It's ok to be angry about capitalism

Absent

And twice is the only way to live.
Jan 25, 2023
1,594
1,557
118
Country
Switzerland
Gender
The boring one
Actually, I think it's got a lot to do with the heavy shift towards the far right. When the likes of Fidesz, PiS, RN and Lega and the US GOP exist, there's a whole lot of extra leeway for right wing parties to appear moderate.
Except ND isn't to their left. At all.
 

XsjadoBlaydette

~s•o√r∆rπy°`
May 26, 2022
1,094
1,375
118
Clear 'n Present Danger
Country
Must
Gender
Disappear
Interesting podcast episodes on a past disaster never heard of before. Much higher body count than Chernobyl, the hawk's nest tunnel disaster should be remembered as a timelessly relevant warning of where unregulated corporate greed always leads, especially where human rights are concerned. And this being before civil rights movement means a whole lot of heart-of-America racism is intrinsically entwined too. Truly nightmare stuff.

Robert and Jason Pargin sit down to discuss the Hawk's Nest Tunnel project, the deadliest industrial disaster in U.S. history.
 

XsjadoBlaydette

~s•o√r∆rπy°`
May 26, 2022
1,094
1,375
118
Clear 'n Present Danger
Country
Must
Gender
Disappear
hey get back here this system ain't done fleecing you unruly shits yet



Hi. In today's episode, we look at the election-industrial complex, why U.S. election season drags on for so long, and what we could do to lessen the influence of corporate money on politics.

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:57 – Why American Election Season Is So Long
10:14 - Cui Bono?
15:03 - An Endless Cycle
19:55 - Citizens United and Super PACs
33:19 - Fixing This



Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11...
 

TheMysteriousGX

Elite Member
Legacy
Sep 16, 2014
8,431
6,981
118
Country
United States
Today in "The US Healthcare System Was Designed By Greedy Clowns": I found out I have an abcessed molar. The specialist I was directed to consult with to see if we can save it with a root canal or if it needs to be extracted is Out Of Network

They did not ask who, specifically, my insurance was with before they said that. Meaning they are not In Network with anybody

So it will be $300 upfront for the *consultation* to see how much it would cost to save my tooth, and my insurance might reimburse me some later. So there's a good chance I'd need to pay for the full root canal upfront too and hope for reimbursement at some point, $1500-$2000

Tempted just to go back to my regular dentist and have them yank the tooth. I'd be down a tooth but at least they're in network

Don't try and tell me this is the best we can do as a nation. It's not even fast: it took 5 months for the initial dentist appointment and will be another 2 for the specialist consultation
 

Summerstorm

Elite Member
Sep 19, 2008
1,456
102
68
Today in "The US Healthcare System Was Designed By Greedy Clowns": I found out I have an abcessed molar. The specialist I was directed to consult with to see if we can save it with a root canal or if it needs to be extracted is Out Of Network

They did not ask who, specifically, my insurance was with before they said that. Meaning they are not In Network with anybody

So it will be $300 upfront for the *consultation* to see how much it would cost to save my tooth, and my insurance might reimburse me some later. So there's a good chance I'd need to pay for the full root canal upfront too and hope for reimbursement at some point, $1500-$2000

Tempted just to go back to my regular dentist and have them yank the tooth. I'd be down a tooth but at least they're in network

Don't try and tell me this is the best we can do as a nation. It's not even fast: it took 5 months for the initial dentist appointment and will be another 2 for the specialist consultation
A few years back i fucked up my transition from workplace to unemployed and was technically "not insured", even though it is mandatory. I went to the dentist and decided to have a molar "reconstructed" (half of it was destroyed) instead of just removed. The dentist planned it, killed the root, and then a few days later anchored tiny wires into the "surviving part" and modelled half a tooth on it. All in all he worked about two hours on it + an assistant cleaned and polished everything (30 minutes) . Had to pay it all out of pocket (The insurance would have not payed it all anyway though): That was nearly 500 euro. Sometimes i think that was luxury-expensive - but hey quality of life and such, and then i read something from an American and just... you know get angry.

Sometime i don't appreciate my ability to just go to a doctor and don't worry about payment (5-10 euro for package of presciption drugs if it costs more than that to manufacture)
 

XsjadoBlaydette

~s•o√r∆rπy°`
May 26, 2022
1,094
1,375
118
Clear 'n Present Danger
Country
Must
Gender
Disappear

no idea how long till the lights go off here. any posts added now may become entirely useless, yet in a way promises less personal anxiety from posting while under approaching gaze of the inevitable void knowing it'll all be scrubbed anyway
 

Cheetodust

Elite Member
Jun 2, 2020
1,583
2,293
118
Country
Ireland
A few years back i fucked up my transition from workplace to unemployed and was technically "not insured", even though it is mandatory. I went to the dentist and decided to have a molar "reconstructed" (half of it was destroyed) instead of just removed. The dentist planned it, killed the root, and then a few days later anchored tiny wires into the "surviving part" and modelled half a tooth on it. All in all he worked about two hours on it + an assistant cleaned and polished everything (30 minutes) . Had to pay it all out of pocket (The insurance would have not payed it all anyway though): That was nearly 500 euro. Sometimes i think that was luxury-expensive - but hey quality of life and such, and then i read something from an American and just... you know get angry.

Sometime i don't appreciate my ability to just go to a doctor and don't worry about payment (5-10 euro for package of presciption drugs if it costs more than that to manufacture)
As far as Europe goes, Ireland fucking sucks for healthcare. But christ on a bike the US horrifies me.
 

BrawlMan

Lover of beat'em ups.
Legacy
Mar 10, 2016
27,918
11,699
118
Detroit, Michigan
Country
United States of America
Gender
Male
As far as Europe goes, Ireland fucking sucks for healthcare. But christ on a bike the US horrifies me.
Don't even get me started on auto insurance in Michigan. We're an insurance state, and we're actually one of the only few states where it's illegal to drive without insurance. Almost no other state has this. I'm always happy to have insurance, but that's just dumb and only serves to put extra pockets of those in the insurance companies.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: XsjadoBlaydette

Phoenixmgs

The Muse of Fate
Legacy
Apr 3, 2020
9,370
809
118
w/ M'Kraan Crystal
Gender
Male
Don't even get me started on auto insurance in Michigan. We're an insurance State, and we're actually one of the only few states where it's illegal to drive without insurance. Almost no other state has this. I'm always happy to have insurance, but that's just dumb and me and only serves to put extra pockets of those in the insurance company.
Huh? Every state but 2 states it's illegal to drive without insurance. It's a horrible idea to let people drive a heavy vehicle at high speeds without insurance.
 

TheMysteriousGX

Elite Member
Legacy
Sep 16, 2014
8,431
6,981
118
Country
United States
Huh? Every state but 2 states it's illegal to drive without insurance. It's a horrible idea to let people drive a heavy vehicle at high speeds without insurance.
I too love how it's illegal to operate a licensed vehicle without giving money to a private corporation

Seriously though, the equivalent of basic liability insurance should be provided by the state when a vehicle is registered and then anybody who wants more is welcome to buy it
 

BrawlMan

Lover of beat'em ups.
Legacy
Mar 10, 2016
27,918
11,699
118
Detroit, Michigan
Country
United States of America
Gender
Male
Huh? Every state but 2 states it's illegal to drive without insurance. It's a horrible idea to let people drive a heavy vehicle at high speeds without insurance.
Congrats, you're wrong as usual. Even in the rich people in Michigan hate this law.

BTW, I forgot to mention this to everyone listening: they charge more money in black communities than white communities when it comes to auto insurance. I didn't make that up. The numbers speak for themselves. I'll not hear know-nothing nonsensical contrarian opinions nor arm chair "facts" otherwise.

.
 
Last edited:

Phoenixmgs

The Muse of Fate
Legacy
Apr 3, 2020
9,370
809
118
w/ M'Kraan Crystal
Gender
Male
I too love how it's illegal to operate a licensed vehicle without giving money to a private corporation

Seriously though, the equivalent of basic liability insurance should be provided by the state when a vehicle is registered and then anybody who wants more is welcome to buy it
Couldn't care less whether it's a private corp or state.

Congrats, you're wrong as usual. Even in the rich people in Michigan hate this law.

BTW, I forgot to mention this to everyone listening: they charge more money in black communities than white communities when it comes to auto insurance. I didn't make that up. The numbers speak for themselves. I'll not hear know-nothing nonsensical contrarian opinions nor arm chair "facts" otherwise.

.
Are insurance claims about 70% higher in those areas?
 

TheMysteriousGX

Elite Member
Legacy
Sep 16, 2014
8,431
6,981
118
Country
United States
Couldn't care less whether it's a private corp or state.
Any other explicitly for-profit industries that you are okay with the government forcing you to spend money on to use public resources?

Like, this is the equivalent of, say, private tax preparation like TurboTax, with the added caveat that you are not allowed to prepare your taxes yourself and there's no free option
Are insurance claims about 70% higher in those areas?
No. In fact, in the wealthier black neighborhoods, that 70% went to 194%
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: BrawlMan

Eacaraxe

Elite Member
Legacy
May 28, 2020
1,667
1,273
118
Country
United States
Any other explicitly for-profit industries that you are okay with the government forcing you to spend money on to use public resources?
I'd say the general level of acceptance here has approximately a 100% correlation rate to the paper bag test.
 

Ag3ma

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2023
2,574
2,208
118
I too love how it's illegal to operate a licensed vehicle without giving money to a private corporation
Possibly, but arguably it makes sense.

If you injure someone or damage property whilst driving, it is reasonable that you are liable for it. If you do not have money, a person who you injure will not be compensated for the harm you caused them. It is a pretty standard principle that you get private insurance to cover your potential liabilities. Given the issues with traffic accidents, the state requires you to make sure you look after your liabilities in order to protect anyone you might harm, but this doesn't really alter the basics of insurance.
 

TheMysteriousGX

Elite Member
Legacy
Sep 16, 2014
8,431
6,981
118
Country
United States
Possibly, but arguably it makes sense.

If you injure someone or damage property whilst driving, it is reasonable that you are liable for it. If you do not have money, a person who you injure will not be compensated for the harm you caused them. It is a pretty standard principle that you get private insurance to cover your potential liabilities. Given the issues with traffic accidents, the state requires you to make sure you look after your liabilities in order to protect anyone you might harm, but this doesn't really alter the basics of insurance.
Why should it be mandated *private* insurance?
 
  • Like
Reactions: BrawlMan

Avnger

Trash Goblin
Legacy
Apr 1, 2016
2,089
1,219
118
Country
United States
Why should it be mandated *private* insurance?
Because mandated private is better than no mandate.

I think we can all agree that it would be better if the state govs got their acts together and acted as basic liability insurers. However, there is not a single state that currently does, and there is no (general) push for that from the electorate. With millions of drivers on the road every day, something is better than nothing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Phoenixmgs

Satinavian

Elite Member
Legacy
Apr 30, 2016
1,807
713
118
Why should it be mandated *private* insurance?
It is just mandanted insurance. And the lack of interest in running a public alternative.

Seriously, having public insurance for cars is a surefire way to have all the var owners, who are voters, trying to decide how the insurance is run. That is a hassle most politicians are not too keen for.