The Goat Pen

aTm wrote:I don't think its a good idea to go back to November 2008/January 2009 economic conditions just for the gas prices...

Correct. Besides, gas prices were higher under W than they have been under Obama.

Professor Tiger wrote:I don't dispute that doctors are human beings and make mistakes as such. I'm just saying that they do one of the most honorable professions on earth - healing people. I don't understand all the hostility against them.

If you've got chest pains or discover a lump somewhere on your body or have a bad car wreck, you are not going to call a lawyer or accountant to save your life.

Wha? Prices went up, and there was a huge spike when Ike shut down a bunch of gulf refineries, but that's not even close to accurate..

crashcourse wrote:so when do we call in the drones and take out whichever kim is incharge now.

I would think a dictator saying he is testin nuclear devices for use against the US would warrant some type of response other then no food for you

bluetick wrote:

innocentbystander wrote:
Democrats hate this and would never allow this to happen. Ever. Democrats have reframed (I love this word!!) this competition between the states as "racing to the bottom." That is exactly what is supposed to happen in a pure free-market system (you race to the bottom on price for goods and services), but it fucks everything up in a government run system (like the Affordable Care Act) because it allows young people to compete on price. That is real bad. The government can't have that because old people will have to pay more because they will be alone in their risk pools, simple math forces insurance companies covering the elderly to raise the price just for them. Thus, you end the AFA.

Your dumbassery knows no bounds. The only thing holding back interstate insurance sales are the insurance companies themselves. Georgia legislated open (interstate) health insurance sales two years ago and no out of state carriers came calling to sell georgians any coverage. Apparently it's not cost effective for an out of state insurer to come to GA and undertake the time and expense to negotiate (re: fix) prices with hospitals and Dr.'s groups. They're better off fixing prices in their own state with the help of their own state's legislature (dem or GOP - makes no difference). Arizona and Maine have also allowed interstate sales, with no appreciable results.

Think about it, goof. Why do the major insurance companies lobby against interstate sales in nearly all the states? Because they are happy with the status quo of a system that is 60 years in the making and decidedly in their favor. Here, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee has their own insurance policy against rogue companies swooping in from the Northeast or west...it's called kickbacks to local GOP lawmakers.