Thread: History and the stimulus package.

Originally Posted by FastEdge

My wife and I are both professionals. She is an architect and I am a software engineer. We make a good living and are pretty happy.

A few years ago my wife fell ill after giving birth to our second child. The doctors could not figure out why it was happening. Over the course of a year, one year, she was seen by at least a dozen doctors and had to be hospitalized four times.

By the second hospitalization, her employer hired someone to replace her. They sat them next to my wife and asked her to get this new person up to speed on her projects. She never got to finish out the year there.

My wife is a great architect. Highly skilled, highly educated. She did her job and did it well. HOW does personal responsibility work into this scenario? Do you think that without an employer you can afford to get sick? Do you think that if you get sick your employer will wait for you to get better? You don't know how it is apparently.

Sorry about your wife's illness. Is she now unable to find work as an architect? Any other job? Sometimes life throws us curve balls and we have to adjust.

My wife is recovering from a recent hip revision surgery. This is her second surgery on the same hip in 6 months. Her employer has promised to hold her job until she recovers. If, for some reason, her employer has to fill the position before my wife can return, she will seek out another. If not, we will make adjustments.

BTW, her employer does not provide a health plan. We pay for her insurance out of pocket.

And, FWIW, I went to college for a career in health care, but chose not to stay in that career for my own ethical reasons even though I was very good at what I did. I then went into law enforcement, but had to end that terrific career due to an injury. Now, several jobs later, I work at a job that I never expected I would have. I think it is beneath my skills, education, and abilities. I was miserable with it for the first several years, but have adjusted my attitude. It's not what I wanted to be when I grew up, but it pays the bills. Off topic, but I definitely know how it is.

Scott

Originally Posted by icedog

Thank God!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by xman

PS How many are aware that Benicio Del Toro stars in two movies about Ernesto 'Che' Guevara?

I am aware.

A lot of stuff in that stimulus package doesn't make much sense. Do we thank the Republicans for the destruction of our economy then? Or do we blame the people that are trying to fix it?

We are now a much more Socialist government. Is that bad?

I was reading a great article in this weeks Newsweek about how we are all now Socialists . . . its a great read and there is a neat article about how much better run Canada is. As XMan so correctly mentions the details are important.

Canada can afford to give people health care because it costs so much less to provide healthcare in Canada.

Canada is thriving in this economic downturn as well (according to Newsweek).

I agree with the original article. We'll be Socialists soon. But why shouldn't I be cool with that?

As arrogant as we've been about Capitalism its funny that we barely made it 250 years before our nearly complete collapse.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

We'll be Socialists soon. But why shouldn't I be cool with that?

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."


"Give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime."


Which statement do you agree with more?


Scott

Both, equally.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Both, equally.

Your answer surprised me and made me think about the question some more.

I think I could agree with both as well, as long as both are free choice, and, especially the first, is not imposed.

Does free choice vs. imposition change your view?


Scott

I mentioned that my wife was recently hospitalized. There was a woman in the bed next to my wife who asked me if, during my next trip out and back to the hospital, would I pick up a couple of her favorite candy bars.

I was happy to do so. She tried reimbursing me for the candy and I refused.

My wife later told me that this woman claimed that she was homeless and lived in a recently erected tent city out by the Ontario Int. Airport. Her medical costs were being covered by medical and medicare. Ours were paid through the health plan that we pay for out of pocket.

I didn't mind buying this person a couple of candy bars. It was my choice to help her out, make her happy.

After learning that I also helped pay her medical costs, as well as our own, I did mind. Even though the actual amount that I contributed was infinitesimal, far less than what I paid for a couple of candy bars, it wasn't my choice.


Scott

Originally Posted by honedright

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need."


"Give a man a fish he eats for a day, teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime."


Which statement do you agree with more?


Scott

I am violently opposed to the first statement. It is the epitome of evil, in my mind. How about "from no man and to no man, and everyone can take care of their own damn self?"

Also disagree with the second statement, although not as passionately. Each man should teach himself to fish, through trial and error, until he learns what works best for him and the fish.

"Only people know just how to talk to people.
Only people know just how to change the world.
Only people realise the power of people.
A million heads are better than one so come on, get it on!"

~ John Lennon