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#3226 2026-08-09 16:08:52
- RobertDyck
- Moderator
- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
- Website
Re: Politics
One concern is that if Democrats call themselves "Democratic Socialists" or in any way embrace socialism, then they won't get elected. Americans will not elected a communist government, or anything that smacks of communism.
In 2014 professors Martin Gilens (Princeton) and Benjamin Page (Northwestern) published a study. They analyzed over 20 years of data to measure how voter preferences affect federal legislation. They found Congressmen do not care what voters say. They do not care how many voters contact them on a bill. Zero impact. But then they analyzed the data gain, this time only including donors who had donated $1 million or more to their election campaign. There was a direct correlation. America is not a democracy, America is a plutocracy. That means rule by the rich.
The rich controlled both the Democrat and Republican parties. It didn't matter who was elected. Then Donald Trump. He promised to "drain the swamp". Well, he did eliminate influence by those who bought and paid off Congress before Trump. However, Trump replaced one swamp with another swamp. One group of rich people were replaced by a different group of rich people. Trump still doesn't care what average voters want.
So who is going to actually "drain the swamp"? Senator John McCain et al passed a law closing a loophole in election spending limits. The law restricted third party spending. One group called "Citizens United" wanted to campaign against Hillary Clinton. They didn't like the law that said they can't spend however much money they want. They appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Roberts completely rewrote the case, then sat as chief justice hearing the case that he himself rewrote. Rather than seeking permission to spend money on billboards in one county, it became a broad principle that created Political Action Committees (PACs) and Super PACs. So when Congress tried to solve the problem, Justice Roberts undid all that work. He didn't just perpetuate the problem, he expanded it.
I'm still not hearing any American politicians address the real problem.
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#3227 2026-08-09 16:21:59
- SpaceNut
- Administrator
- From: New Hampshire
- Registered: 2004-07-22
- Posts: 30,839
Re: Politics
socialist for the people and not at the government control...
Project 2025 is a 900-page conservative policy blueprint titled Mandate for Leadership, published by The Heritage Foundation alongside former Trump administration officials. While Donald Trump distanced himself from the plan during his campaign, his administration has enacted numerous executive actions and policies that closely mirror its core proposals.
Executive Power and the Federal Workforce
Reclassify tens of thousands of civil service workers as political appointees to ease terminations and instill political loyalty.
Bring independent regulatory agencies and the Department of Justice under direct presidential control.
Build a database of vetted conservative personnel to rapidly replace career federal employees.Dismantling Federal Agencies
Move to abolish or heavily downsize the Department of Education.
Restructure or scale back agencies like the FBI and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Terminate all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and programs across federal departments and the military.Immigration and Border Security
Launch mass deportation operations and targeted immigration raids.
Dismantle aspects of the asylum system and restrict humanitarian protections.
Challenge birthright citizenship through executive and legal measures.Reproductive and LGBTQ+ Rights
Restrict access to abortion medication, including efforts to revive the Comstock Act to stop mailing abortion pills.
Rescind federal guidance or policies protecting emergency abortion care and travel funding for reproductive services.
Implement restrictions on gender-affirming medical care, ban transgender individuals from military service, and remove gender-identity language from federal regulations.
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#3228 2026-08-09 17:06:51
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
- Website
Re: Politics
In Canada, education is provincial jurisdiction. There's a constant debate whether the provincial government should have more control, or school boards. For a long time it was back-and-forth. When I was a child, some years we had to write provincial exams at the end of the year. Other years not. I haven't followed a lot since I left university. Did get involved in 1999 when a candidate for provincial Premier promised to reduce post-secondary tuition, but didn't say how. I had been an instructor at a major community college in 1992, and had strong opinions based on when I was a student. I wrote a formal paper, and presented to the provincial Minister of Education. My ideas got corrupted, because university administration wanted to pad their budget. They didn't want efficiencies that made education more efficient, affordable and more accessible to students.
The point is the Canadian federal government is not involved with education. So I don't see why the US federal government has a department of education. Shouldn't that be state?
Terminating DEI is actually a good idea. When trying to get rid of prejudice, there were be a point where not all prejudice is eliminated, but any further DEI efforts will not be effective. Further efforts simply perpetuate prejudice by enforcing prejudice in reverse direction. This will result in backlash by those now prejudiced against. Once emancipation has gotten to a certain point, eliminate all DEI efforts. The goal is to ensure individuals are hired entirely and solely on their ability to do the job. Again, once blatant segregation and prejudice is eliminated, allow ability to be the sole criteria. The US passed that point years ago. So yes, it's long overdue to eliminate DEI.
The rest is shocking. "Scale back agencies like the FBI"? That's America's federal police. How can you scale back the FBI?
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#3229 2026-08-09 17:56:56
- tahanson43206
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- Registered: 2018-04-27
- Posts: 25,673
Re: Politics
For RobertDyck ... my comment here was not helpful so I'm replacing it with Thanks for your comments about politics. (th)
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#3230 2026-08-09 20:59:41
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
- Website
Re: Politics
Tom, I am worried. The Woke left went too far. Yes, I agree all races are equal. Yes, women can do almost everything. Few jobs today require the muscular strength of a man. I have met women firefighters here in my city, but I do have to ask if they are able to sling an elderly man in a burning building over their shoulder and carry them down stairs to get out. But warehouse work uses pallet jacks and forklift trucks, etc. However, the problem is the Woke Left tried to claim that all straight white men are evil. Indoctrinating children to think that LBGTQ is normal, but straight is mentally ill. Children will lean toward LBGTQ and straight children will try to pretend to be LBGTQ just to be accepted. That's the problem. It's not acceptance, it's indoctrination.
I could go on. In a normal, healthy population, 2% to 3% are LBGTQ, the rest are straight. Conceiving a child requires one man and one woman. That's biology. All developed countries have a birth rate problem. I've posted this before. It takes an average of 2.1 babies born per adult woman just to sustain the population. If fewer, the population is shrinking. And it doesn't shrink right away. First the older generation gets old and retires. Then you have few young adults in their prime, maintaining infrastructure and paying taxes. How do you support an ever growing retired segment of the population? This problem exists in absolutely every developed country. On farms, children are a free workforce. In cities, children are an expense. As the country urbanizes, birth rate drops. The US didn't go from farms to high-density cities with apartment towers and condo towers all at once. The US went from farms, to small towns, to suburbs, to cities. The intermediate steps slowed the process.
LBGTQ is a natural part of the human species. It has a purpose. When there is the perception of overpopulation, the proportion of LBGTQ increases. The "T" is modern surgery, it didn't exist in ancient times, but LBGQ did. This means young children are impressionable, straight children can be convinced to become LBGTQ. So it's not a matter of accepting what a person is at birth. That base 2% are born LBGTQ, but a large portion of young, prepubescent children can be convinced to change from straight to LBGTQ. And this is harmful to society.
America has a "fertility" rate of 1.57 to 1.60 per woman. This is below replacement level, below sustainability. This means the US requires immigration just to sustain its population, and sustain its economy.
Here's the thing. Trump is a backlash against Woke going too far. If America has a strong backlash to Trump, resulting in a backlash even more Woke, even farther left, then expect an even stronger backlash against that. What is more extreme than Trump? Here's a hint: JD Vance. And I'm sure there are others that no one has heard of, even more extreme just waiting to cause even greater harm.
So I am begging America to dampen-down the swings. Try to understand the other side. Please please PLEASE try to be sane. Try to understand the real problems.
And this won't just be long-term. If the Democrat party goes full "Democratic Socialist" now, that will give MAGA a renewed majority at this year's mid-term election. Do you want Trump to have that much power?
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#3231 2026-08-12 15:09:59
- RobertDyck
- Moderator
- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
- Website
Re: Politics
YouTube: Maddow: 'Is this how we invade Greenland?!'
A company based out of Texas has been formed specifically to drill for only on Greenland, or off the shore of Greenland. They do not have permission to operate at all, in any way, from the government of Greenland. In fact, Greenland passed a law, a moratorium on all oil exploration. Citizens of Greenland have expressed concern. Government officials of Greenland have stated they would send police to stop it. But the company sent equipment and personnel to start drilling, with statement to investors they would commence drilling by end of this year.
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#3232 2026-08-12 15:32:04
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
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Re: Politics
August 8, 2026, NL Times: Dutch, NATO troops to train in Greenland amid Trump’s push to take island from Denmark
The Netherlands will send military personnel to Greenland next month for a NATO exercise. The Arctic Sentry mission is designed to shield the High North from interest by Russia and China. NATO diplomats, however, allegedly told De Telegraaf the mission also aims to stop the United States from taking Greenland from Denmark. The news comes as President Donald Trump continues to push for U.S. control of the island.
At the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7, President Donald Trump said Greenland “should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.” He argued the island is strategically vital for the U.S., claimed it is surrounded by Chinese and Russian ships, and said Denmark does not invest enough in its security.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a warning the next day, on July 8. She said, "We defend every centimeter” of the island.
Denmark, Belgium, France, and Canada will also join the exercise. Belgium is sending roughly 30 special forces troops plus other personnel.
Dutch marines and navy forces have trained for years in Scandinavia and the northern seas. “The Netherlands has a lot of experience in the High North, and we regularly participate in exercises in this area,” Defense told Dutch media.
“The Arctic region is of strategic importance, also for our security,” Defense stated. Protecting it is a joint duty of NATO members. “Therefore these kinds of exercises are of great importance.”
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#3233 2026-08-13 12:04:51
- Calliban
- Member
- From: Northern England, UK
- Registered: 2019-08-18
- Posts: 4,377
Re: Politics
I'm not sure why Trump has such an obsession with Greenland. It's resources have been largely untapped to date because it is one of the most difficult and expensive operating environments in the world. Some 80% of it is covered by an ice cap a kilometer thick. The ice free fjords are mountainous, making transportation across Greenland difficult. There are no convenient localities for ports. It is bitterly cold for much of the year. For six months of the year, the fjords are iced up. No one has challenged Denmark for this land because it is some of the least valuable land on the planet. I can only imagine that this is another example of Trump looking at a map, seeing a large chunk of land and then thinking that the US shoukd own it, because it happens to be in the same hemisphere. He has managed to get everyone's backs up over one of the crappiest pieces of land on the planet.
Last edited by Calliban (2026-08-13 12:06:51)
"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."
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#3234 2026-08-16 10:52:18
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
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Re: Politics
I'm not sure which thread to post this. It applies to the space community. Ukraine struck the Progress Rocket Center, where Soyuz-2 rockets are assembled. In the 1990s, after the break-up of the Soviet Union, Russia wanted to eliminate reliance on foreign components. The control system for Soyuz rockets was designed in the 1960s in Ukraine, and manufactured in Ukraine. The upgrade replaced analogue controls will all digital, but most importantly all Russian. This factory is the only place Soyuz launch vehicles were assembled.
SpaceX imposed a white list on Starlink this last February. Since then, Russia has not been able to use Starlink. Russia started launching satellites to build their own satellite internet system, they're an equivalent to Starlink. Ukraine has been very successful since Russia lost access to Starlink, all Russian progress in the war has halted, effectively the front lines have been frozen since then. Russia used Wifi repeaters to control drones, so Ukraine targeted those repeaters. Russia convinced Belarus to install repeaters along the border with Ukraine, and Russia used them to send drones to attack Kyiv. Zelensky told Belarus to remove the repeaters, or Ukraine will take them down by force. Belarus complied. It's not clear if the repeaters were physically removed or just turned off, but either way they're not working. Russia can no longer send drones into Kyiv. So Russia is sending ballistic missiles, that don't require continuous communication. Now Russia is launching internet satellites. Preventing this satellite system is definitely a valid military target.
That launch vehicle is used to launch Russian satellites, but also used to launch both Soyuz spacecraft and Progress cargo vessels to the International Space Station. Soyuz-2 rockets can lift 8 metric tonnes to Low Earth Orbit. Progress rockets are much larger, able to lift 23.7 tonnes to LEO or 6.3 tonnes to GTO. But Proton rockets are "aging out". New Angara rockets have a similar capacity as Proton, but "slow to reach a decent launch cadence".
reference: Ukraine strikes major Russian rocket factory with cruise missiles
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#3235 2026-08-21 09:40:15
- RobertDyck
- Moderator
- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
- Website
Re: Politics
Interesting meme on Facebook. If I post the image, it won't appear here. Image doesn't matter, text does:
It is cheaper for Americans to fly to China, stay in a five-star hotel, get an MRI scan and fly home than to have it done in the United States with insurance.
So could I mention again what it would take for the US to adopt Canada's health insurance system?
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#3236 2026-08-21 09:54:00
- Void
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- Registered: 2011-12-29
- Posts: 9,814
Re: Politics
I guess I will be your dance partner.
Socialists like Bernie Sanders and AOC would probably like to loot companies like SpaceX and Tesla, so that they could staff tumor like organizations with white collar puffy jobs for their voters.
But it seems probable that we will have robot doctors soon, perhaps Optimus like. I anticipate that an Optimus can probably do examinations and take commentary from patients.
Some will say that they will be able ultimately to do operations, but I think that is a bit off.
If Elon Musk is correct that there will be universal high income, then socialized medicine will be pointless.
Letting Socialists like Bernie and AOC loot the "Build" Process is like letting them eat children for dinner. It would be very efficient and there would be cost savings, but the future would have been destroyed.
The Goose that lays the golden eggs, the Little Red Hen.
Soon, we may have robot doctors that do house calls.
In the long run the poor will get more medicine for a lower price if we let the build process continue without being looted.
Ending Pending 
Last edited by Void (2026-08-21 10:00:33)
Be careful what you wish for.
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#3237 2026-08-21 11:03:50
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
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Re: Politics
Unfortunately, America's current healthcare system is not "free market". It's controlled by corporations. And they have driven up prices. Corporations are literally making billions off Americans. Cardiac surgeons in Canada make between $300,000 and $695,122. Yes, in Canadian dollars, but still. That's a lot. I'm not saying they make too much, I'm saying they make enough.
So here's what it would take for America to adopt the Canadian system:
100% coverage for most medical procedures. No deductible, no co-payment, no cap, no limit. When you see your family doctor, you show your health insurance card to reception, who records your insurance policy number. That's it. You never see a bill.
No coverage for dental. No coverage for vision care. No coverage for prescription drugs. You pay for ambulance ride. Whether ambulance ride is partially subsidized to reduce the rate, would be up to the state, not the federal government.
No coverage for chiropractor, physiotherapy, or mental health. No coverage for cosmetic procedures.
When you go to hospital, you get a bed in a ward. No TV, no landline telephone. If you want a private room, you pay the difference in cost out-of-pocket. If you want a TV or landline telephone, you pay out-of-pocket. (Who would want that? Take your smartphone.)
Coverage birth to death. Childbirth is covered, funerals are not. Nursing homes are not (aka long-term care homes).
Your spouse is covered on your health insurance, as are your children. If your spouse is a citizen or permanent resident (green card) then your spouse must get a health insurance card with his/her own policy number. Yes, you will be covered on your spouse's insurance, as will your children. The insurance system ensures hospitals do not double-bill. When a child reaches their 18th birthday, they are supposed to get their own health insurance card with their own policy number. If they don't, children can remain covered by their parent's policy until age 21. It costs nothing to apply for a health insurance card, so failure is simply laziness.
You can see any doctor you want, anywhere in the country. If the doctor decides he/she only wants to see certain patients, that's up to the doctor. But government will not get involved. Whether you get a medical procedure/test/etc is decided by the doctor, not any insurance agent/clerk.
To pay for this:
Medicare Tax deduction from your paycheck would remain as-is.
Your employer current pays Medicare Tax equal to what you pay. Employer's portion would double.
Restore federal contribution to Medicaid to what it was before Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill".
State contribution to Medicaid must double.
All Medicare and Medicaid money would go to this new health insurance system.
Delivery of healthcare regulated by federal law. Payment regulated by States.
States would no longer transfer Medicaid money to the federal government. Instead the federal government would transfer all Medicare and Medicaid money to States.
Doctors, hospitals, and medical clinics would not be allowed to bill for anything covered by government health insurance. They get what government health insurance pays them, that's all. Single payer.
Insurance companies not allowed to offer medical insurance that competes with government health insurance. But they can offer insurance that covers things government insurance does not.
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#3238 2026-08-21 11:19:38
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
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Re: Politics
Socialists like Bernie Sanders and AOC would probably like to loot companies like SpaceX and Tesla, so that they could staff tumor like organizations with white collar puffy jobs for their voters.
Notice the Canadian government insurance system does not go as far as Bernie Sanders or AOC want. This is practical, not some left-wing ideology.
And no, we don't need robots delivering medical care. This can be done today. It has been done in Canada since the mid-1960s.
Some provinces in Canada started implementing this on their own in the late-1950s. Before that, some doctors, clinics, and hospitals organized to deliver healthcare at affordable rates. Not at a loss, just affordable. And they offered insurance. The insurance policy only covered medical care from certain listed doctors/clinics/hospitals. So starting in the 1940s, after WW2, this was Canadian equivalent to HMOs. The US already has HMOs, so the next step could be for states to do this. But when Canadian provinces did it, there was no Medicare or Medicaid. For US States to do this today, Medicare and Medicaid money would have to be transferred to them.
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#3239 2026-08-21 21:08:41
- Void
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- Registered: 2011-12-29
- Posts: 9,814
Re: Politics
The choices are to inflate the cost of medical care or to deflate it.
It is my belief that the human race becomes increasingly degenerate after the wild people build a civilization. .The civilization built from capable people sculpted by the wilderness, then they are genetically displaced by the Verbal and Violent. A set of Idiot Savants.
The closer to Mesopotamia, the worse it gets. Canada, by the way is between the USA and the North Sea. The North Sea is currently under major assault from the verbal and violent. They coming from even more damaged places on the Earth.
The Socialist/Communist/Mesopotamian is a zombie craving living flesh to consume. The openly say that they want to take position of the means of production which currently is tilted quite a bit towards a triangle of the USA, East Asia, and some residual undevoured parts of Northern Europe. People like the Italians are also included, but they do it in a somewhat different way.
I could stick with my family tradition and be democrat, but they are currently deeply infected by zombie Verbal and Violent people. When dealing with Zombies it is best to keep many doors closed.
I am not naturally Country Western in nature, I would have liked to stick with the popular culture I grew up in but it is deeply infected.
As a adult seeking to be a responsible citizen, I cannot support the lefts intentions as I believe that it is degenerate and a death cult with no future.
Although I am not natural to the Right or Country Western, I do recognize it as the best representation of what is left of our American Heritage. I will not stand against them.
The idea of growing medical proficiency is the method of causing medical deflation of product which should be good for the average citizen. I will place my investment of heart there.
As in many charities, socialized medicine will inevitably include an inflation of employment in fake work. And that for the Verbal and Violent to design better caging methods to take our free people captive and squeeze wealth out of them.
It is an extension of the public school system and included privileged males as a minority and a whole lot of "Princesses in Waiting". They wait, get screwed over by the few men, and take it out on the Blue Collar types.
It stinks!
I have sufficient health care. I am capable of caring about the less well off. But my calculation tells me that a greater accumulation of wealth in America and an expansion of medical technology, will benefit the poor more than will the Verbal and Violent who only want to featherbed a social organization that exists to squeeze wealth from those who work.
Ending Pending
Last edited by Void (2026-08-21 21:26:01)
Be careful what you wish for.
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#3240 2026-08-21 22:47:06
- RobertDyck
- Moderator
- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
- Posts: 8,536
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Re: Politics
Whoa! Flowery, and full of ideology. Canada went through the same problem the US is right now. The US did at the same time, but the US chose not to do anything to fix the problem. You chose to trust "free market" to lower healthcare cost, even though what you saw was not free market. It was extortion by corporations. And still is. Either you pay whatever over inflated cost the corporation demands, or they let you die. When you can't walk away and simply chose not to buy the product, the forces of the free market break down. Monopolies also destroy the forces of the free market. The US has laws to prevent monopolies, it's called the Combines Act. But unfortunately they're not enforced. There's even a law that says construction of a new hospital requires review by those in the same industry, in the same area. So corporations who own hospitals in that area can complain, stating that a new hospital would drive prices down. Well, that's the objective. But existing hospitals are allowed to prevent competition simply on the ground that it would cause competition. That's the law as it exists right now in the US.
Yes, there are assaults on the North Sea right now. Russia is attacking. Vladimir Putin wants to reinstate the Russian Empire. He wants control over everything the Soviet Union controlled. Not only former parts of the Soviet Union, but countries that were controlled by the Soviet Union. But that has nothing to do with healthcare in the US. Not unless you're a trator, and want a foreign government to invade and take over the US. I am suggesting the citizens of the US vote for a copy of Canadian healthcare. And considering Donald Trump is currently enacting a plant to use economic force to coerce Canada into joining the United States, I think it's fair for a Canadian to suggest changes to the American system.
You used flowery and extreme language. Those "currently deeply infected by zombie Verbal and Violent people" are those who support Russia. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, invaded Crimea in 2014, invaded east Ukraine later in 2014, occupied parts of Ukraine since 2014, and initiated full-scale war with Ukraine since February 2022. Russia is currently engaged in full-scale war, while Ukraine is trying to defend itself. Citizens of Russia had chosen to be apathetic about the war, but now that it's affecting them, are increasingly opposed to the war. Any protesters are arrested, and thrown in jail.
If you think the current system in the US will EVER allow prices to go down, then you are delusional. No matter what, prices for average working Americans will never go down. The rich who consider themselves better than everyone else will ensure that. In fact, they have a formula: calculate maximum profit. If 20% of potential customers cannot afford their product, that means 80% can. In the case of healthcare, that means 20% of citizens will die because needed healthcare is priced out of their reach. Not because healthcare costs that, but simply because the wealthy can afford to pay whatever extortion pricing they demand. If anything reduces cost of the product, they will continue to increase prices so a certain percentage of customer cannot afford it. One example is the Epipen: a pen shaped auto-injector to deliver epinephrine. The former manufacturer of the Epipen held the patent, and sold to a new buyer. The new buyer immediately increased price by 5,000%.
I posted before, but I will repeat. In 1996, I worked in Virginia. While I was there, news reported a man who was diagnosed with cancer. He was employed and successful, with a wife and children, and a house in the suburbs. He believed cost of medical treatment would bankrupt him, so he chose suicide. He closed his garage, start his car running, and sat in his car until carbon monoxide killed him. That way his wife and children could keep the house. That's the state of healthcare in the US.
Also in 1996, I mentioned to my American colleagues that I had moved there from Alberta. Alberta Health requires a premium. Normally the premium was paid 1/3 by the employee, 2/3 by the employer, but since I was a contractor I had to pay both parts. Alberta Health allowed me to remain covered for up to one year while I was living in the US. They would pay at Alberta rates, and US hospitals charge more, I would have to pay any additional costs. My contract in Virginia was for 6 months. When you took the amount I paid per quarter, convert to US dollars using exchange rate at the time, it worked out to $75 US dollars. I was 34 years old, healthy, and single with no children. My US colleague said he paid $75 per month!!! So that was effectively triple what I paid.
Today, healthcare insurance in Virginia for a 34-year-old man, single, no children, healthy, and does not smoke:
Bronze Plans: $350 – $480 per month (lowest monthly cost, highest deductibles)
Silver Plans: $430 – $580 per month (moderate cost, balanced out-of-pocket care)
Gold Plans: $480 – $640 per month (highest monthly cost, lowest deductibles)
Sources: Investopedia, Kiplinger, ehealthinsurance
I'm sure most Americans would love for the day when insurance only cost $75/month. Now medial insurance costs as much as apartment rent. And there is no plan that has zero deductible. Do you want me to look up the cost for coverage with a wife a children?
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#3241 2026-08-22 08:20:22
- Void
- Member
- Registered: 2011-12-29
- Posts: 9,814
Re: Politics
Justice and Mercy.
I have no problem with Canada doing Justice and Mercy in the manner they want to. I have calculated how we in America do Justice and Mercy, and feel that especially in light of the potential of AI and Robotics, the probable deflation of the cost of goods, going with the flow is probably a good bet.
I do pay attention to what Canadian commentators say about what is going on in Canada. It appears that at this time the person you provide as an example of a Suicide to protect family assets, but in Canada, for the currently developing younger generations the concept of owning a house at all is out of reach. Medicine is increasingly rationed, and assisted Suicide is encouraged, possibly it will be applied to children in the future.
Query: "How much does an average Canadian pay in taxes for health care?"
Quote:
Around $17, 713
A recent report by the Fraser Institute indicates that in 2024, an average Canadian family of four will incur around $17, 713 for public health care through taxes.
So, you don't have free health care, if you are a worker, but you may have free health care if you do not work. Although you do still have to pay some taxes as it is not completely supported with income tax.
https://insuranceinformant.com/how-much … gh%20taxes.
It is important for the reader to understand that the American and Canadian dollar typically do not have the same value. Currently the Canadian Dollar is worth less than a American Dollar. Currently "1 Canadian Dollar =
0.73 US Dollar"
So, what is going on is Canadians do not want to play the lottery of life.
The down lottery of misfortune.
The up lottery of good fortune.
If I turn up with an illness or have a low intelligence or psychological disability, that is part of the down lottery.
If I am unusually healthy in all ways, and am unusually intelligent, and psychologically compatible with the existing structure of society that is the up lottery.
The sad truth is that due to the lottery of life, that accumulation of wealth even for a time is not guaranteed.
Even the richest will have everything taken from them as they die.
Query: "What forms of medical mercy are available to the poor in the USA?"
Quote:
Copilot Search Branding
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Medical Mercy and Care Options for the Poor in the USA
For low-income individuals in the U.S., several forms of “medical mercy” — free or low-cost healthcare — are available, though access depends on income, location, and program availability.1. Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program offering free or low-cost coverage to millions of low-income people, families, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Eligibility is based on income (e.g., 138% of the Federal Poverty Level in 2023) and varies by state. Some states have expanded Medicaid to cover all residents below certain income thresholds
InsuredAndMore.com
InsuredAndMore.com
+1
.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) serves children in families who earn too much for Medicaid but not enough for private insurance
InsuredAndMore.com
InsuredAndMore.com
.2. Charity Care and Uncompensated Care
Many hospitals and clinics offer charity care — free or reduced-cost services — to patients who cannot pay. Nonprofit hospitals are required by law to provide financial assistance to those who cannot pay their bills, and some states mandate that hospitals inform patients about these programs
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. You can apply through your hospital’s financial assistance office or social worker.3. Free and Charitable Clinics
The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) operates over 1,400 clinics nationwide, providing medical, dental, and pharmacy services at little to no cost. These clinics are staffed by volunteer or contracted clinicians and serve the uninsured, underserved, and those without insurance
National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics
.4. Community Health Centers
Nonprofit community health centers offer primary care, preventive services, and specialty care on a sliding fee scale based on income. They often serve low-income populations and may provide free services for those meeting eligibility criteria
Medical News Today
Medical News Today
.5. Walk-In and Urgent Care
Some walk-in clinics and urgent care centers accept uninsured patients and may offer reduced-cost services. These are often used for non-emergency conditions
Medical News Today
Medical News Today
.6. Emergency Room Access
By law, hospitals must treat patients in emergencies regardless of ability to pay. While ERs are not designed for routine care, they can be a last resort for life-threatening conditions
InsuredAndMore.com
InsuredAndMore.com
.7. Charitable Medical Aid Organizations
Charities such as those listed by NonprofitPoint can help with medical bills, equipment, and travel costs. Examples include the Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, and various disease-specific foundations
Nonprofit Point
Nonprofit Point
.8. State and Local Assistance Programs
Some states and localities have additional programs for low-income residents, including transportation to medical appointments, prescription assistance, and housing-related health support.Key Tips for Accessing Care
Check Medicaid/CHIP eligibility in your state.
Contact your hospital or clinic’s financial assistance office.
Use NAFC’s directory to find nearby free/charitable clinics.
Apply for charity care early, as it can take weeks to process.
Ask about sliding-scale fees at community clinics.
In summary, the “medical mercy” available to the poor in the U.S. includes Medicaid/CHIP, charity care, free clinics, community health centers, and charitable aid, all of which aim to reduce financial barriers to essential healthcare
InsuredAndMore.com
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I am not saying that the mercy is fantastic, but it does exist.
And we do have forms of Social Security for those with disabilities. If you worked a certain amount in your life you can retain some amount of property. If not you are very limited in what property you can retain.
>>>>>>>>
I myself might consider flirting with some additional things such as to consider preventative medicine to be an investment. I we might pay for basic dental care, the health of the population would react positively and an economic gain from that may be possible.
I have also considered a notion where you might get certain health cares, but that would be a loan which would be paid off with an additional income tax up to a limit.
But I live in the USA, I have reasonable health care for myself, and I anticipate that Elon Musk may be correct. In 10 years, money will not mean anything, as wealth will be so large an universal. But we also know about Elon Time.
You Canadians do you, and we will do US.
Ending Pending
Last edited by Void (2026-08-22 08:49:30)
Be careful what you wish for.
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#3242 2026-08-22 11:55:34
- RobertDyck
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- Registered: 2002-08-20
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Re: Politics
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#3243 2026-08-22 11:58:14
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
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Re: Politics
Trade talks between Canada and the US have broken down. According to Prime Minister Carney, the US "asked too much, offered too little". Carney also said the US made "unfair" last-minute changes to the deal. President Trump said he will impose new tariffs on Canada. PM Carney has said he will retaliate.
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#3244 2026-08-22 16:00:10
- RobertDyck
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Re: Politics
Bill Clinton talking about what happened last night. No commentator trying to put spin, this is solely Bill Clinton himself.
YouTube: "Canada Just Did What No Country Has Done To Trump!" | Bill Clinton
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#3245 2026-08-23 10:10:53
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
- Registered: 2002-08-20
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Re: Politics
Healthcare:
Void, your argument is that only an American millionaire is entitled to healthcare. That anyone who is not a millionaire can receive charity, but they're not entitled to healthcare. I know, the word "entitled" can trigger some people. Healthcare is not a handout. And no, it doesn't cost that much. Corporations extort as much as they can get, and literally withhold services unless they get it. They will let you die before they admit healthcare doesn't actually cost that much. No, average citizens who work for a living don't need a handout. They don't need charity. They need the best healthcare, and they need it to be affordable. What exists in the US now is not affordable, and doesn't work.
But, I see you have become immersed in ideology. So you will never understand. If American citizens want to retain this overpriced disaster, then you do you. However, remember your President is still attempting to pressure Canada to join the US. The fact you will not even think about Canadian healthcare is just another reason why Canada cannot join the US.
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#3246 2026-08-23 11:02:05
- Void
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Re: Politics
You really want to have a tiff, don't you.
I was doing just fine with my employers' heath care. Then Obama came along. The company used it as an excuse to reduce my benefits. So, much for left wing help!
What I have tried to explain to you is that there is a choice going forward between a metered system and an unmetered system.
A metered system such as that of Canada, is where the high lords and ladies, decide to meter out health care to the surfs. To do this they skim the profit margin off of productive industry. Then they buy votes by feather bedding administrative functions to create middle management positions between them and the surfs. Bloat is likely to be endless. At some point they can only thin out the actual useful services so far, and then it seems the start offering assisted suicide to the surfs.
I could live in a system like that and have. Princess jobs for the girls and eliminate boys, to feel like they are about to be inducted into the ranks of the heavenly lords and ladies, and that they are above the booger eaters.
But as it sits, a choice is at hand. It looks probable that great abundance can be provided by unleashing the free market. With great abundance, then metering mercy becomes less necessary.
I have a choice of participating in the diminishing returns of a self-eating pie that gets smaller and smaller or a pie that expands until the rich do not care of the poor get vast amounts of crumbs.
The American people are seeming to be drifting towards the expanding pie, and I think that my best option is to travel that path.
Ending Pending
Last edited by Void (2026-08-23 11:09:07)
Be careful what you wish for.
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#3247 2026-08-23 14:13:38
- RobertDyck
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Re: Politics
You really want to hold onto fantasies, don't you. Metered? It's not. Or not supposed to be. There are times they try to pull that, then they get caught and politicians get punished in the next election. Politicians try to claim it was the fault of civil servants.
Politicians are not allowed to siphon off healthcare money into their election campaign, or any business they own, or their own pockets. But... here in Manitoba the provincial administration in the early 2000s established "regional health authorities", which were supposed to purchase all supplies for all hospitals in the region, and thus use their size to negotiate lower rates. Nice theory, but it quickly just became another layer of bureaucracy. The government in early 2019 promised to slash bureaucracy, but when they started to do so, the senior bureaucrats fought back to save their jobs. This resulted in cuts to front-line workers (nurses, doctors, etc) instead of bureaucrats. That was months before COVID hit.
Then there's what the US has. Hospitals have the authority to veto construction of another hospital in the area that could compete. US hospitals double bill. If a patient has more than one healthcare insurance policy, the hospital charges both policies the maximum, even if it adds up to more than the hospital bill. That's illegal under US law, but hospitals do it anyway. I learned this from a computer programmer colleague who I worked with in Virginia in 1996. His previous assignment was billing software for a hospital. He was the one who wrote the software to do it, so I think he knows what he's talking about. And US hospital bills are bloated to start with.
Well, you aren't going to admit the US system doesn't work. I had hoped to talk to someone who is not died-in-the-wool MAGA. Someone who can think, and take the best ideas regardless where they come from.
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#3248 2026-08-23 14:15:50
- RobertDyck
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- From: Winnipeg, Canada
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Re: Politics
Re Canada-US trade talks. One of the demands the Trump team made was that Canada would have to ask permission from the US to establish trade with other countries. There's no way that would ever happen.
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#3249 2026-08-23 14:20:16
- tahanson43206
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Re: Politics
I read an analysis today that may fit the situation you are describing in your series here... The author offered the opinion that the technique Trump used is a mafia technique that has been used effectively for many years. Usage may go back to the beginning of time. The technique is to come in with massive overwhelming negative changes at the last minute, with the goal of overwhelming the target. Most humans cannot withstand this treatment. Fortunately for Canada, Mr. Carney does not appear to suffer from the normal weakness. (th)
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#3250 2026-08-23 14:42:56
- Void
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- Registered: 2011-12-29
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Re: Politics
You are confirming my suspicions (th).
As it happens, reality is stranger than fiction as it seems.
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r … 8d1a3f3752 Quote:
Elon's Next Move Is Medicine. Here's My Proof
YouTube
Brighter with Herbert
3.9K views
I think it is good for Canada to get this off their mind. If they have a problem they want to be expressed, best to get it out in the open.
I think the USA will be just fine in any case.
Ending Pending 
Last edited by Void (2026-08-23 14:46:07)
Be careful what you wish for.
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