This is just plain scary that these words could be spoken. What if the whole country takes her words to heart and quit their jobs?
Yep she said this same thing before the vote as if that should be a big reason they should have voted yes on it.
I think you’re misinterpreting it. What Pelosi is saying is that if someone wants to start their own business (or quit their dayjob to become a full-time musician) they can do so because the new law will allow them to buy their own insurance without being gouged.
Not such a scary prospect if you ask me. More musicians, and more small businesses? What’s not to like…
I think you’re misinterpreting it.
Are you new around here?
I think you’re misinterpreting it. What Pelosi is saying is that if someone wants to start their own business (or quit their dayjob to become a full-time musician) they can do so because the new law will allow them to buy their own insurance without being gouged.
Not such a scary prospect if you ask me. More musicians, and more small businesses? What’s not to like…
I always find it funny that my old friends from college, who are still trying to make it as artists, were the most contemptuous of athletes. They would go off on how stupid it was for an athlete to ignore school and focus on a pipe dream of making it to the pros.
I am not going to say they were wrong, but at what point is ignoring school in the hopes of becoming a professional athlete any less intelligent then majoring in dance and trying to make it as a professional dancer? I agree, basketball players should put some thought into their school work and the degree they are going to get after they graduate. I also think it is reasonable to expect want to be artists to put some thought into their after graduation plans and maybe major or even minor in something that could lead to gainful employment, just in case they don’t end the next Gene Kelly.
When I was in college, I took a spanish class with a girl who majored in African dance. It wasn’t a surprise to most of us in the class when she told us what her major was.
First, being a career musician or an artist is a job and you are essentially a small business—and they are taxpayers too. It would be a mistake to think that all musicians are trying to become the next American Idol or some kid sponging off his parents while he waits for his band to “make it”. Most people who are musicians or artists for a living are not famous but are able to earn a livable wage teaching lessons, play orchestra gigs, traveling broadway shows, recording sessions as a studio player, play weddings, bars etc…To make 20k-40k a year as a self employed musician is not all that uncommon. However, because you are self employed you have to keep track of your social security, taxes, and health care which is fine except problem is that even though you are making a livable wage, your health care can eat up most of your income. People forget that when they work for a company their “income” is actually far higher because their employers often pay their insurance. Also, a larger company is often able to get better rates than someone who is self employed.
I don’t like Pelosi, but I do like the idea of independent contractors or extremely small businesses having access to affordable healthcare. My question is if you take the your misperception of the bohemian musician/artist/dancer that is an economic drag of society, does this become more acceptable if you are an independent electrician/plumber/handyman/small business etc…? Whether you think of artists as valuable or not doesn’t really matter, they run their businesses and are paid in the same manner as the many independent contractors that build houses, handiwork, and small landscaping operations—at least thats how the tax system looks at it.
does this become more acceptable if you are an independent electrician/plumber/handyman/small business etc…?
You make a very good point. Please do not take this as a personal attack.
My problem begins when I have to help pay for your insurance. I doubt any one will take exception to the fact that you have chosen a career in the arts. We only complain when we work 60-70 hours a week at high pressure jobs only to have the government take our hard earned money and give it to those who do not work as hard.
I have no problem helping those who can not help themselves. I DO have a problem helping those who choose not to help themselves or have chosen careers that do not earn much. You made the choice so YOU should live with the consequences. If you choose a career in which you earn $40,000…great. Just don’t ask those of us who have chosen careers that earn us $100K plus to subsidize your expenses.
Affordable health care is only “affordable” because the government will take my money to pay for your insurance.
**Affordable health care is only “affordable” because the government will take my money to pay for your insurance. **
And that is everything in a concise nutshell.
All wrapped up and easy to understand.
Should be no question about it.
But there will be.
Why?
Because its the simple truth.
And progressives really dislike the truth.
To follow up on your point, I know a lot of musicians. Most probably pull in $20-$40K doing exactly as you described. A lot of people get the misconception that a musician is like an athlete where 0.1% become rock stars whilst the rest make absolutely no money at it.
I’m all for affordable health care, I’m all for it being supported by taxes, and I even support the idea that those of us who make more will pay more into the system.
I support all of this largely because of personal experience. I had surgery at a time when I could not afford health insurance. That, combined with untimely recessions sent me into a whirlwind of debt that was all but impossible to climb out of. Now that I make money I’m happy to pay a little more to help those who are in situations similar to where I was, or potentially will be if, some day, circumstances just work out for the worse.
What I DON’T support, however, is our current system where half of us pay everything and the other half pays nothing.
What I don’t support is the way it is set up right now which is th
What Pelosi is saying is that if someone wants to start their own business (or quit their dayjob to become a full-time musician) they can do so because the new law will allow them to buy their own insurance without being gouged.
Although I would agree with your interpretation this bill does nothing to provide anything any differently in that department outside of the people with long term conditions or serious pre existing conditions. I could actually go out and get similar insurance as a single person for about the same price, even cheaper, than what I pay for in the group rate with my company.
~Matt
Actually, the bill outlaws being denied insurance for ANY pre-existing condition - not just the serious ones. I’ve mentioned this before, my sister has a very minor pre-existing condition that has already been cared for and now requires $25/month of presciptions. She’s more than happy to pay that $25 out of her pocket but due to the fact that she has a pre-existing condition she has been denied ALL insurance.
My sister owns and runs a very successful retail business which provides jobs to others in the community and pumps a fair amount of sales tax revenue back into the tax system (in addition to the taxes she herself pays) but can’t get insurance for herself because of this $25/month condition.
**Just don’t ask those of us who have chosen careers that earn us $100K plus to subsidize your expenses. **
So you must really oppose the system in place before Obama where those employed in the U.S subsidized those without insurance.
I didn’t think you were such a big fan of Obama.
FWIW, I was a musician. I saw the “writing on the wall” regarding healthcare, retirement, cash flow, lifestyle, etc. and I went to college and got a BS/MS and now am living a “normal” life.
I don’t think the point that many are making is biased because of some type of preconceived notion of a muscian’s, artist’s, athletes, housewife’s, etc. lifestyle. I think the point of “not paying your own way” transcends job title or lifestyle.
I never said that we had a perfect system (although it is the best in the world). The system needs fixing but this is not a fix. It’s a conversion to a medical system that is modeled after other medical sytems that have failed. If got your head out your ass long enough to look around, you would see that Canada’s, England’s and other European sytems are second rate when compared to ours. I wonder what type of health care you can get in Greece, Spain or Portugal now.
Our system could have been fixed so that it provided for those without insurance, covered pre-existing conditions, etc. But instead of fixing a great system, we have decided to throw it out and replace it with one that will fail to do the very things you espouse.
The causes that you champion are very noble. Unfortunately, the steps you are taking to achieve them will not work…Europe is a perfect example.
I never said that we had a perfect system (although it is the best in the world). The system needs fixing but this is not a fix. It’s a conversion to a medical system that is modeled after other medical sytems that have failed. If got your head out your ass long enough to look around, you would see that Canada’s, England’s and other European sytems are second rate when compared to ours. I wonder what type of health care you can get in Greece, Spain or Portugal now.
You’re nuts. The USA system is a joke in terms of money being wasted vs services provided. If I recall correctly the US spends something like 17% of GNP on heathcare. That’s the highest in the world. 2nd place is either Sweden or Swiss at 10-11%, and they cover their citizens FAR better.
The US system only works if you let uninsured people bleed to death in the street. But you don’t, and you give those people coverage (which is paid for by the rest of you). That’s your universal healthcare which you’ve always had. All you’re doing now admitting it and setting a reasonable minimum standard that everyone can live with.
All you’re doing now admitting it and setting a reasonable minimum standard that everyone can live with.
Uhmmm, that ain’t true.
Perhaps I should have been a little more specific. No other country in the world comes close to the US in terms of the quality of health care it provides. You are absolutely correct that many other countries provide health care to all of their citizens, but the health care is second rate compared to the quality here in the US. There is a difference between quantity and quality.
You are also correct when you point out that all citizens in the US already receive health care. All they have to do is go to the emergency room and receive treatment that is much more expensive than it would cost if the services were provided in a clinic setting.
However, these facts do not warrant our government taking over health care. In my humble opinion that is the pot at the end of the rainbow for those who forced the health care package down our throats. There are market based solutions to the problems that we both recognize do exist. Problems that our politicians will not and are not capable of solving.
The fundemental difference between our approachs to solving these problems is: you think the government is the solution, while I feel government will only screw thing up. I base my opinion on the fact that politicians will make political decisions regarding health care rather than intelligent business decisions.
Now, I’m going to go swim 2000m. Have a good evening.
This is consistently shown not to be true. Even among those with very good coverage who receive a lot of services don’t have very good health outcomes compared to other countries.