.
Posted by euzoius at March 22, 2006 06:42 AMSpeaking of diminishing freedoms, in St. Louis if you are living as a couple but not married, certain neighborhoods are trying to deny you the right to buy a house (I guess if you are married, but cheating, that's okay).
While the statute is being portrayed in the story as denying hetero unmarried couples with children from living in the subburb because of the plaintiffs already involved, I can't help but think that the real targets are the homosexual unmarried couples (natch) that are settling. That standard been used before by other municipalities to stop 'undesireable' families of all types from moving in. That they get to discriminate against gays is just the frosting.
The subie in question is Black Jack, MO, a Northern suburb near St. Charles.
Posted by idiosynchronic at March 22, 2006 06:48 AMThat Black Jack, MO ordinance stinks a bit of racism as well.
Posted by ann at March 22, 2006 06:52 AMIt would be rather interesting if General Peter Pace simply told GWB to f*ck himself, and ordered the troops home. Who is going to stop him? Dickless Cheney, I don't believe so.
A General's duty is to a) persecute a war to a successful conclusion, and b) ensure the safety and return of the troops. As GWB admitted yesterday, both (a) and (b) are out the proverbial window. It is time for the US military to stand up to these mentally challenged politicians, and save the lives of the troops. The politicians are not in harm's way; the kids are.
Posted by tempus at March 22, 2006 07:16 AMBut tempus! If Pace were to do as you suggest, would that not be mutiny? Aren't our generals submissive to civilian rule? Why, if Pace were to mutiny and bring the troops home, THE Donald would have to ship him off to Guantanamo - and how would that look to have a general disobey the law? [/sarcasm]
I'll just pull my tongue out of my cheek now...
Posted by pessimist at March 22, 2006 08:13 AMA General's duty is to
And to protect and defend the Constitution. The fucks have forgotten that part of their oath.
W-09 and Supporters: Frog March to the Hague
Posted by phidipides at March 22, 2006 08:36 AMPessimist: yes, it would be mutiny. And entirely justified. Have you read “Heart of Darkness”, (Conrad), or watched “Apocalypse Now?
Posted by tempus at March 22, 2006 09:10 AMFor all of you that believe socialized medicine is the best way to go...please read this article from cbc.com
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/03/21/private-healthcare060321.html
Posted by savage4president at March 22, 2006 09:13 AMSavage,
Since you love our current system of disease care so much, why don't you explain to the 46 million poor Americans, our brothers and sisters, (if you are a Christian, or even a member of the human race), that they aren't entitled to preventative medicine, routine health care that could save their lives (such as mamograms) and are much more likely to die due to lack of proper care than you or me. Tell them how it's fair. Or better yet, trade places with the mother who is grieving over her dying child, the one who couldn't afford health care so she waited until it was too late to see the doctor. You bastard!
Posted by oppressmenot at March 22, 2006 10:20 AMWow. So Canada is going to go to health care for the rich now, too. How evolved of them.
Posted by ann at March 22, 2006 11:35 AMBlack Jack is North, but not near St. Charles, closer to Alton, Illinois. The same tactic was tried several years ago in Ladue, a wealthly suburb of St. Louis. A white unmarried couple moved in a house, and the rich neighbors demanded they get married. If memory serves me well, they eventually did.
A Missouri couple say they were denied an occupancy permit for their new home because they're not married. The couple have been together for 13 years and have three children, ages 8, 10 and 15, which is longer than most marriages last.
The couple are appealing the occupancy permit denial from the Black Jack, Mo., board of adjustment, which requires people living together to have blood, marriage or adoption ties. The man is not the Father of the oldest child.
The couple was told that you can have one child living in your house if you're not married, but more than that, you can't. WTF?
"This is about the definition of family, not if they're married or not," Mayor Normal McCourt said. "It's what cities do to maintain the housing and to hold down overcrowding." Yeah, right.
Posted by Judith at March 22, 2006 12:37 PM
Oppressmenot, there are those here who will tell you that those 46 million poor just didn't plan their life right. Now if they had only invested in the stock market like Muckdog.......
Posted by Judith at March 22, 2006 12:45 PMThe current medical delivery and private medical insurance systems are in a death spiral. Millions of Baby Boomers will get dumped into the Medicare pool over the next fifteen years. Medicare reibursements do not cover the cost of providing services. As these multitudes leave the private insurance pool, an ever shrinking number will be left to make up the difference. Combine this with the continued outsourcing of jobs that formerly paid into the insurance pool and what results is an ever decreasing number of premium payors.
Currently, I pay $13.3K per year for a $2K individual deductible plan insuring a family of five. There are no chronic health issues. This premium has risen anywhere from 2 to 27% over each of the 60 billing cycles last year. I have an HSA and that doesn't do squat to lower my premiums.
I could get a $10K individual deductible policy for about $2500 per year. 100% coverage after the deductible is met. You think I could get a medical policy to take me from $2K to $10K? Not available. There is simply no one concerned with making healthcare insurance affordable. The only concern is keeping a doomed system afloat for as long as possible.
In the end, if the Government doesn't provide medical insurance coverage or direct care, people with money will live and those with limited means will die. Kind of like dentistry. If you have the bucks/insurance, root canal treatment and a crown will successfully treat and restore an abcessed tooth. If you don't have the money.....it's cold steel and sunshine (extraction).
Posted by brisa at March 22, 2006 06:05 PMWell Brisa, before long only the wealthy will be able to afford health care. That should help the demise of the "chattering class" or the "bottom feeders" to an early death.
Posted by Judith at March 22, 2006 07:43 PMOpress,
BOO HOO, the poor poor. Why is it somebody elses responsibility to take care of somebody elses health. The problem is we are a country of fat, unhealthy people becuase they choose to be fat and unhealthy. Preventative health care for all? Come on? It cost $60-$80 for a doctors check-up. Are you seriously saying somebody cannot afford that? If you care about yourself you will find a way to come up with the money. Ask any doctor, they will put you on a $10 a month payment plan if they have to. But I suppose your right, I am a bastard becuase I think that individuals should take responsibility for themselves rather than constantly looking for some sort of handout.
By the way, you missed the point of the argument. Dumbass, a doctor is trying to point out that patients have a waiting list and are unable to recieve care in a prompt fashion. Because of this they are in pain and suffering and sometimes even end up dead. The same has occured in every nation that has socialized medicine. It Does not work the way people dreamed that it would...whenever you socialize anything...it rarely does.
But that is alright, Pelosi is going to get affordable broadband for all, then they can go to WEBDOC and get there medical advice...Dumbass
Posted by savage4president at March 23, 2006 05:57 AM