Do all Republican politicians pose for pictures with guns? Is that like part of the NRA's candidate scoring criteria or something?
The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a dildo is a good guy with a dildo.
In lighter weapon-related news, this morning I saw a guy at my gym, standing in the corner of the (not being used) basketball court, practicing with a nunchaku. He was not this guy by a long stretch.
2: I would be very curious to see which candidates can actually shoot well.
If guns are banned, and replaced with dildos, how will we tell the outlaws with dildos from those who have them legitimately?
I would be very curious to see which candidates can actually shoot well.
Well, all the ones who've been in the armed forces, for a start. Defending their beloved country. Risking their own lives if necessary out of patriotism. They'll have learned to shoot then.
So that's...
er...
Don't forget Poland Lindsey Graham.
Is he still running? Well, Lindsay Graham in that case.
15: I'd forgotten about the "razzle dazzle" part. That whole scene is so great.
Risk corridors have become a political football," said Dawn H. Bonder, the president and chief executive of Health Republic of Oregon, an insurance co-op that announced in October it would close its doors after learning that it would receive only $995,000 of the $7.9 million it had expected from the government. "We were stable, had a growing membership and could have been successful if we had received those payments. We relied on the payments in pricing our plans, but the government reneged on its promise. I am disgusted."
OT, but found via the link in 14.
17: It's the standard Republican trick. Fuck everything up and then claim government can't do anything right. Low information voters will eat it up. Fucking fuck fuck fuck fuck indeed.
I volunteer to help people enroll in the ACA and it's already so hard to explain why premiums are so high and the law is so convoluted.
(Well, except for the many many of them who qualify for free or almost free health care, which is awesome, other than the part that it means they're poor.)
Speaking of assholes and standard Republicans, I've been sort of expecting a "Draft Romney" movement but I don't see one.
I just signed up for next year's Obamacare (my current insurer dropped out). I'm paying $30 more a month (which isn't too bad) but the number of available plans has dropped to the point where there's only one which meets all my needs. I fear that between Republican sneak attacks like Rubio's and the inherent flaws in the overall system we need a fix within the next few years. If the GOP gets the White House and retains its position in Congress I (and lots of others with preexisting conditions) may be royally fucked. At that point I may have to activate my secret identity as a Brit and move to Knifecrimea, an option not available to most.
My 2016 premium was increased by 47% with my current insurer so I switch to another company for only a 40% increase. The options are limited in rural eastern Oregon. The newest trick is the EPO network. If you go out of the very limited network they will not pay anything and it does not count toward your out of pocket max. I hope I don't get sick out of state.
And this premium is "only" $450 a month for a bronze plan with a $5000 deductible. What a deal! I am healthy and 57 now and I can't imagine what I will have to pay when I am 64.
Well ok, all that sucks (it genuinely does), but don't blame obamacare: my employer switched plan offerings next year and my premium is more than doubling. (They tried to claim they were expanding choice and offering more affordable options, which they indeed are offering a new very inexpensive plan now (with a $12500 deductible! Assuming you stay in network; $25000 for anything out of network), but the premium for anything remotely approaching reasonable coverage more than doubled. ($5k deductible). )
The link is 17 is interesting (and frustrating), thank you.
I am not blaming obamacare at all. The best thing about the ACA is that they can't kick you off for getting sick. That has always been my biggest worry when buying on the individual market. If I were to ever really get sick and need ongoing medical care would they just dump me. But this EPO thing is terrible. I am afraid that if I were to have a heart attack, they would send me to Washington where they have a better hospital for cardiac care and that is out of my EPO network. Tough choices since I normally only spend about $500 a year for medical care. (not including dental and vision which is not covered)
23: I don't know myself, but I just read something saying that the silver plans are always a better deal if you use any healthcare. Slightly higher premiums, much lower out of pocket cost. Have you run the numbers on your available silver plans?
Silver plans are also better because (for simplicity or whatever) they're the only tier where extensive cost-sharing is offered for the lower-income.
29, 30
I don't remember the exact premiums but it seems the silver plans were in the range of $150 to $200 a month more and like I said, I haven't spent enough on health care in any of the last 10 years to even reach the deductible for the silver plan. I also have an HSA account so I save close to $1500 a year in taxes (federal & state) by making the full $4350 HSA contribution. In my area the only plans that qualify for the HSA are plans with a $5000 deductible. Actually, when I add all of this up I guess I have it pretty good so maybe I shouldn't be whining about it.