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Re: Political Poll

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:11 pm
by Jigsaw
Lazerus wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:08 pm
Jigsaw wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:00 pm
Lazerus wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 2:56 pm
Jigsaw wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 2:22 pm I was briefly a member of the Socialist Party USA (SPUSA). I am currently a member of the Indiana Green Party (so technically a member of the national Green Party, by extension), but I am willing to vote for any leftist candidate, regardless of party (SEP, SPUSA, PSL, Socialist Action, FSP, WWP, etc.).

For example, I'm supporting Claudia De la Cruz (the nominee of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, or PSL) for president. I may be a Green Party member, but I'm certainly not required to always support their candidates.

By the way, happy you figured out the poll issue.
As a Socialist I am curious as to where you stand on business ownership?
From my understanding of socialism in general, the biggest grip is against the big mega corporations (conglomerates) and less with mid-sized and small businesses.
I don't personally have a problem with small business-owners (as long as they provide a living wage and healthcare for their employees). If someone wants to make a carpet-cleaning business, as long as there's not a monopoly in the area, I have literally no problem with it.

It's more the major industires - electric, internet, gas/oil, etc. - that I think should be completely nationalized. No one should freeze to death in winter because they can't pay a heating bill - that is complete insanity to me, and we shouldn't allow it.

Small businesses, though, depending on the business, of course, don't really bother me. Foo has (had?) a food truck company, and I completely supported that.
The problem with providing healthcare benefits (for a small business) is the affordability. It's insanely expensive to provide those benefits especially in times like now with high inflation. Now that may sound like an excuse but it's true. Keep in mind small business do not have the level of access to capital that the publicly traded companies do. It took my business a few years to get to the point where we could provide this for our employees. On a personal note I feel healthcare is a right and we should have a universal healthcare system by now. Healthcare should not be a for profit industry.
That's why I added an addendum in the following post. I get the cost issue, which is why I don't think it should be their burden to bare. In this country, though, under the system we currently have, it largely is.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:15 pm
by Slaughterhouserock
Jason wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:06 pm The big issue is the cost of medication being ridiculously high. If the people that control big pharma started controlling, let's say, fast food. A Big Mac would cost 87,000 dollars. The elites running the show need to be eradicated from all forms of power.
All healthcare is expensive, not just medication. When I had my appendectomy, the bill was around $13k. That wasn't something I could plan for, as your appendix is just a ticking time bomb. A ride in an ambulance usually costs over $1k for a five minute ride. And if I actually tried to pay off my medical bills from the month I spent in a mental institution, I'd be in debt for years. So yeah, healthcare in this country is garbage.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:16 pm
by Jason
Lazerus wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:11 pm
Jason wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:06 pm
Jigsaw wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:03 pm I also wanted to add this important note:

I do not think healthcare should be tied into employment, but in this country, it largely is, which is why I mentioned requiring healthcare to employees in regards to small business-owners.
The big issue is the cost of medication being ridiculously high. If the people that control big pharma started controlling, let's say, fast food. A Big Mac would cost 87,000 dollars. The elites running the show need to be eradicated from all forms of power.
Big Pharma is worse than Big Oil imo.
I agree. There are tons of medications approved of by the FDA that kill people every day and it's never talked about. They'll knowing keep people on medication that will surely decrease their life expectancy and it doesn't matter as long as they're getting their cut. We shouldn't have distrust in these things but they're so openly corrupt that it's hard to trust anything from them. My best friend dies in Afghanistan in 2009 because of a medication he was required to take to help prevent malaria. He ended up experiencing horrific side effects and committed suicide which they attributed to the drug. His family was prohibited from suing because of the FDA's approval of the drug. These people exempt themselves from responsibility and pass it down to the business owners or lower level people below them.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:18 pm
by Jigsaw
Slaughterhouserock wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:15 pm
Jason wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:06 pm The big issue is the cost of medication being ridiculously high. If the people that control big pharma started controlling, let's say, fast food. A Big Mac would cost 87,000 dollars. The elites running the show need to be eradicated from all forms of power.
All healthcare is expensive, not just medication. When I had my appendectomy, the bill was around $13k. That wasn't something I could plan for, as your appendix is just a ticking time bomb. A ride in an ambulance usually costs over $1k for a five minute ride. And if I actually tried to pay off my medical bills from the month I spent in a mental institution, I'd be in debt for years. So yeah, healthcare in this country is garbage.
My brother went into a walk-in clinic. Got charged $900.

I haven't seen a doctor in over ten years. God might know what's wrong with me, but I sure don't. :P

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:18 pm
by Jason
Slaughterhouserock wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:15 pm
Jason wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:06 pm The big issue is the cost of medication being ridiculously high. If the people that control big pharma started controlling, let's say, fast food. A Big Mac would cost 87,000 dollars. The elites running the show need to be eradicated from all forms of power.
All healthcare is expensive, not just medication. When I had my appendectomy, the bill was around $13k. That wasn't something I could plan for, as your appendix is just a ticking time bomb. A ride in an ambulance usually costs over $1k for a five minute ride. And if I actually tried to pay off my medical bills from the month I spent in a mental institution, I'd be in debt for years. So yeah, healthcare in this country is garbage.
I once bruised the ever loving fuck out of my rib cage playing sports. I thought my lung collapsed or something, I was in so much pain. Decided I needed to go the hospital. They did an x-ray, said it was a severely bruised rib contusion, prescribed ibuprofen, "that'll be $3,000 please". A lot of people would rather die than overpay those assholes.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 10:39 am
by Lazerus
Jason wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:18 pm
Slaughterhouserock wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:15 pm
Jason wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2024 3:06 pm The big issue is the cost of medication being ridiculously high. If the people that control big pharma started controlling, let's say, fast food. A Big Mac would cost 87,000 dollars. The elites running the show need to be eradicated from all forms of power.
All healthcare is expensive, not just medication. When I had my appendectomy, the bill was around $13k. That wasn't something I could plan for, as your appendix is just a ticking time bomb. A ride in an ambulance usually costs over $1k for a five minute ride. And if I actually tried to pay off my medical bills from the month I spent in a mental institution, I'd be in debt for years. So yeah, healthcare in this country is garbage.
I once bruised the ever loving fuck out of my rib cage playing sports. I thought my lung collapsed or something, I was in so much pain. Decided I needed to go the hospital. They did an x-ray, said it was a severely bruised rib contusion, prescribed ibuprofen, "that'll be $3,000 please". A lot of people would rather die than overpay those assholes.
Yeah it’s ridiculous!

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:05 pm
by Headhunter
It’s almost a shame I didn’t have a health scare when I lived in Europe. Ambulance, treatment etc. will cost you basically a lunch.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:13 pm
by Jason
Headhunter wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:05 pm It’s almost a shame I didn’t have a health scare when I lived in Europe. Ambulance, treatment etc. will cost you basically a lunch.
Just leave your identification at home. Tell them your name is Juan and no habla americano. Free free free!

I am unemployed and now everything is free. You're rewarded if you're not contributing to society.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:17 pm
by Slaughterhouserock
Jason wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:13 pm I am unemployed and now everything is free. You're rewarded if you're not contributing to society.
I was unemployed for three years, this is false.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2024 3:00 pm
by Jason
Slaughterhouserock wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:17 pm
Jason wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:13 pm I am unemployed and now everything is free. You're rewarded if you're not contributing to society.
I was unemployed for three years, this is false.
It's true. I was unemployed from 2014-2016 to figure out a medical issue. Got it all free but was forced to get shitty Healthcare that kept me unemployed for 3 years when all that was needed was a genetic mutation. I quit my job this past February and applied for it again and got it. Totally voluntarily quit, not laid off, not fired. Just quit. When I'm steadily employed they overcharge the fuck out of me. When you're unemployed here in California they reward you for being a loser. :P

I was paying 250 dollar co-pays every month to get my enoxaparin, a preventative shot that I take twice a day because I have Factor V. Now I pay zero. Doctor visits, zero. Dental visits, zero. All because I quit my job.

Re: Political Poll

Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2024 9:01 am
by Lazerus
Jason wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 3:00 pm
Slaughterhouserock wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:17 pm
Jason wrote: Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:13 pm I am unemployed and now everything is free. You're rewarded if you're not contributing to society.
I was unemployed for three years, this is false.
It's true. I was unemployed from 2014-2016 to figure out a medical issue. Got it all free but was forced to get shitty Healthcare that kept me unemployed for 3 years when all that was needed was a genetic mutation. I quit my job this past February and applied for it again and got it. Totally voluntarily quit, not laid off, not fired. Just quit. When I'm steadily employed they overcharge the fuck out of me. When you're unemployed here in California they reward you for being a loser. :P

I was paying 250 dollar co-pays every month to get my enoxaparin, a preventative shot that I take twice a day because I have Factor V. Now I pay zero. Doctor visits, zero. Dental visits, zero. All because I quit my job.
And yet California is sinking faster into bankruptcy by the day and they wonder why everyone is moving out. Stupid policies over there! I was reading the other day they are still pushing for reparations for slavery. That shit was over 150 years ago, why force people to pay for it now? SMH You guys need a state government overhaul.