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Re: “The effect of 9/11 on American policy and politics has been a tragedy unto itself”
thank you bruce, no one is saying this for fear of being disrespectful, which I understand. but i like the way you put this: there are two tragedies here. the former we can do nothing about, the latter is the way we reacted and ultimately is what's causing our nation to self-destruct. i remember 9/11 with clarity, but thank you for mentioning the atrocities of the bush administration after, from the patriot act all the way up to current behavior from the republican party. tack on newt gingrich as speaker of the house in the 90s and we have a recipe for failure of the american congressional system, not to forget mentioning an embarrassing amount of anti-muslim sentiment...murfreesboro mosque anyone?
Re: “The effect of 9/11 on American policy and politics has been a tragedy unto itself”
I don't think Bruce is saying we never should have had military action in response to 9/11. I think he's saying that the WAY we went to war and continual war mentality and military industrial complex aren't the values most Americans believe in. And that long term strategies like some of the individual rights taken away in the Patriot Act weren't intended to be long-term. Yet now, they are the norm. I also think he's rightfully pointing out the insanity of the GOP insinuating that Democrats were unpatriotic for questioning these policy decisions. All of those points are fair.
Re: “The effect of 9/11 on American policy and politics has been a tragedy unto itself”
Okay Bruce, what would your response have been to the Taliban? Osama Bin Laden? Saddam Hussein? I'm sure you could have negotiated some sort of settlement where they wouldn't attack us again or harbor terrorists, or invade their neighbors and commit genocide among their own. How would you stop all these things from happening? And keep in mind that there's 1.6 billion Muslims and if one tenth of one percent of them want to kill Americans, that's 1,600,000 potential bombers out there and some of them are trying to figure out how to kill your family as I write this. How are you going to deal with them? Love 'em to death? And please don't sidestep my questions, I want to know what viable alternatives you have.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
I don't understand why the family and the author seem so angry at the employer: they truly did the best thing that they could for her, under the circumstances. Would they rather the Co. kept her on the rolls as an employee, she loses the insurance because she's not actually working the minimum hours, AND she's also unable to apply for COBRA??? After all, they don't owe anything to a brand new employee of just 1 month. Some companies don't offer insurance until you've been employed for 30 or 60 days to begin with.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
This is what happens in right-to-work states. Proponents think that a right-to-work state is one where you can work wherever you want to without having to join a union. But it is also one where employers can fire you for any reason and unless it was because of race, creed, color or national origin, you have ho recourse. In these states, the only rights workers have are those specified in their employment contracts but with collective bargaining, contracts protect workers from such abuse. Right-to-work is not all it's cracked up to be. Don't be taking in by this fancy rhetoric.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
Daddy Mikey, thanks for sharing and shedding some light on information that wasn't or couldn't be in the article. I had a feeling the COBRA premiums were manageable, but $50,000 out-of-pocket is more than a bit steep. It sounds like it's nothing more than catastrophic coverage, and even then you have a big liability. I'd imagine your wife's policy is similar. To me this does make a case for creating the insurance exchanges. If their employers could drop having a company policy and instead pay premiums to an exchange that included a larger pool of members, then chances are both of them would be getting a better level of coverage for the dollars. I know it doesn't help now and I'm saddened to hear of your family's predicament. Hopefully something can be learned from this, though. I think it's interesting that everyone likes to be a fan of small businesses, but this is a huge area where those businesses, their employees, and even the self-employed are vulnerable. I'd like to see government make it so that people who work for a small business, want to start a small business, or work for themselves are not so exposed when it comes to health care coverage. Hopefully that's an area where Health Care Reform can have some success. In the meantime, I hope for a full recovery for all in your family.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
The title of this article is complety mis-informing. This is exactly why we need health care reform. For the writer of this article to claim Obamacare has failed to help this girl is completely wrong. The health care reform fought for will not be in place until 2014. We as a society must provide health care for everyone. If we do not, this is exactly what happens. Right now employees are responsible for health care, and without a government plan, no one is guaranteed anything. I sympathize for this family, and hope we join the rest of the civilized world and provide health care as a mandate.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
Mike, read her dad's comment above and all your questions will be answered. No need to be so snarky.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
Yeah there are several things missing here...
1) The minivan drivers insurance
2) Her own car insurance
3) Her parents health insurance. Why is she not covered under that?
Lots of ways to get these bills paid, if we had just one responsible party out there somewhere in the mix.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
regardless of how this happened, a young girl is paralyzed and fighting to get an ounce of her life back. the driver of the other car WALKS away unharmed and no insurance, and if they sue him what are they gonna get......absolutely nothing. This is all wrong on many levels. The girl that gets hit, has insurance, loses her ability to walk, and the guy that hits her has no insurance and loses his vehicle. How fair is that? What is there to do about all these people that drive with no insurance? And for the one that said why didn't she get out of the car, no one knows what their gonna do unless their in that situation, you don't know what the traffic was like, it may have been as they thought safer to stay in the car. The only place fingers should be pointed is at the one who hit her for not paying attention to where he was going. No matter where I turn I see the good taking all the crap the evil should be getting..It's just crazy, you break into someone's house and if you get hurt you can sue for negligence. I just fell at a supermarket and injured my knee, they tell me that they have to prove that I couldn't see the water...they say it's hard to have a case because in Michigan there is a new law that says your supposed to look up down side to side...who grocery shops looking at the floor. This insanity has got to stop!!!!!Chelsie...I'm still praying for you!!!Keep up the good work girl, you've come a long way. Melissa and Mike...you guys are awesome!!!!!!!!
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
We can all coulda-shoulda-woulda, but that doesn't do anyone any good, does it?
This isn't a family of lazy mooches. They are good, hard-working people. I believe everyone should do as much for themselves as they can, but when tragedy strikes, all of us should be less judgmental and more compassionate.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
there are some unanswered questions here in regard to her staying in the car, and the other driver's insurance..also does her parents have insurance..if so,she should be covered.. or maybe they are on their own insurance..an eighteen year old at home should be covered by her parent's insurance..
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
@ Jenn we are damned if we do and damned if we dont. Where I live in Michigan. In the last few months we had two teens killed when they were on the side of the road after their cars broke down. They had each been outside of their vehicles. So either way when you break down on the highway you are at risk. But the responsibilty is to all drivers on the road to pay attention to what is going on, and to be ready to stop in case a car is broke down. Chelsie is a young lady who wasnt sure what to do, and lets be honest when things like this happen, we may only have seconds to make a desicion. Also she was in a center lane, how would you expect her to get out. I hope you dont feel I am scolding you, these are all desicions that every driver must make. Be careful out there driving, because there are a lot of people who are distracted and not paying attention. Prayers for you Chelsie, and your fammily.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
The driver of the minivan didn't have insurance. Our uninsured motorists coverage may pay out but even if they do, her medical insurance provider may lay claim to those funds. When the wheel came off she was in the second lane from the left shoulder, she later said she considered getting out of the car but was scared of getting run over. I didn't have her on the phone long enough to really assess the situation, but I do wish in hindsight that I would have told her to get out of the car immediately. We are currently paying her COBRA premiums which is a little more than $300/month. Not bad, but her 80/20 plan has an annual out of pocket max of $50,000 which is rather steep. I'm self-employed but we considered adding her to my wife's plan at work. Our reason for not doing that is that she works for a small medical practice with a group of only seven other people. After the first year of my daughter being added to that plan the resulting increase in premium would most likely result in coverage being priced out of reach for everyone in the office, including us. If everything Mr. Moss says is true then I can understand why they let her go, but the way it was handled made it feel rather unseemly and unsympathetic. After this experience I'm inclined to agree with Kosh, I think we need to consider looking at health care as a collective societal responsibility much the same way we do with education.
Re: “The Juana Villegas case looks bad for Metro — but will it look worse if the city appeals the damages?”
1. The sheriff is doing what he is constitutionally bound and responsible to do.
2. The federal government has NOT only approved heads of law enforcement agencies to carry out this 287(g) program, but has ALSO funded training and other related programs to ensure local law enforcement ASSISTS the federal government in curtailing illegal immigration.
3. There is NO room for complacency or a "feeling good"or "let's ignore the underlying problem" or "let's be friendly" approach to illegal immigration just as there is NO room to tolerate selling drugs, human trafficking, prostitution, and other crimes.
4. I applaud the sheriff for not caving to public sentiment and those who harbor and aid illegal immigrants, including but not limited to hiring them as the case in this Villagas case and McDonalds. I have called CBP to report that the Nashville area franchisee or corporate owned store hires illegals.
5. KUDOS to Mr. Klein for doing his job!
6. Lastly, as far as this federal judge goes, it IS unfortunate that these people get a lifetime appointment with no recourse for acting as "God" on the bench. I guess the approach to getting a federal judgeship is to deceive the US Senate during confirmation hearings to only rule as one wishes from the bench after the fact.
Re: “The Juana Villegas case looks bad for Metro — but will it look worse if the city appeals the damages?”
The article mentions she is a McDonald's manager....Hmm, a call to Homeland Security/CBP is in order to advise them that McDonald's hires illegal aliens....
Anyone need the number? I've already called.....
1-800-BE-ALERT
Even though Obama has sidestepped Congressional authority re illegal immigration with an executive order, contact CBP and the press.
Re: “The Juana Villegas case looks bad for Metro — but will it look worse if the city appeals the damages?”
1. It is the illegal's problem she never took the time to learn English but took the time to not only enter the USA illegally once BUT twice.
2. She was a prisoner in jail for driving without a valid license.
3. She was lawfully stopped and lawfully arrested for said crime.
4. Whether her breasts were tender or hurting is a medical issue not one the fault of the sheriff's office. During labor a lot of things tend to hurt.
5. APPEAL the verdict and then quickly deport this illegal. If she re-enters the USA illegally for the third time, fine her $ 200K and bill her for the deportation costs.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
This is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to the victim and her family.
Unfortunately, there is an underlying assumption in this report that somehow taxpayers should be financially responsible for funding a solution for every bad event that ever occurs. Our economy is already at the breaking point because we are increasingly requiring taxpayers to fund the remediation of every negative outcome of human life. This is an unreasonable and unsustainable trend.
Re: “A Nashville company fires a recently paralyzed teenage employee, cutting off her medical coverage — and raising doubts about health care reform”
This was a terrible accident, but by the title and body of the article, I gather that the author is pointing the finger at the employer and at the healthcare system in general. No amount of finger-pointing should over-shadow either of the following truths:
1) It makes sense to fire someone who can no longer perform their duties at a company. Maybe it isn't nice, but businesses exist to make money.
2) The responsibility of seeing to one's health lies with the individual, or if that person is not of age, then their parents. Of course the healthcare system can be better, but all the former comments have hinted at a variety of solutions within the current system.
I am amazed at the assumptive reasoning that must be present for the author to start bitching about premiums. Want a solution? Pay the premium. Is it expensive? Yes. But so are the medical costs of caring for a paralyzed person. Is someone other than the person receiving the benefits of the healthcare supposed to pay the cost? If so, why?
When did it become the responsibility of the government, which has a proven track record of poor performance in regards to its duties, to see to the health of individuals? Does anyone take ownership of their problems in this country?
Re: “The effect of 9/11 on American policy and politics has been a tragedy unto itself”
It did not have to be this way.
I got strong reactions, positive and negative (including outrage from family members and close friends) to an e-mail sent the day after the worldwide moment of silence on 14 Sept. 2001. I had spent it in the tiny, ancient Round Church next to St. John's College, Cambridge. My family had moved to England one week before the attacks.
The message concluded:
Words I have heard so many times before rang through the church, and one couplet among them kept ringing in my ears afterward:
"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
It's a mission statement, innit? The job ahead really couldn't be simpler in the essence to which these ritualized words boil it down. Let no temptation impede us from waging a just war against evil. Okay. We'll get right on that. If only simple meant easy.
The temptation of unproductive revenge is obvious; less so the temptation of nostalgia, the allure of pretending everything can someday again be as it was before Tuesday. Somehow, ordinary Americans will have to get their minds around the fact that our country is not as exceptional as we were raised to believe. Somehow, a people conditioned by politics and education to look inward will have to engage the rest of the world.