gatorbait

Preventative care is more about the doctors pushing better health and lifestyles. Instead of just fixing whatever ailment they have for money, then charging them again for another fix in a few years. It sounds radical now, but in 10 or 20 years you guys will see. Healthcare in this country is going to change, whether conservatives like it or not. Smoking, soda consumption, fast food. These things contribute to our problem, and more Americans are waking up about the importance of good health. Smoking and obesity are two of the major drivers for rising costs. Americans need to run more and put down the cheeseburgers and big gulps.

I'm not a big fan of entitlements, and I think we should get the leeches of the system and leave social programs only for the people that really need it. Healthcare is different though. It is going to become a right in the future, where citizens can get treatment and healthcare for their ailments to live a more healthy and successful life. The number one cause of bankruptcy in the US is defaulting on healthcare bills, and we spend over two trillion a year on healthcare. We will have to do something in the future because it isn't working right now.

GG, I mentioned waiting times are ridiculous for the average citizen, and no health system is perfect. Of course it isn't free, and it mostly comes from taxes. But explain to me why in Germany or Japan, they can get medications and surgeries for a third of the price? When they go into a doctors office they see a list of what everything costs, all the way down to an aspirin. The quality of care we receive in the United States actually isn't all that great if you compare it to other major developed nations. A poster above had a great mention of preventative care, that is a big step in the right direction.

Where did I say that is the answer? Don't start calling me a liberal dumbass because I'm an independent. Single payer systems around the world work. I did my graduate thesis on other health systems and how the US could improve theirs. I would seriously love to continue this discussion if you are game. That's the only way to control costs, and regulate prices for medicines, procedures and medical equipment. Right now we have a medical system where profits are number one, and providing care is secondary. Waiting times are ridiculous for the average citizen, and those other systems still have flaws, but they are significantly more affordable for everyone. Rich people and high level employees still would get amazing private insurance with the best doctors/surgeons and all the concierge services you could imagine. And let's not forget, healthcare costs and premiums have been rising for decades. It's not a matter of if we should change our ways, it's a matter of when and how we should change.

People racking up ER bills with no insurance is not sustainable or fair to the people who experience premium hikes as a result. So that's your excuse why education in the US is lacking? We need to do more, not make excuses or live with the status quo. I live in Florida, graduated from UF, and hunt gators for fun every once in a while. Why should I change my name? Because you think so? I agree. The United States is still the pinnacle of the world for a lot of things. I'm a young newb who probably doesn't know squat compared to a lot of you older guys. I'm prepared to have my ass handed to me over the months or years, but I love to debate and am a sucker for punishment.

Fair enough and you make some really good points. I admit I don't know the nuances of this stuff. I just think it's sad we are the only major developed nation who doesn't guarantee some basic form of healthcare to their citizens. It's also BS that we aren't in the top 10 when it comes to education. The United States is still the greatest country in the world overall, and there is nowhere I would rather live! It's probably becoming obvious I was a Bernie fan, and I deserve any criticism I get for that. Nobody can change my opinion that he was a better choice than HRC or Trump though. Cheers!

Scroll up and read. I talked about socialism because someone referenced it in a response to my post. I don't feel attacked, and can handle my own. I obviously hit a nerve with you about a different style of government, reasonable response or not. My point is that it might be beneficial to change our style of thinking when it comes to governing. The US is only number one in economy size and military. We suck at educating our people, providing healthcare and making our citizens happy.

I listed a few positives. I would have listed the negatives as well if I would have known it would make you feel better. I said twice that I'm not advocating for socialism, and I also said I'm not saying it would work in the states. Did you miss that part? I know you political people here on ppp like to get all flabbergasted about things but I enjoy having a reasonable debate without the drama. As for the so called list you say. Look it up. The five happiest populations of people are in socialist countries. They pay more taxes to get all that stuff, so of course a lot of people hate the idea. But every possible solution is at least worth considering. In capitalistic countries, money outweighs everything. Some are okay with giving all their tax money to big corporations or the military, personally I think it should go to healthcare and education. 600 billion a year on military and defense? More than the next 7 countries combined? Let's increase it by 10%! China spends 160 billion and Russia spends 60 billion a year on defense. Is it really crazy for me to think we should spend more of our tax money on our people?

So are you saying you agree with me? And yes I am fairly new to politics. I'm 29 and never really paid too much attention until campaigning started in 2015. I'm not advocating socialism, but I think everyone here should take a look at the list of the five happiest countries in the world. Six weeks of paid vacation, paid maternity leave, universal healthcare, free drug treatment/rehab for addicts, free mental health treatment covered under healthcare. I could go on, but again, I'm not advocating for socialism or saying it would work here in the States. Just trying to have a reasonable convo.

I might not agree with the old-school conservative way of thinking and ruling, however, I thought Gorsuch was very intelligent and compassionate with his answers today. Obviously, he is a very smart guy, knows his stuff, and I think he would be a good Supreme Court justice. His story about Byron White was fascinating. Trump could pick a lot worse than Gorsuch imo.

Who knew healthcare could be so complicated? Everyone Trump! Literally everyone but you.

Haha sorry for being reasonable! All kidding aside, putting party over what's right for the majority of Americans is a big problem.

There is so much hypocrisy on both sides, it's not even funny. The Republican's biggest complaints about HRC were her lying, investigations and corruption. Where are the same complaints about Trump? On the flipside, the Democrats have now become obstructionists after detesting the resistance of the prior eight years. I'm an independent who thinks both sides have some good ideas, and that agreeing to some middle ground is the only long-term solution. A large number of young people like me view this two party, polarized system as an inefficient joke. I'm not trying to call anyone out. I'm just pointing out the ridiculousness on both sides.

None of us know for sure, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. Two things we know after Comey's hearing today: there's a criminal investigation going on by the FBI, and Trump lied about the wire tapping. Drip drip drip

Let's go Gators!

Nope, thanks for the heads up. I will be ordering it from amazon sometime soon.

I don't think he offers good value at all. He said he would stand this year for the anthem but I still think he carries too much baggage. Once they changed the rules for read- option qb's and allowed them to get hit, even if they handed it off, he hasn't done a thing in the league.

Bacon. Any show with Anthony Bourdain. The devil's lettuce when I was in college.

This post was worth bumping again, thanks Alpha for showing how it's done. On this board, football analysis always wins over feelings. The constant negativity is really getting old. This is the time of the year to be optimistic, with the draft coming up and all new coaches. Can't we wait until after week one to start crying the sky is falling? Secondly, every poster here knows Tyrod isn't as good as Brady, and he probably won't ever be in the HOF. But he is good enough to win in the meantime, while we find the next franchise guy.

Good riddance to the two defensive masterminds.

I think we finally have a legit group of NFL coaches. Offensive coaching was pretty good last year but defense was a mess. McDermott is methodical and detailed, and the polar opposite of Rex. We sniff the playoffs this year or next.

Read the thread. Some of the new people don't like following the rules of the board. Also we have jokingly been referring to the new members as refugees.

Actually that wasn't the question. You brought that up out of nowhere. I have no problem tolerating other people's opinions but there are a handful of posters who bring nothing to this board but their negative feelings. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels that way. Billsvet have you even read this whole thread or some of his posts?

What is the biggest critique of refugees in Europe? They don't assimilate to their new home's culture and norms. Sound familiar?

I said a lot of the same pieces, figures you can't read. It also figures you don't count a win a win. Tyrod is better than most of the quarterbacks we have had since Kelly or Bledsoe, regardless of what you think. Any real analysis from you would be nice. Seriously, any. You point out negatives, B word and whine. Reminds me of a teenager who is having a bad day. I guess that is just your personality. I don't need to feel better. I love my team and am a positive person. Look in the mirror. There are real criticisms of our team on this site, and we agree with them. But almost no one here agrees with any of the ridiuclous things you post.