Two jobs and no health insurance, what will each candidate do for me? (school, government)

[JerZ]

Originally Posted by pghquest

After all, this whole thread is about how people think they are entitled to take from those who work hard, and give it to those who dont think they should be responsible to buy their own insurance..

No it isn't... This "whole thread" (until you hijacked it with The World According to Pgh) is (was) about someone who works two jobs...that's "lazy"?

WTH?

Oh my GOD...really, until you start reading, this is mostly pointless...Stay in your happy please, pgh; it's all good. (patting pgh on the head) It's aaaaaaaaaaaall right.

[KantLockeMeIn]

Originally Posted by cousinsal

Yes, you're so right - what if you want to be a social worker, for example, helping your fellow citizens? It doesn't pay well, although it should because it's so important (more important than those movie stars and athletes, for sure). So, should no one go into that field that is so very much needed?

If you want to be a social worker, then so be it. But it's your responsibility to understand the benefits and consequences of your decision. If you choose to ignore the ample information regarding their typical work environment, education requirements, benefits, and salary, then that's your own fault.

There are jobs that are high paying that require significant investment in education and licensure, as well as a high number of hours required to work, which offset the higher salary. So doctors that want to whine about making little money while facing 200k in education loans don't get any more sympathy than a social worker who makes 25k a year. They both chose their paths having the opportunity to know what they were in store for.

But don't discount the economics. If less people decided to become social workers, the supply would decrease. Given the same or better demand, there would be a shortage of social workers, creating comeptition for the fewer resources. This results in higher salaries.

Unfortunately for social workers, too many people graduate with degrees that qualify them for those positions. But again, this is nothing new.

So, I guess everyone has to go into banking or something, and we'll have no lower-paying jobs because people can't afford health insurance with those jobs.

You picked a bad example as most social worker jobs are for government agencies which provide benefits. Now if you were talking about unskilled positions, then yes... those people should look to gain skills that allow them to gain better paying positions. Most people in my family didn't go to college, and the only one that makes under 40k a year was one of the few that did go to college and wasted money on a degree that earns her little money.

Most of the jobs in the U.S. do NOT pay well - the median income is only $45K for a household - so 50% are below that. And, all jobs must be filled by someone, and people are good at different things.

Economics isn't a zero sum game. If the workforce became more skilled there wouldn't be a vacuum in all jobs that require little skill. There's always been a demand for low skill jobs for people that don't wish to work full time such as students and retirees. Other low skill jobs can be offshored if there weren't enough workers willing to accept lower salaries.

[KantLockeMeIn]

Originally Posted by JerZ

No it isn't... This "whole thread" (until you hijacked it with The World According to Pgh) is (was) about someone who works two jobs...that's "lazy"?

WTH?

Oh my GOD...really, until you start reading, this is mostly pointless...Stay in your happy please, pgh; it's all good. (patting pgh on the head) It's aaaaaaaaaaaall right.

So you're still playing the condescending and judgmental role while not being able to contribute facts or ideas to the discussion? Keep rolling your eyes...

[pghquest]

Originally Posted by JerZ

No it isn't... This "whole thread" (until you hijacked it with The World According to Pgh) is (was) about someone who works two jobs...that's "lazy"?

WTH?

Oh my GOD...really, until you start reading, this is mostly pointless...Stay in your happy please, pgh; it's all good. (patting pgh on the head) It's aaaaaaaaaaaall right.

I hope you feel better now, after all, thats what its all about right.. making people FEEL better..

p.s. no, this whole thread had NOTHING to do with someone who has two jobs being "lazy".. no one ever called her that, through all 30 pages.. It has to do with people expecting the government to hand someone something, just because they are "less fortunate" to have a good job..

[VMH2507]

There is an interesting Op-Ed piece in the new Newsweek written by Robert Samuelson entitled "Getting Real About Health Care". I tried to find it on Newsweek.com so I could link it here, but it is not available on the web. Anyway he quotes some information from the Brookings Institute that concludes that annual health spending (from all private and government sources) is equal for the poorest and richest Americans. The figures they give are
Poorest 1/5 $4477
Second poorest $4426
Middle 1/5 $4388
Second Richest $4941
Richest 1/5 $4451

These figures were from 2003 and the economist at BI who compiled the data was said to be "astonished".

[cousinsal]

Originally Posted by VMH2507

There is an interesting Op-Ed piece in the new Newsweek written by Robert Samuelson entitled "Getting Real About Health Care". I tried to find it on Newsweek.com so I could link it here, but it is not available on the web. Anyway he quotes some information from the Brookings Institute that concludes that annual health spending (from all private and government sources) is equal for the poorest and richest Americans. The figures they give are
Poorest 1/5 $4477
Second poorest $4426
Middle 1/5 $4388
Second Richest $4941
Richest 1/5 $4451

These figures were from 2003 and the economist at BI who compiled the data was said to be "astonished".

In fact, the poorest pay a little more. The $4477 could be 1/4 of their income!

[burdell]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

Seriously, I work two jobs and have no insurance coverage, medical or dental. I want to hear from supporters of Obama and McCain, what will your candidate do for me and my health insurance problem?

Unless you're a very generous lobbyist it's probably not likely either candidate will do very much for you.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by VMH2507

There is an interesting Op-Ed piece in the new Newsweek written by Robert Samuelson entitled "Getting Real About Health Care". I tried to find it on Newsweek.com so I could link it here, but it is not available on the web. Anyway he quotes some information from the Brookings Institute that concludes that annual health spending (from all private and government sources) is equal for the poorest and richest Americans. The figures they give are
Poorest 1/5 $4477
Second poorest $4426
Middle 1/5 $4388
Second Richest $4941
Richest 1/5 $4451

These figures were from 2003 and the economist at BI who compiled the data was said to be "astonished".

Here's a link:
Robert Samuelson on the Health-Care Surprise | Newsweek Voices - Robert J. Samuelson | Newsweek.com

[KLDanford]

Originally Posted by pghquest

Obviously your having a difficult time following the thread.. here let me help..

After all, this whole thread is about how people think they are entitled to take from those who work hard, and give it to those who dont think they shouldnt be responsible to buy their own insurance..

There are those that work just as hard as you, but insurance is still not a possibility. don't make it seem like it's just a bunch of people watching daytime tv and asking for you to pay for them.

[KLDanford]

Originally Posted by pghquest

Apology accepted.. if you read any of my postings, I believe that giving should be local, and voluntarily, and consider it an obligation as helping out your neighbor, not because your commanded to.

But the fact is that most people do not have that belief - even the people who could "help out" the most. It just doesn't happen and it won't happen. what, are you supposed to go next door and write your next door neighbor a check? And I think most people that are hurting over their astronomical healthcare bills would not benefit much by an occasional "donation."