The Bar

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:54 am

well, he's a link to the article if you want to read it.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/5213332.html

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:57 am

I think it has more to do with increasing medical costs.

Hey, would you settle for a compromise? How about limits on medical lawsuits ( removing the "litigation lotto" factor ) in exchange for cheaper benefits?

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:59 am

We have pretty much the same kind of program here .. we call it MediCal

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 12:59 am

sure thing, sounds good to me.

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:01 am

Well, I'm just hoping that I can keep my benefits. Especially since I generally work part time jobs that usually don't have insurance. And Minnesota's changing political climate bugs me a little

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:02 am

It goes beyond medical costs it's a hard core adherence to the taxpayer league, cut backs in the states share of the historical societies budget is why I'm unemployed .

The thing is by not supporting education and health care, as well as many of the other things that have been or will be cut, that amount to the things that attract new business and job creation we'll go into a death spiral economically,...

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:03 am

I think that is where we are headed. The stupid lawsuits are eating up a lot of resources. I see where many doctors in Florida have completey dropped malpractice insurance (state law allows it) and the ones that have are able to provide care for their patients at a quite reasonable cost. They also discovered that the lawsuits went away once people realized they might win a Buick instead of 200 Million dollars in a lawsuit. You can always sue to have a doctor's medical license pulled if he is really incompetent but people were after the money. Remove the big insurance and low and behold ... the lawsuits went away too.

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:05 am

Ahhh, this is why I can't stand politics for very long, it's so aggravating and depressing. I don't feel like I can make a difference, and I do vote.

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:08 am

Hmm, and what have you heard about those doctors that no longer take insurance and are cash only? I've only heard snipets of info.

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:09 am

I'm falling asleep here so I need to head off to bed,.. good night

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:10 am

Good night Z.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:13 am

The real problem is that because of the lawsuits, hospitals and insurance companies have "rick management" people that tell doctors that a person with a particular complaint must have a bazillion extra tests done, just in case. This causes the cost of care to go up. You might have something that is going around and the doctor has seen 53 cases of in the last three days but he has to order those 4 extra tests done because the "risk management" (which is the real name for the "lawsuit avoidance" or "cover your ass" department) people say he has to. 4 tests times 53 people is 212 perfectly useless tests done that someone's insurance must pay for. Result is that everyones costs go up, even the people that DIDNT get sick, in order to pay for it.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:16 am

Reduce the exposure to stupid lawsuits and you reduce the requirements for extra tests and people's insurance rates go down.

THAT is why drugs cost so much in the US and are cheaper in Mexico and Canada. The tort laws are different. The drug companies must defend themselves against 10 goffy lawsuits for each legitimate one here so they charge more to pay for it. You can't get money out of a company, they will ALWAYS pass the cost along. You sue for a stupid greedy reason and your naighbors will end up paying for it.

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:22 am

Allllggh, I don't know what to say, my brain is starting to turn to mush.

Hey, did you get to talk to Rob about that idea you had?

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:22 am

damn, my speller is going kaput. I guess I would settle for elimination to treble damages for medical suits in exchange for lower rates. Just actual damages. Gravy would be to add the requirement that most every other country in the world has ... sue someone and loose and you pay their legal bill. In the US you don't have to do that.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:23 am

no I didnt talk to him. Would like too though. I need to get crackign on the virgin art thing but got distracted by BORG2 and another fundraiser for Curtis. I wont have time to do what I want this year. March 5 is halfway to burn day.

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:28 am

too bad you won't be able to do everything, but I think a lot of us do that. Kind of like eyes being bigger than stomach. I just need to get my ass out there this year. Everything else I do will just be an extra added bonus.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 1:53 am

Goodbye AT&T ...

SBC Communications Inc. (SBC) has agreed to acquire AT&T Corp. (T) in a $16 billion transaction that includes stock and dividends, an SBC spokesman said early Monday.

Kristines · Post by **Kristines** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:06 am

Rob the Wop wrote: At least old enough to bleed and breed (12 yrs).

OK, it's time for you to come over to the Red Tent and get your ass kicked for talkin' like that. I'm headed to the tent now ...

K

blueniteowl · Post by **blueniteowl** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:40 am

Well, it's getting late again or early depending on your frame of mind. So I think I'll put coffee on for the morning crew and head out till later.

puts coffee on to start brewing, cleans up a bit, grabs the box she arrived in earlier and walks out the door

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 3:47 am

(M walks in, smells wonderful coffee.....Ah, thank's Blue. Pours herself a cup and heads out to work)

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 5:30 am

- sputnik wakes up, pours some coffee straight down his wide open throat and plunks down in a comfy chair -

GuinivereElise · Post by **GuinivereElise** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 6:36 am

Good morning...

it's nice to see that you guys didn't do TOO much damage over the weekend...

though, i have to give credit to Blue, who, though she's only been here since december, has managed to nail DVD to a tee! Ha!

I'll have some hot chocolate....and... er....

okay, FINE. I'll have a shot of peppermint schnapps in it, but only because YOU made me...

Martiansky · Post by **Martiansky** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 7:42 am

Good morning!! (M says as she strolls in)A peppermint annie sounds most excellent!!
(Pours a couple cups, slides one to Guin, takes one for herself and slides into a chair over near Sputnik)

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:06 am

Good morning beautiful people...

Thank you ever so for brightening the air in the bar...

Msky... work on the fimo any yet?

And GE... just because you don't know it, does not mean you don't inspire, dear.

(Digging in the magic ditty-bag and pulling out several boxes of fresh donuts)

Thought I’d drop these off on my way through. Gotta work in the field today and so won’t be around much until later. But heck... you west coasters are just getting started I guess.

See ya, Seeya!!!

(The cat walks towards the door, stops, skitters around with a little piece of feather left from decorating Purple the other day, then proceeds on out)

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:14 am

Just here to grab a cup of coffee,.. G'morning people

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:18 am

Hey magic Donuts,.. kind of like the brownies except for morning,.. sure why not.

gigglesnort · Post by **gigglesnort** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:21 am

Hey magic donuts and zuggie's 2000th post. Good morning! Don't mind if I do.....

{snags a magic donut and fixes up a peppermint annie}

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:26 am

Hey party people. I am looking at a bit of a brutal day here, so what do I do? Turn on the eplaya for a little distraction. But I'm doing fine, floating on a cloud, really.

GuinivereElise · Post by **GuinivereElise** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 8:27 am

magic donuts? sounds like just the very thing to help with a monday morning...

don't mind if I do!