What a SURPRISE!

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by VRM

I agree with Jamo - this train is going too fast and is headed for a wreck.

Our system is not all that bad, but there are some fixes to be made. I agree with Ernie that a lot of people who are out of work right now are not lazy-ass types. I would like to figure out a way to cover their medical until they find another job. Something like unemployment benefits, but that also has a time limit. It will not be free, but it will be cheaper than what is being proposed now.
And for you employers out there who will complain about another cost, well, that person is making you money. You would not have that person there if they didn't. If every person I hired would clear $5 per year for me I would hire 50,000 tomorrow. Seriously, don't bother - I really dislike people who complain about their good fortune.

Tort reform is another one that needs to be fixed, but I think it is safe as is for at least the next 3 years or so. I also wonder if the malpractise insurers would actually lower the rates if the malpractise costs dropped.

Drug costs are also too high because drug companies have a great game going with patents and licensing. I would like to see cash awards for cures for major diseases, but then 'we the people' would own the rights. I am leery of government having that sort of control, but the drug companies have proven that they are usually not willing to play an honest game. Anybody have any better solutions to the high cost of drugs?

There are also efficiencies that we can make using high tech. My own local doctors office recently went to using small laptops to enter patient data - test results, digital x-ray images, and everything else can be stored in a patients file. And you don't have to worry about poor doctor handwriting because everything is typed. My doc says he loves it, and it has cut down on the time he spends on paperwork.

And for those GOP types - you should have seen this coming. Clinton tried to do this 15 years ago. You had Congress for over a decade, including some significant overlap time with a Republican president, and you did nothing but let the problems get worse.

And for you DNC types - WTF are you thinking!?! Bush was pretty terrible, but that does not mean that everything that existed during his administration needs to be thrown out. You need to actually troubleshoot the problems and identify what is broken and fix it. This is a knee-jerk reaction to the last 8 years, and it is not a good one.

Steve

There already is it's called COBRA, which since you obviously haven't been keeping up with current events, now costs 65% less.

You employer pays 50% of your unemployment claim (as well as the "premiums")...

My employees get paid, I didn't when the profits weren't there so don't preach to me or any other employer. To hear you talk hiring an employee is a gaurenteed money maker, I assure you it is not. There are two flaws with your logic the employer has to make sure the work is there and that the employee actually does it. If things don't go well your stuck with keeping them on the payroll or laying them off. In either senario the employer is paying for them to do nothing.

Look I don't have a problem helping people out that have hit on hard times but the other half that have always been leeches need to be cooked down into bio-fuel. If the government would get off our back we could take care of this ourselves.

In good times the line is "We're doing so well, everone should help out the needy". In bad times it's "We're doing so bad, we need to help out the needy".

I am sick of the "will nots" being labeled "have nots", you find a way to weed these parasites off the government teet I'm all ears.

[VRM]

Originally Posted by Ronbo

There already is it's called COBRA, which since you obviously haven't been keeping up with current events, now costs 65% less.

You employer pays 50% of your unemployment claim (as well as the "premiums")...

My employees get paid, I didn't when the profits weren't there so don't preach to me or any other employer. To hear you talk hiring an employee is a gaurenteed money maker, I assure you it is not. There are two flaws with your logic the employer has to make sure the work is there and that the employee actually does it. If things don't go well your stuck with keeping them on the payroll or laying them off. In either senario the employer is paying for them to do nothing.

Look I don't have a problem helping people out that have hit on hard times but the other half that have always been leeches need to be cooked down into bio-fuel. If the government would get off our back we could take care of this ourselves.

In good times the line is "We're doing so well, everone should help out the needy". In bad times it's "We're doing so bad, we need to help out the needy".

I am sick of the "will nots" being labeled "have nots", you find a way to weed these parasites off the government teet I'm all ears.

Ronbo,
I do not like the parasites either. I would gradually take money out of welfare and put it into job training. If you want to eat you will have to learn how to do something other than watch gameshows. I would gradually unfund welfare so that they would see their 'standard of living' reduced and eventually eliminated.

The Cobra change is a band-aid that will help some.

How would you 'take care of this yourselves' if government would get off your back?

No, hiring an employee is not a sure-fire money maker. My point was that if you can make just $5 for every employee after all your costs then you are ahead of the game. Hopefully you will do better than $5. There are also times when you will be doing very well. You opted for a higher risk/reward than your employees. That is the choice you made - don't whine about it when the going gets tough. If you don't like it, or it is no longer worth your effort, then stop doing it.
What employers pay for unemployment is part of the compensation/benefits for that employee. If that overall cost is not offset by what that employee will be generating then you should not hire them. Don't pretend you are doing employees a favour - they are there to make/save you money. You deserve to get a days work for a days pay, but it is your job to give them the work.

And I'm staying an extra hour to offset the time that I have been goofing around on CC. One of the drawbacks to actually having a work ethic I guess.

Steve