the eternal

Point well taken, however it's important to note that THE #1 REASON FOR FILING BANKRUPTCY IS ---- MEDICAL BILLS Now, let's look at what happens when individuals file Chap. 7 bankruptcy ---They tell all their creditors to go to hell, because they're broke ---Businesses suffer ---Courts that we pay for are tied up ---The same citizens can't contribute to the economy with house and car loans because their credit is shot. Bankruptcy is a necessary evil, but an evil nonetheless that is draining the economy, in part because of medical bills. Many would argue the Big 3 would be in better shape, if they didn't have to pay out medical coverage to their employees. You could attack that by attacking unions if you'd like, but that doesn't account for the millions of uninsured filing BKs because of their needs. ONE MORE THING TO CHEW ON As reported today, In 2007, the top TWO, not ten, not twenty, TWO earners in the insuring business, the CEO of Aetna and the CEO of Cigna earned a combined income of $74 million THAT'S OVER $202,000 A DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! They made in a day, what most Americans make in a DECADE! That's only two fucking people! This is where that whole laissez-faire, "they run the company, they deserve whatever compensation they're given," horse manure falls WAYYY short. If we we're going to throw darts at the excess of the healthcare system, we better get a pretty damn big dartboard.

To candyman and Rev. : I'll try to find the study that shows the total effect that lawsuits have, but they found that it simply does not have the effect that Rev claims. As for why hospitals do more tests instead of giving good care advice, there was a panel of medical experts that talked NOT about fear of lawsuit, but that they were pressured by the hospitals to do extraneous things because it paid the bills, and LOTS of them. Now, candyman, you can argue that it is because of the free services hospitals provide, however there is not a straight line to what Canada does and what we do here. 1. What Obama has proposed is not the same as the single-payer plan in Canada. He has largely backed away from that and is now leaning toward a hybrid that involves private insurance and a public option. 2. Even if he WAS, we are a larger country with more resources, and an administration that is looking more comprehensively at the different ways to cut costs and yet provide more care. I sometimes wonder if it's too comprehensive. I don't know exactly what his plan is since it keeps changing. Not huge changes, but it seems like he's trying to appease everyone, and when you try to do that, no one ends up being happy. I'm also concerned that the latest incarnation I read about puts an unfair burden on small businesses, which is the backbone of this country. So, I have my doubts, but tens of millions being uninsured, and tens of millions more being underinsured is not the solution either. I'm going to wait and see how this shakes out. If it turns out bad for the American people, there'll be a new President in a few years and then we all deal with whatever baggage s/he has.

In response to Gaf: I said in the election of Bush and then Obama. In other words, many of the same people that voted for Bush in 2004 ALSO voted for Obama in 2008. They are not as dogmatic as many of us on the board. They are simply looking for sound solutions to the problems that ail us. BTW, great to see you back! Candyman-- I'm sorry but tort reform is a red herring the conservative movement has propped up as the solution to everything. Are there a few frivolous lawsuits? sure. But not to the extent that it would solve anything if they went away. What is a bigger problem is that hospitals are money machines that over test and overbill. The one exception is the Mayo clinic which has a better record of quick recoveries and some of the lowest billing charges in the nation. I know the Obama administration is looking into that. Convincing doctors from doing countless unnecessary tests may be tough though. We'll see. Spook---You make a very sound point. The VA system does suck, and if they are going to try to tackle the uS, they are going to have to present a better plan than what they've done for our fine men and women of the armed forces.

Thanks everyone! I'm now getting mentally prepared for new job tomorrow morning. It has a base pay of $1500/mo! Don't get too jealous all at once now. It is supposed to be more stable and consistent. We shall see.

Really? Then let me summarize. GOP conservative flack predicts the knee-jerk doomsday scenario with Obama getting into office. Now that some of Obama's initiatives are stalling, said flack claims that America has united in one conservative rallying cry and risen up against Obama and everything he stands for. It's really tiring. If the election of Bush and then Obama has taught us anything, it is that we are truly a purple nation. Not red. Not blue. Purple. There was an interesting poll that just came out. Americans approval of Obama and his health care and economic policies are the lowest since he took office. In the same poll, they said that the GOP had no answers and would probably mess it up even more. Americans want jobs. If it means lowering taxes, great! If it means increasing spending, great! We are hardworking people in this country. Most of us don't give a shit about the theater that is the Democratic or Republican parties. We are open to radical ideas, whether they be the ideas of Reagan or Roosevelt. We just want stable jobs, and affordable health care so we can focus on our lives. And the white noise by the party flacks like him are doing nothing to solve our problems.

It's ok. You can say it sucks. She's an African American juggalette with swastika tattoos. There's nothing you can say that she hasn't already heard. She's hardcore like that. Although not nearly as hardcore as homie Ben Folds. He came up from the mean suburban streets and he aint takin shit from nobody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_N3CK-6CHk In case you don't know the bitch-ass original http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLBw28Ojw4c

Ooh I want snakes! But inside I hear a voice saying "No snakes" so we'll visit them at your place

Welcome.

You Are Catwoman "Life's a bitch. Now so am I." What Superheroine Are You?

Terrible covers --- NOW WITH 100% MORE MARIAH CAREY!!!!!! Spitting on MJ's grave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rpc-I6U6oo How can you outcheese Journey? Oh yes, it can be done. This is awful.

That bitch loves covers. I'm still pissed at her covering Without You, one of my favorite chessy 70s tracks ORIGINAL

Well I'm not seeing instrumentals, even though I KNOW Phee could be flooding this thread with better ones than I know (as well as many of you ) BUT, here goes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMx2SKIRkw4

This is a great track. Manu Chao performing it live at St Andrews a couple years ago was even better. He is amazing in concert!

I'm sure there'll be a movie night of this when it coems out

Groovy man! G-R-O-O-V-Y!

Happy Birthday man! For you, I will shoo away all the nasty invisible flying bugs that cross your path today (Manfast reference)

Seriously. What happened to you man? Did Troy offer you a pony? You have a problem with the mods of the Politics forum? Well maybe that's just because you've been brainwashed by the liberal elite media telling you there's a problem with the Politics section. You know you sit there with your Keith Olbermann vibrating dildos that you put in your ear, because you can't hear the deep, meaningful, respectful discussion that goes on over there. You know what I say to your mistaken, uninformed blather? I'm rubber, your glue. Whatever you post bounces off us and sticks to you. Maybe if you opened your eyes and looked at the world you'd be able to see that there is nothing wrong with the Political section and furthermore everything I say is wonderful, and everything you say SUCKS. It sucks the monkey balls hanging from the tea bags that I threw in the river to protest the Obamination that is threatening to sweep socialism across this country. GTFO! *takes bow* Welcome aboard.

I only buy shitty weed from people named after the Christian lord and savior, NEVER Jose

Happy Birthday!

I suppose he'd have to battle it out with this man

Who is the least talented man of the last quarter century? Tough call but I think these two submissions put him in the lead for worst cover man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ei_FJWHXys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrFwtlMd0H8

A couple more. I don't even like Fiona Apple, and I'm usually very protective of the Beatles but I've always been a sucker for when people slow down songs. (except Frente's Bizarre Love Triangle--that fell under the category Don't fuck with my favorite 80s tunes) Well here it is One of my favorite covers Tori Amos exposing how sadistic Eminem is (Ignore the video- it has nothing to do with anything) 97 Bonnie and Clyde

OK, so I KNOW we literally just had this thread a few months ago, but I suppose there's no point in drdging it up now Tiffany was so chessy to begin with, almost anything would be an improvement, (and Birthday Massacre is avery talented group to boot) but being an 80s child I often wish they'd leave those older songs alone. Here's a classic. The Leonard Cohen version is fantastic, but the Jeff Buckley one is the stuff of legends. Now with lyrics! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pid0nCrsQxM Over the Rainbow. Yes THAT over the rainbow cover by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole It's even better when he combines it with What A Wonderful World but I feel the power of the song increases so much with the Hawaiian imagery, we'll have to settle for this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ltAGuuru7Q

Oh no you didn't! Damn you for taking mine. How about psycho exes?

I'm so sorry. That happened to me in January. That sucks. I hid my little garmin but they saw the black disc on the dash. Get one of these friction mounts and then you can hide everything You know I can't believe it's even worth it for these thieves. My refurbished one cost next to nothing.