The usa out of control (credit, health insurance, trip)

[Driller1]

One problem is we do not pay our leaders enough. More can be made in the private sector. Another problem is we pick their personal lives apart, along with their families.

What is big business doing to Michigan? Many groups (most in-fact) have lobbyists. Our small drilling association does, it is just the way a republic works.

We are a capitalist society. Work should reap benefit. The pursuit of happiness implies a verb, not income redistribution.

[Johnny727]

I'm tired of these crybabies complaining. The economy is doing excellent right now and growing in leaps and bounds. Unemployment is really low, and in my state Florida pretty much everyone that wants to work can work. If people would take care of their bodies, take multi-vitamins, eat properly, and exercise half of these health related problems would be gone. Did you know that in your state obesity costs the tax payers over $3 billion dollars! ( Obesity surge costs Michiganians $3 billion - 03/21/04 ) I don't want to pay for all these fat useless people that are too lazy to work. I have no remorse for these lazy people that are fat. Michigan has some of the most ugliest, fattest, people I have ever seen. There is a huge difference between Michigan and Florida. Just go to Florida and you can see the difference in how fit the people are. I heard people up here say it's a cold state but that's an excuse because Colorado is one of the most fit states in the country. Michigan is full of people looking for free handouts from the government and I'm happy that George W. Bush limits these useless programs. It's a pretty simple system -- you go to school, you get a degree, you get a high paying job, and you get a good healthcare program. And when Rudy gets in 2008, he isn't going to give in to these lazy bums in Michigan that cry about factories being shut down.

[Driller1]

I was in Florida this winter, from Homestead up to the Carolina's there were sud-devisions going in most places we would look. Building in Michigan is very slow, this will slow an economy down, but it will come back.
You have to make your own luck in life.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by khfar

If you hate the US so much, then bye-bye.

And furthermore, WHAT does this post have to do with Michigan? Nothing.

This type of sentiment is dangerous. Free thought and debate is fundamental to the well-being of this nation. People who are raising this issue sincerely want to make America a better place. They are not terrorists, elitists or anti-American. They see a problem and are taking steps to correct it. That quote, more than anything Michael Moore can say, is un-American.
This has everything to do with Mich., GM spends thousands of dollars per car on employee health care because the governemnt, and people like you, refuse to admit any fault in their nation. If they would work to solve this problem it would make this country more competitive. It would make our manufacturing more competitive, it would make GM and Ford more competitive. Mich.'s economy wouldn't be apalling. That debate is patriotism. Quelling debate because you won't admit faults in this nation, that is the definition of jingoism (read: Fascism). That rant, while perhaps making you feel better/superior/patriotic/intelligent, serves no purpose but to alienate and divide. Get off your high-horse and do something productive.

[MonaLisaVito]

Originally Posted by khfar

If only I could understand that rambling post above, I might reply to it. But - gah! I think Adler is back.

LOL, I agree, and can someone turn on spell check please.

[Driller1]

Ask a veteran how well the government handling their heath care works for them.

[Meg Lesher]

Originally Posted by Johnny727

I'm tired of these crybabies complaining. The economy is doing excellent right now and growing in leaps and bounds. Unemployment is really low, and in my state Florida pretty much everyone that wants to work can work. If people would take care of their bodies, take multi-vitamins, eat properly, and exercise half of these health related problems would be gone. Did you know that in your state obesity costs the tax payers over $3 billion dollars! ( Obesity surge costs Michiganians $3 billion - 03/21/04 ) I don't want to pay for all these fat useless people that are too lazy to work. I have no remorse for these lazy people that are fat. Michigan has some of the most ugliest, fattest, people I have ever seen. There is a huge difference between Michigan and Florida. Just go to Florida and you can see the difference in how fit the people are. I heard people up here say it's a cold state but that's an excuse because Colorado is one of the most fit states in the country. Michigan is full of people looking for free handouts from the government and I'm happy that George W. Bush limits these useless programs. It's a pretty simple system -- you go to school, you get a degree, you get a high paying job, and you get a good healthcare program. And when Rudy gets in 2008, he isn't going to give in to these lazy bums in Michigan that cry about factories being shut down.

Good Lord, man, what planet are you on? Michigan is full of good people who are scrambling to find jobs to replace those lost due to the recession here. They are not lazy; the jobs are not here. Zip. Look in The Detroit News/Free Press classifieds if you doubt this. It's pitiful. People are losing their homes and being forced to leave the State. I haven't seen many fat people here; certainly not more than in other States. But I'd hazard a guess a lot of fat people, here and elsewhere, are fat because cheap food is high carbohydrate food. Beans and rice, corn flakes and cheap bread, will put the pounds on people. If you're fighting to make ends meet, you don't buy a lot of meat and fish, fresh vegetables or yogurt, in a State where hamburger and the cheapest cuts of beef, on sale, are $3.00 /lb. Give us a break.

[bubbagirl]

Originally Posted by Meg Lesher

Good Lord, man, what planet are you on? Michigan is full of good people who are scrambling to find jobs to replace those lost due to the recession here. They are not lazy; the jobs are not here. Zip. Look in The Detroit News/Free Press classifieds if you doubt this. It's pitiful. People are losing their homes and being forced to leave the State. I haven't seen many fat people here; certainly not more than in other States. But I'd hazard a guess a lot of fat people, here and elsewhere, are fat because cheap food is high carbohydrate food. Beans and rice, corn flakes and cheap bread, will put the pounds on people. If you're fighting to make ends meet, you don't buy a lot of meat and fish, fresh vegetables or yogurt, in a State where hamburger and the cheapest cuts of beef, on sale, are $3.00 /lb. Give us a break.

Thank you!

Little Ceasers has $5 Hot n Ready. This can feed a couple for a day. Not healthy by any stretch of the imagination, but available. McD's/BK/etc all have $1 item menus. A couple can fill up for $3 each. Ramen noodles are $.20 a piece.

Is this lifestyle healthy at all? No. Is it a solution when you don't have a real income? Yes. I just did *real* grocery shopping this week for the first time in a very long time.... I was appalled at the $4/gallon of milk! We can get a package of hotdogs for $1 each (which could last 2 people a couple days), but a serving of ground beef or lean cut meat is at least $3. A box of mac n cheese can be purchased for $.33, but 4 days worth of salad ingredients will put you back nearly $10. For those stretching every dollar they have.... this makes a huge impact! I do enjoy exercising and being in shape. When you eat crap, it takes 3x as much exercise to maintain yourself. But, if you don't have the money to eat well, how do you come up with the money to get a decent pair of tennis shoes just to get out and walk with? I'm fortunate enough to have a good mountain bike, purchased several years ago when my finances were in great shape, but not everyone has that luxery.

And, we're not even touch the psychological aspect of being laid off without job prospects. Anyone that has ever had to fight to get back into the job market (and compete with easily 100 other applicants per position) knows just what kind of toll this takes on someone. You start to second guess and doubt yourself and your working ability. You get treated by those still holding jobs as if you're not trying hard enough, you're being lazy, or there is something wrong with you. It can be very depressing and degrading, and depression will affect your eating and exercising habits.

Yes, the American lifestyle could be better. We could all take better care of ourselves - cut out drinking, smoking, fatty foods, soft drinks, etc. When do we start to hold the food industry (say, fast food joints or junk food manufacturers) responsible for the billions of dollars spent every year marketing to us -- urging us to spend our hard earned dollars on their unhealthy product? When you're bombarded by heavy marketing, you tend to give in unless you have an extremely strong will not to. What about having a fast food place on every single corner? A well known marketing technique is availability; if the location pops up, it will be utilized. If the insurance companies really, truly want us to live healthier... why don't they give incentives to do such? Where is the discount for non-smokers, non-drinkers, or folks that can log exercise hours each week?

Just as with government... there needs to be some sort of checks and balances. Every business and worker has the right to reasonable compensation for the service they provide. I certainly expect that when I go to work, and I would not expect any different. But, what about price gauging..?? Insurance companies are making record profits on OUR dimes. We are the ones paying the insurance premiums every paycheck. You expect a certain amount of service for what you pay for. The norm with insurance carriers, though, it get out of paying as much as possible. By paying out less, they make more. My step mother passed away in 1992 from cancer because BCBS of Michigan REFUSED to give her the bone marrow transplant that her doctors recommended. She, along with several other cancer patients, took BCBS to court over the decision and WON their case - but by then, all but one of the women had already passed away. Apparently, delaying the payout by going to court cost BCBS less than saving the lives of these women. Ultimately, BCBS won. There are cases like this all over the country. So where are the morals? Sure, all folks have the RIGHT to their fortune... but you can't take it with you when you die. When do we, as Amercians that will supposedly help our neighbors out, start actually helping each other?

Socialized insurance may or may not be the answer. But, seems it works out pretty well in all other countries... I haven't seen too many complaints. They have the same medical equipment we do. They have as good as doctors as we do. And, the doctors still make a good living. They don't have all the frivilous lawsuits. They live longer and healthier. They have fewer infant dealths. So whats the issue? We've been told that "the government can control who you get to see" (which we haven't even confirmed as factual)?? HOW IS THAT ANY DIFFERENT THAN ANY AMERICAN HMO/PPO/PPOM, ETC?!?!

[Minnehahapolitan]

Wow, everyplace in this entire nation is booming like Florida. Why haven't you guy in Mich. caught on? All you have to do is purge and get a college degree so you can work for a company in Mich. that does not exist. Ya know what will save Flint from total oblivion, daily vitamins. There isn't economic depression, you guys are just lazy and fat. (all sarcasm) WELL YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN JOHNNY IF MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY WERE CUT TOMORROW? THE LEAN, INTELLIGNET AND VIBRANT STATE OF FLORIDA WOULD LOOK LIKE S-H-I- T. ALL THOSE OLD PEOPLE WOULD HAVE NO INCOME. MAYBE THAT LAZY 78 YEAR OLD WOMAN CAN GO BACK TO SCHOOL SO SHE CAN GET A HIGH PAYING JOB. YOU ARE A PRIC K

[happyappy]

I get such a belly laugh when I read about supposed free-market supporters who rail against universal health care proposals. They always use the term “socialized medicine” and of course it is not. Universal health care will finally bring about the competition that is lacking in the medical/pharmaceutical/insurance industry. Those who are against universal health care are against competition and favor the continuation of collusion instead. As is typical of modern Republicans, especially neoconservatives, their claims are opposite of the truth.

I favor GENUINE free markets, but there are none in America. The industries mentioned above are very closely led by rules, codes, regulations, and laws to follow a prescribed path to advantage the few while eliminating competition. And this elimination process has nothing whatever to do with stimulating creativity and motivating for increased efficiencies, but everything to do with achieving profits at the expense of competition. It’s backwards of true capitalism, and yet those who claim to support that other political Party that is reportedly so pro-business either know this but choose bury their heads in some dark, dank place, or they simply do not grasp the hypocrisy of their positions.

Oh, and by the way: nobody in the group of candidates for the Republican nomination could possibly be worse for our position in the global marketplace than Rudy, the-nation-builder, Giuliani; another of the faux free-marketers. Even Mitt Romney would be better, and that should dramatically indicate the poor quality leadership that Giuliani represents.