Thanks to all who paid for my healthcare-not being sarcastic

Blockhead

_ wrote:

Blockhead wrote:

whygohome wrote:

I'm currently still in school getting my PhD. 2 years in school for my MA, where I bartended at a Country Club for $8 an hour and no tips and also worked at a hardware store for $7.50 an hour--not at the same time though. I later waited tables also. I never made more than $1,000-$1,100 a month. With all the work that goes into graduate studies--despite the stereotypes--the time I was able to devote to part-time jobs is a bit limited.

The other 2 years after receiving my MA, I taught at a university--4 classes per semester-- and in the second year also at a community college, which added two more classes per semester. My yearly salary came out to a whopping $16,000. Ask anyone who has held an adjunct instructor position--it does not pay well.

Other expenses included:
rent, utilities, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, food, books and university fees (though financial aid covered this), credit card debt.
Whether or not $200 a month is a good quote, I simply could not fit it into my budget.
Was not paying the $200 a month my choice? Yes. But, that was not the purpose of this thread

So you had no issues pursuing your dreams of getting a Masters/now PHD to better YOUR future while putting your health care cost on other people?

Her good education creates a better future for all of us, and it's well worth society's investment in her healthcare. She paid and will pay for her own healthcare through taxes anyway, so I wouldn't even say she put her healthcare costs on other people.

Education =/ a better future for all of us.
If thats the case then someone getting an education in physics/chemistry/biology to create biological wepons is well worth society investment...

polaris_x

deleted by Admin

Blockhead

_ wrote:

whygohome wrote:

And so everyone in this thread is aware--since I am now being attacked--I only went to the "free" clinic 3 times in 4 years. I try to take good care of myself, but some things are out of my hands.

Sometimes I hope some of these people never have to face that reality. But sometimes I hope they do...

face reality... That is something that you continually ignore. I see your still wishing bad things on people who don't agree with you...

whygohome

deleted by admin

bgivens33

whygohome wrote:

I'm currently still in school getting my PhD. 2 years in school for my MA, where I bartended at a Country Club for $8 an hour and no tips and also worked at a hardware store for $7.50 an hour--not at the same time though. I later waited tables also. I never made more than $1,000-$1,100 a month. With all the work that goes into graduate studies--despite the stereotypes--the time I was able to devote to part-time jobs is a bit limited.

The other 2 years after receiving my MA, I taught at a university--4 classes per semester-- and in the second year also at a community college, which added two more classes per semester. My yearly salary came out to a whopping $16,000. Ask anyone who has held an adjunct instructor position--it does not pay well.

Other expenses included:
rent, utilities, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, food, books and university fees (though financial aid covered this), credit card debt.
Whether or not $200 a month is a good quote, I simply could not fit it into my budget.
Was not paying the $200 a month my choice? Yes. But, that was not the purpose of this thread

You asked if you were mooching off the system, how is it you figure your income and expenses aren't relevant to the thread?

Almost by definition, you were mooching off the system, as I'm guessing you weren't paying income tax, that is you were using something you didn't pay for.

As for your other two questions, employers should absolutely not have to cover health care benefits, it is already hard enough to run a small business without having to cover those costs.

And should you have had to enter the free market to get insurance? I honestly don't have any objection to helping pay for health care of those that can't afford it. I have zero objection to making healthcare completely socialized. If you can look back and say there was no way I could afford healthcare, then I don't think you should have had to pay for it. If you look back and say I probably spent ~200 a month on movies, drinks, travel and leisure activities, then you made a conscious decision to make other people pay for your expenses. That is something only you can answer.

Blockhead

polaris_x wrote:

whygohome wrote:

Not the point of the thread, but you can go fuck yourself. You're quite a disgusting piece of shit for making an erroneous comment like that.
(Also, on a side note, now that I have funding while pursuing a PhD, healthcare is provided.)

haven't you seen all the signs? ... don't feed the trolls! ... although the objective person in me says - you sort of bait that kind of response based on your thread title ...

Oh no! Someone has a different opinion than me, quick lets call them names...

_

Blockhead wrote:

_ wrote:

whygohome wrote:

And so everyone in this thread is aware--since I am now being attacked--I only went to the "free" clinic 3 times in 4 years. I try to take good care of myself, but some things are out of my hands.

Sometimes I hope some of these people never have to face that reality. But sometimes I hope they do...

face reality... That is something that you continually ignore. I see your still wishing bad things on people who don't agree with you...

Nope. I'm only wishing for clarity for people, which is necessarily a good thing. What path they have to take to get there is up to them.

polaris_x

Blockhead wrote:

Oh no! Someone has a different opinion than me, quick lets call them names...

dude ... you can have a different opinion ... in fact, many people here have them ... but you can voice that difference with some respect and class ... that is all ...

whygohome

bgivens33 wrote:

whygohome wrote:

I'm currently still in school getting my PhD. 2 years in school for my MA, where I bartended at a Country Club for $8 an hour and no tips and also worked at a hardware store for $7.50 an hour--not at the same time though. I later waited tables also. I never made more than $1,000-$1,100 a month. With all the work that goes into graduate studies--despite the stereotypes--the time I was able to devote to part-time jobs is a bit limited.

The other 2 years after receiving my MA, I taught at a university--4 classes per semester-- and in the second year also at a community college, which added two more classes per semester. My yearly salary came out to a whopping $16,000. Ask anyone who has held an adjunct instructor position--it does not pay well.

Other expenses included:
rent, utilities, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, food, books and university fees (though financial aid covered this), credit card debt.
Whether or not $200 a month is a good quote, I simply could not fit it into my budget.
Was not paying the $200 a month my choice? Yes. But, that was not the purpose of this thread

You asked if you were mooching off the system, how is it you figure your income and expenses aren't relevant to the thread?

Almost by definition, you were mooching off the system, as I'm guessing you weren't paying income tax, that is you were using something you didn't pay for.

As for your other two questions, employers should absolutely not have to cover health care benefits, it is already hard enough to run a small business without having to cover those costs.

And should you have had to enter the free market to get insurance? I honestly don't have any objection to helping pay for health care of those that can't afford it. I have zero objection to making healthcare completely socialized. If you can look back and say there was no way I could afford healthcare, then I don't think you should have had to pay for it. If you look back and say I probably spent ~200 a month on movies, drinks, travel and leisure activities, then you made a conscious decision to make other people pay for your expenses. That is something only you can answer.

I never said my income and expenses weren't relevant. And yes, I was paying income taxes.
I agree that employers should not be required to pay for health insurance. This would remove a huge burden. The costs then get shifted to the individual who may or may not see an increase in salary/wages to cover the cost of insurance.

And no, I wasn't wasting money on leisure activities. I did not make a conscious decision to make other people pay for my expenses. As I stated in another post, I only went to the "free" clinic 3 times in 4 years.

polaris_x

whygohome wrote:

I wasn't being sarcastic though. My intent was to start a conversation.

oh ... i totally understand ... i think you've gotten a decent discussion ... but sometimes you have to take a step back and view it from the perspective of some people on this board ... there are people here who like to use the words forced and theft when discussing taxes ... the very idea of socialized healthcare grates them to the bone ... they see a title like that and they take it like a slap to the face ...

_

bgivens33 wrote:

Almost by definition, you were mooching off the system, as I'm guessing you weren't paying income tax, that is you were using something you didn't pay for.

I think we need a more clear definition of "mooching off the system". Is it necessarily mooching if someone isn't paying income taxes at the moment? What about the income - and other - taxes they pay at other points in their lives? And what about their other contributions to society? (E.g. I would argue that teachers contribute financially to our society by providing a valuable service for such little pay.)

JonnyPistachio

Blockhead wrote:

whygohome wrote:

For four years while I was in graduate school and then teaching part time, I wasn't able to afford health insurance. It wasn't offered to me--even when teaching at a university--and while still a student, I simply couldn't afford it, even though I was working at a restaurant and at a hardware store. The best quote I was offered was $200 a month.
When something serious came up, I would go to a free clinic. So, I just wanted to extend my thanks to some of you who may have given me the opportunity to still go see a doctor when I was concerned about something, and for the opportunity to go to the emergency room should a reason rear its ugly head.

So, I am interested in what you all think about my past situation. Should I be required to enter the free market via an insurance exchange? Should my employers have provided insurance? Was I mooching off the system?

Why were you not covered by your parents insurance when you were a student?

Every question you've asked in this thread is condescending.

bgivens33

If you were paying income tax and didn't have the $200 a month, you have just as much as a right to that free clinic than anyone else.

whygohome

_ wrote:

bgivens33 wrote:

Almost by definition, you were mooching off the system, as I'm guessing you weren't paying income tax, that is you were using something you didn't pay for.

I think we need a more clear definition of "mooching off the system". Is it necessarily mooching if someone isn't paying income taxes at the moment? What about the income - and other - taxes they pay at other points in their lives? And what about their other contributions to society? (E.g. I would argue that teachers contribute financially to our society by providing a valuable service for such little pay.)

Nobody gives two shits about teachers anymore. My friends and family members have really soured on the profession for many reasons: the kids, the parents, the pay, the negative stigma that a certain group in this country has thrust upon them. A lot of people feel it is not worth it to go into teaching.
My friends on Wall St who admittedly contribute nothing to society and who are millionaires in their early 30s, they get away with doing nothing and making a teacher's salary (or nurse; or fireman) in a month....or sometimes a week.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/0 ... 57872.html

whygohome

bgivens33 wrote:

If you were paying income tax and didn't have the $200 a month, you have just as much as a right to that free clinic than anyone else.

Granted, it wasn't a lot, since I didn't make a lot of money, but I still paid.

_

whygohome wrote:

_ wrote:

bgivens33 wrote:

Almost by definition, you were mooching off the system, as I'm guessing you weren't paying income tax, that is you were using something you didn't pay for.

I think we need a more clear definition of "mooching off the system". Is it necessarily mooching if someone isn't paying income taxes at the moment? What about the income - and other - taxes they pay at other points in their lives? And what about their other contributions to society? (E.g. I would argue that teachers contribute financially to our society by providing a valuable service for such little pay.)

Nobody gives two shits about teachers anymore. My friends and family members have really soured on the profession for many reasons: the kids, the parents, the pay, the negative stigma that a certain group in this country has thrust upon them. A lot of people feel it is not worth it to go into teaching.
My friends on Wall St who admittedly contribute nothing to society and who are millionaires in their early 30s, they get away with doing nothing and making a teacher's salary (or nurse; or fireman) in a month....or sometimes a week.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/0 ... 57872.html

I wholeheartedly agree. I have a lot of family & friends who are teachers too and it's pretty fucked up - especially the lack of respect they get in this society. My mom has actually had students tell her, "Why should we listen to/respect you? You're just a teacher." Pisses me off. :evil:

Okay, /rant. Back to the thread topic...

brianlux

When I lived in San Francisco around 1971 or so I cut my head open in the middle of the night while goofing off (hey, what can I say- life in the big city, in the early 70's, when I was barely drinking age ). I had a low paying job but no health insurance so I was very happy to have one of the nice young Docs at the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic stitch my head up. If the same thing happened today I'd probably bleed to death before I could jump through all the paperwork hoops.

MayDay Malone

whygohome wrote:

Blockhead wrote:

whygohome wrote:

I'm currently still in school getting my PhD. 2 years in school for my MA, where I bartended at a Country Club for $8 an hour and no tips and also worked at a hardware store for $7.50 an hour--not at the same time though. I later waited tables also. I never made more than $1,000-$1,100 a month. With all the work that goes into graduate studies--despite the stereotypes--the time I was able to devote to part-time jobs is a bit limited.

The other 2 years after receiving my MA, I taught at a university--4 classes per semester-- and in the second year also at a community college, which added two more classes per semester. My yearly salary came out to a whopping $16,000. Ask anyone who has held an adjunct instructor position--it does not pay well.

Other expenses included:
rent, utilities, gas, car insurance, car maintenance, food, books and university fees (though financial aid covered this), credit card debt.
Whether or not $200 a month is a good quote, I simply could not fit it into my budget.
Was not paying the $200 a month my choice? Yes. But, that was not the purpose of this thread

So you had no issues pursuing your dreams of getting a Masters/now PHD to better YOUR future while putting your health care cost on other people?

Not the point of the thread, but you can go fuck yourself. You're quite a disgusting piece of shit for making an erroneous comment like that.
(Also, on a side note, now that I have funding while pursuing a PhD, healthcare is provided.)

That's quite a mouth on ya.... You must have gone to the Ron White School of Debate.

The result is, you sound a lot less educated than you claim to be, and undermines the point you are trying to make...

...and usually earns you a nice little vacation....

Blockhead

JonnyPistachio wrote:

Why were you not covered by your parents insurance when you were a student?

Every question you've asked in this thread is condescending.[/quote]
How is that condescending??? Its a pretty basic questions, the OP stated in the first sentence "for 4 years" which most if not all masters programs are not 4 years.

Blockhead

polaris_x wrote:

whygohome wrote:

I wasn't being sarcastic though. My intent was to start a conversation.

oh ... i totally understand ... i think you've gotten a decent discussion ... but sometimes you have to take a step back and view it from the perspective of some people on this board ... there are people here who like to use the words forced and theft when discussing taxes ... the very idea of socialized healthcare grates them to the bone ... they see a title like that and they take it like a slap to the face ...

You don't find it ironic that someone is better themselves (through pursuing education/ PHD) by using other people to take care of their health care? Please quote anyone who use the word Force or Theft...
Why is this acceptbale, yet people who pursue a lifelong quest of professional drug abuse and TV watching wanting people to take care of their health care not acceptable?