Nurses: Cheney 'would probably be dead' but for government healthcare

[escarzamd]

This should get a few more shots to ricochet around the room....

I'm not sure where the bashing of the VP should have anything to do with how he accesses health care. If you say any employee making over $50K (far from being a millionare) then a large chunk of the hundreds of thousands federal employees would be included in this group of "freeloaders." Makes no sense. They're gainfully employed and offered benefits as part of their employment package. Sure its cheap......the government buys in bulk and can negotiate better rates based on their volume.

He's 66, so he qualifies for Medicare (at least he will in 2009) as well......I don't know if uses it, but I see no reason why he shouldn't.

There are many reasons to rant about the veep, but this just seems silly. He's employed, his employer pays benefits, and he has some health issues, so he accesses the benefits. To break it down any other way just seems like bashing for bashing's sake.:shrug:

 

[bryanz]

This should get a few more shots to ricochet around the room....

I'm not sure where the bashing of the VP should have anything to do with how he accesses health care. If you say any employee making over $50K (far from being a millionare) then a large chunk of the hundreds of thousands federal employees would be included in this group of "freeloaders." Makes no sense. They're gainfully employed and offered benefits as part of their employment package. Sure its cheap......the government buys in bulk and can negotiate better rates based on their volume.

He's 66, so he qualifies for Medicare (at least he will in 2009) as well......I don't know if uses it, but I see no reason why he shouldn't.

There are many reasons to rant about the veep, but this just seems silly. He's employed, his employer pays benefits, and he has some health issues, so he accesses the benefits. To break it down any other way just seems like bashing for bashing's sake.:shrug:

I wasn't clear enough. I was taking about elected politicians, and I would include appointees. Not all gov employees.

 

[escarzamd]

Wasn't that the gist of what Edwards said he would do? If we don't cover everyone he'd cut the legislatures' benefits and put them on their own?

I cant remember and am too lazy today to look that up. It lasted one news cycle, I think.

 

[bryanz]

settle down, Beavis!! I know of quite a few employers that pay for their employees healthcare. I don't see the difference here. Chaney is working.

Butthead, if you call what Chaney is doing work, you fall into that group of Americans that does not know what work is. It may be something but it's not working for most of us. Let the people that profit of his "work "pay for it. Yes there are many employers that compensate employees with HC, they don't just give it away for free. Thats the biggest misconception out there. Employers don't pay for HC, they use the money that employees earn to pay for it. There is a difference. Any elected or appointee that is payed over 50,000 should not get a hand out from the public. The congress , senate and the white house have become social programs for people that may choose not to work for America. The fact that you don't see the difference between a vp of a private company getting HC as part of their compensation and a vp,senator or congress person of this gov tells me all I need to know about how you think. I think, WE as Americans have to re-think how we give our wealth away. Our mentality is not conducive to one that will get us where we need to go. We need to change the culture of our gov to; they work for us. People like you don't mind working for the man, I do.

 

[bryanz]

Wasn't that the gist of what Edwards said he would do? If we don't cover everyone he'd cut the legislatures' benefits and put them on their own?

I cant remember and am too lazy today to look that up. It lasted one news cycle, I think.

I think we need to cut all HC for the sen,con & wh, until they get it right for the vets. That will ensure that those anti American bastards in Washington will never have free HC again. Think about it ! A millionaire can sit on his or her ass and the people that pay them give them < a 30% approval rating. The kid from Buffalo Ny goes off to war for pennys and when he gets back, has to stand in line for help in a system that his senator would not put up with for 30 seconds. I don't have a problem with millionaires. If you want to be a millionaire, stay in the private sector and earn it. I have a problem with these people that go to Washington to make money of the backs of the people they are supposed to be working for. I don't understand how anyone that believes in the American dream or understands what America is supposed to be about can think these guys deserve a 1/8 of what we are paying for them. How do these people sleep at night ? We allow/let them; smart guys like six five just shrug at it. Sometimes when I read and listen to how some people think, I can't believe they are free people in America thinking this way. It just kills me !!!

 

[escarzamd]

I'm not completely sure, but I believe the Fed benefits for employees and for elected officials/appointees is similar to regular employee-paid programs, except for prices. They get paychecks with deductions like the rest of us, I think. Its not "free" for them either.

Wonder if they get this for life (like VA benefits), or just while in office? Anyone know??

 

[ImFeklhr]

Yeah, I don't see the big incongruity. Just because someone wants to change the system doesn't mean he can't work within it at the same time.

To say that anyone wants to change the current health care system, should opt-out from participating in how it is now, until it matches their vision, is a bit unrealistic.

It's akin to saying if I don't support a proposed raise for police officers that I should not be eligible to report being mugged.

He pays his taxes. He works. He gets health care.

To state that he would be dead if he had an mercenary-HMO... is just dumb...